I stopped by @gracehomemanila and Grace herself giving samples of her new products
?Spiced Rosemary Honey
?Organic Spinach Mushroom Chimichurri
?Organic Tomatoes and Kaffir Lime Chutney.
All 3 condiments are ORGANIC, VEGAN and GLUTEN FREE! #tastebygracehome#artefino2018
“Tastier (and even healthier) the second time around”: Grace Barbers-Baja debuts her 2nd line for “Taste by Grace Home”
Lifestyle entrepreneur Grace Barbers-Baja created her brand, Grace Home Manila, with a delightful product suite that began with her signature-scented beeswax candles, stationery, and room fragrances in 2015. This eventually became a mecca for globally-sourced fine homewares, inspired by Grace’s own love for travel and homemaking.
In 2017, she pivoted her brand in a tastefully unexpected way by debuting her repertoire of fine foods, “Taste by Grace Home”. 
This effort allowed her to create a context of effortless luxe in home entertaining, with her now-famous cheese-pairing jam set : Figs and Almonds with Truffle Honey; Two Tomatoes and Habaneros with Sage; Black Grapes and Pistachios with French Butter; her three hors d’oeuvres : Quattro Formaggio with Pink Peppercorns; Organic Chicken Liver Pate with Pistachio Praline; and Manchego Curado with Almond Olive Tapenade; and her one and only dessert in the menu : 70% Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate Cookie Dough.
When asked why she decided to expand and keep on innovating new products for Grace Home, Grace excitedly replied, “I’m doing this because I Iove
food and I love sharing it. The non-food lines [of Grace Home Manila] before were my practice in dealing with customers, learning supply and demand, executing marketing plans and all that. That was my crash course in business! And now it has come full circle for me. I’ve always loved food, and growing my food business right now is the perfect opportunity for me.”
As a person who has always been known for her generosity in sharing her ideas — starting with her blog TheSpoiledMummy.com, and then through Grace Home Manila, Grace believes that Taste by Grace Home is where she has really found her calling. “I’ve been sharing a lot about myself, my home and my ways of entertaining,” says Grace, “Now, it’s time for me to share what I love to cook, eat and serve!”
This 2018 — exactly a year since launching Taste — the successful blogger and Instagram darling with a serial charm that has endeared her readers and followers to become raving fans, is adding another delicious twist to her brand. “I want to satisfy the hunger of my customers for more, and this is why I expanded the food line with the addition of 3 new products that promise to be as good and as tasty as the first line”, said Grace. This second year of Taste by Grace Home is all about elevating everyday ingredients into something more unique and special, and yes, more flavorful too. “If you liked the first line, I guarantee you will like this even more for its unique flavors and versatility!” Grace adds.
Venturing into the wellness megatrend, Taste by Grace Home’s newest products are all about changing the ordinary to healthy, and with pun intended, to tasty. Customers can expect the brand’s signature attention to detail and quality, now coupled with an understanding for those who are truly “watching what they eat.” Taste by Grace Home’s newest products are organic, gluten-free and vegan, and an exploration of global tastes and pleasures (ingredients are sourced locally from our organic farms, while herbs and spices are sourced from Grace’s travels).
She is now unveiling : 1) Spiced Rosemary Honey with Pink Peppercorns, made from local Palawan organic honey, 2) Organic Tomatoes and Kaffir Lime Chutney and 3) Organic Spinach and Mushroom Chimichurri, both of which are vegan and gluten-free.
Why Spiced Rosemary Honey? It’s because Grace wanted to create not just your typical plain honey that is commonly seen in the market today, but wanted something one-of-a-kind and versatile. “It can be used as a glaze or as a topping for anything — be it on your savory or sweet dish.” says Grace. Noting that it’s really the small details that take a meal to another level, the Spiced Rosemary Honey adds an instant flavor upgrade to otherwise common dishes, like your chicken, pizza, salads, cheese & charcuterie, and even desserts like cheesecake and panna cotta. Her kids’ favorite version though is using it atop their crispy fried chicken — something that reminds them of a famous Korean fried chicken recipe. But of course, this is a much better, tastier and healthier option since it is our local organic honey (and not some artificial sweetener or flavoring) is used.
