The basics of Spanish food is awesome — as in, the ingredients. Spanish ham, olives, fruit, veggies, fish, game — they are really top notch, in the way Italian (and French) stuff is. Whether the dishes they make with them are necessarily better, I can’t say.

I got a bag of maybe ten from an Indian grocery for about five bucks. And I agree that my grandchildren will probably inherit some of them. But yes, fresh ground is better for sure.