Simple Herbs, Unbelievably Good Food

We kicked off the 10 Herbs Challenge last week, and it started out like any other filming day at Starwest. A few easy recipes, some quick photos, a video for socials… but you know how it goes around here, once the good herbs come out, the day takes a turn.

Bassma and Mattee were in the studio, pulling together two quick recipes to start the challenge, something light and snacky to ease into the series. Like always, they tasted everything before bringing it to the office, because we’ve got a rule here: if we wouldn’t happily eat it ourselves, it doesn’t go on our socials. Simple as that.

First up was a Popcorn Spice Rub. Just the basics, paprika, garlic, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, no frills. But apparently, that was all it needed.

By the time the first bowl made it back to the office, it barely made it past the door. Everyone was hovering. Jason grabbed a handful and, between bites, said exactly what you’d expect: “This is the first time popcorn’s had actual personality.”

And honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

The paprika popped with its bold red color, stone-ground in Spain, always fresh and vibrant. The garlic hit just right, clean and flavorful because we steam-sterilize it (none of that dusty aftertaste you sometimes get with cheap garlic powders). The cumin and turmeric brought this warmth, and the black pepper gave it just enough edge to keep you going back for more.

But the popcorn was just a warm-up act.

Then came the Rosemary Garlic Dipping Oil, and that’s where the day got derailed.

Mattee and Bassma were supposed to bring the first batch to the office for the final taste check. But by the time they finished filming, the bread was gone. The oil was gone. The entire first batch… gone.

“Sorry not sorry,” Mattee chuckled, her endearing laugh echoing through the room.

So, they made another batch. And this time, we got to experience it the way it’s meant to be: fresh bread, fragrant dipping oil, and that unbelievable smell filling the office.

You don’t expect an office to smell like fresh rosemary and olives. But that day? It did.

The olive oil was our own Starwest Organic Olive Oil, rich golden color, full-bodied, that smooth flavor with just the right hit of fresh olives. Rosemary, whole and aromatic, brought this deep earthiness. The garlic stood out, clean and bold, thanks to the same careful steam-sterilization process. The paprika rounded it out with a smoky touch, and the black pepper added just enough heat to balance everything.

Then something shifted. Kai, who had been quietly enjoying every bite, suddenly stopped.

He paused, took a deeper breath, and blurted out, “This smells just like… wait, it reminds me of having dinner with a family in India who has been a partner of ours for decades.”

He shared how, in some countries, India being one for him, the closeness of a relationship was reflected in how you shared meals. The scent had brought him back to sitting around a bajot, a small low table about 24 inches square, and how they would all eat off the same plate.

“That was how you knew you were one of them,” he said. “Like being a member of the family. If your family happened to be made up of world-class, shrewd negotiators.”

It was one of those moments where everyone stopped mid-day to just… enjoy. No fancy tricks. No complicated steps. Just really good herbs, great olive oil, and a reminder of how simple food can still be completely unforgettable.

This is exactly why we’re doing the 10 Herbs Challenge, to show what happens when you let herbs speak for themselves.

If you want to try it too, we filmed everything. Both recipes, Popcorn Spice Rub and Rosemary Garlic Dipping Oil, are up on our socials.

Week one? A total success. And honestly… we’re already planning extra batches for next week.