Spice cubes 2.0

Velissa Van Scoyoc doesn’t think zesty spices belong in boring jars. Her Gusto! Spice Cakes are colorful blocks of “visual aroma” that inspire cooks to spike dishes with exotic seasonings and flavor infusions.
“I wanted to renew the value of spices using the latest in food technology,” Van Scoyoc says (IDSA.org 6.05). Her spice jar reinvention nabbed a prize at the Industrial Designers Society of America’s inaugural Scientistic Invitational in May 2005. Each cake’s look reflects its origin and use, from the Parsley Hay Bale to the East India Mix. Chefs can grate, slice, or dissolve the blocks into other ingredients, though some might be tempted to bite into the Cocoa Framboise.