And as for the Chutney and Chimichurri? In diving into her passion for world travel and connecting it with her product line, Grace played with the idea of condiments that were not commonly seen in Manila. “I wanted to bring something new to the table, by introducing the concepts of ‘chutney’ (from Indian cuisine) and ‘chimichurri’ (from South American cuisine) into our everyday meals,” Grace said of her two unique condiments, both of which are organic, vegan and yes, gluten-free. When asked why she ventured into these particular ones, Grace quipped, “I always want to see (and taste) something new — whether it be a dish, a dip, a sauce, or a condiment. I love surprising my family and guests around the table. And I love seeing them get excited too when they are about to try something different!”
Going with her signature knack for amusing combinations, Grace has taken the standard chimichurri from a parsley-garlic dip into a league of its own: hers is a medley of organic spinach, mushrooms, truffles, garlic and Himalayan pink salt, all infused into a traditional chimichurri. The chutney, on the other hand, is traditionally a spiced-sweetish condiment from India, combining fruits or vegetables with vinegar, spices, and sugar. Grace’s take, however, is characteristically refined and savory, combining the distinct citrus-floral notes of kaffir lime leaves with zesty organic tomatoes seasoned with paprika and infused with the finest extra virgin olive oil.
“I’ve tried and tested these two condiments with fried fish, grilled pork, roast chicken, and turkey as well as steak too, and they work interestingly well together! And as I was trying different food combinations, I realized that I can also turn this Chutney into a delicious and hearty tomato soup just by simmering it with hot water, and the Chimichurri into a spinach cheese dip just by mixing it with cream cheese! Meanwhile, the Honey can also be turned into a vinaigrette or a salad dressing just
by adding vinegar and extra virgin olive oil! Of course, you can eat it on its own too – spoon it out and have it as a dip for your favorite crackers, chips or pita bread or as a topping for your bruschetta,” advises Grace.
Aside from these three new products, Grace is also re-launching something from her first line, a move that will surely be met with thunderous praise : her best- seller Figs and Almonds with Truffle Honey Cheese-Pairing Jam has now been upsized to 300 gram size! “Customers come because they want to try your product. But repeat customers happen because they now LOVE your product! And it is my customers who asked me to make this particular Fig Jam into a bigger size — since they can finish the smaller one in just one sitting! ” said Grace.
Asked on why she is now concentrating on expanding her artisanal homemade food line, Grace says, “Simply put, I really enjoy creating things from the home and I love welcoming people here. I find joy in sharing my love for food with my guests who come over. So yes, you can say that I enjoy entertaining — but I also
don’t like to stress too much about it! And so with the convenience of having these food products in your kitchen, I hope that I can also make entertaining easier, more enjoyable and a more relaxed experience for you.” adds Grace.
In true “Spoiled Mummy fashion”, the new line of Taste by Grace Home introduces a new packaging design, hearkening to this mummy’s attention to detail. The new sage green with black branding beckons to the new product line’s distinctive nod towards wellness, reinforcing Grace’s own commitment as a health-conscious mom herself. “Taste by Grace Home is all about my love for good food. I love food that’s delicious, easy to prepare and yet healthy, so everyone – especially, my kids — can enjoy them as much as they want, without me having to worry about it! Gone are the days when we would just buy whatever we find in the supermarket without checking the labels. Nowadays, it’s all about knowing the source of our food, where the ingredients are from, learning if it’s clean or organic and most importantly, if it’s fresh. And I am proud to say that right from the very beginning, Taste by Grace Home’s food products have been all about using only the freshest and most natural ingredients — no additives, no preservatives and no artificial flavoring at all.”
More than just being known online as a “lifestyle blogger” or a “social media influencer”, Grace has transcended into the world of entrepreneurship. “Taste by Grace Home is my baby and my passion project rolled into one. This is me — showing another side of me.” She admits, “I love creating products that work. I love knowing what my customers want. But more than all that, they say I also have this particular gift… the gift of creating new things, combining unexpected flavors and tastes… and then connecting it with people – and turning it around into something distinctly special and truly memorable.”
