Carolina Gold is surely the choicest, rarest rice available. It's the original variety imported from Madagascar in the late 1600s and cultivated throughout the Carolina colony. A delicate rice with a nutty flavor and short white grains (it's gold only in the field), Carolina Gold was considered extinct in the 20th century until a Savannah opthalmologist tracked down the few remaining grains in a Texas seed bank and repropagated it. Our Carolina Gold is grown in Arkansas on small plots. It's an instant education in how tasty the original, non-hybrid rices can be.

• Carolina Gold rice. 1 lb bag $10.50

Fresh black walnuts have an appealing, woodsy flavor that's ideal for baking into a rich cake. For anyone who's ever tried to husk and crack black walnuts before, a 20 ounce bag of nuts, pre-shelled, is a minor miracle.

• Black walnuts 16oz resealable bag $14.25

A can of Allen's hominy is a perfect addition to any stew, or great by itself as a warm side dish, with a pat of butter and plenty of black pepper.

• Whole hominy four 14 oz cans $15.25