Just in Time for Holiday Gift-Giving: Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton's Chesapeake Bay Spice Blend Gourmet Peanuts

At a cozy-hip party last night at the home of Veer Magazine editor-publisher Jeff Maisey, I sampled the newest (vegan) peanuts to hit the shelves just in time for holiday munching and gift-giving: Chesapeake Bay Spice Blend.

But wait! If you're in the camp (like me) of thinking that Old Bay Seasoning is too overpowering, you will be deliciously surprised. This special spice blend--the brain child of Hampton Roads chef, food and wine writer/editor/historian, cookbook author, and radio/television personality, Patrick Evans-Hylton--has been under development for the last decade precisely to avoid that overwhelming "bay" flavor.

Those 10 years of R&D were more than worth the time and effort. Mellow, but flavorful and complex, the spice blend on these locally-grown gourmet peanuts (which contains something like 17 herbs and spices) is irresistible. Purchase a large can for a mere $9.50 and learn more about Chef Patrick at Belmont Peanuts' website.

And be sure to check out Patrick's food blog too. And, by the way, though he has to eat whatever is on the menu when he reviews restaurants, at home Chef Patrick began adhering to a vegan diet a few months ago and has lost 41 pounds! Kudos, Chef!

Happy Holidays!