Umami Bomb Mini Interview
Umami Bomb Shiitake Chili Oils have become a staple in many West Coast kitchens over recent years. Having a go-to condiment is kind of like an easy way to turn any food into comfort food—just add a dollop and the flavours of whatever dish you’re eating blend with the flavours of the condiment you know and love to create an awesome balance of variety and familiarity. Co-founders Lauren Isherwood and Nicholas Baingo make their range of Chili Oils on Vancouver Island, offering three options for levels of heat plus a garlic version. With shiitake mushrooms as the star ingredient they have achieved an incredibly rich, earthy umami flavour that seems to pair deliciously with… honestly just about everything! In our mini interview, Lauren and Nicholas share their culinary journey to creating a superstar condiment, as well as some insights into their daily lives in beautiful Sidney, BC.
Share your story with us in a 150 words or less.
We are two omnivores turned vegans and our plant based journey started many years ago at a Buddhist vegan restaurant in South Korea. When we began eating a plant based diet, we thought back to the food at this restaurant and how it was all so delicious, you didn’t miss the lack of meat. During the course of the meal, there were countless small dishes all with unique textures and flavours, and many shared a rich, savoury umami flavour. As lifelong condiment hoarders and foodies, we wanted something that we could add to our vegan meals to make them as delicious and craveable as the food we had there.
Umami Bomb was created through a process of (nearly) endless trial and error and the careful blending of eastern and western spices with shiitake mushrooms. Whether it's weeknight leftovers or a gourmet meal, a tablespoon or two of Umami Bomb adds a unique and irresistible quality to any dish. Our customers (both vegan and non) tell us that it’s so tasty and addictive they'll put that shiitake on everything!
Getting from an idea to a small business is a lot of work! When did it first sink in for you that ‘this is really happening’?
Seeing our products in multi-location retailers was a big moment for us. Also, receiving direct-to-customer orders from people as far away as Newfoundland has been really exciting. We're always delighted by how vocal and supportive our customers are which makes the impact of what we do feel much more real.
Out of all your products, which is your personal favourite and why?
Our favourite changes depending on the use and how 'spicy' we're feeling, but we gravitate towards the Hot Umami Bomb frequently.
