Originating in the tropical island of Madagascar where hot rainy winds blow inland from the Indian Ocean, these long and slender vanilla beans grow sweet and potent with concentrated flavor. Vanilla is traditionally used in baked goods and desserts, but we love how this exotic spice adds depth and complexity to mouthwatering cream sauces for pasta, fish, pork, or chicken. Applying heat gives vanilla a heady and entrancing aroma that’s irresistible in entrees. If you’re feeling adventurous, try making a rich vanilla curry sauce with coconut to generously pour over chicken, or work vanilla into your favorite duck recipe for a delectable dish.

Vanilla is traditionally used in baked goods and desserts, but we love how this exotic spice adds depth and complexity to mouthwatering cream sauces and sides for pasta, fish, pork, and chicken.

Fairway Marketplace is brought to you by Fairway Market, a specialty food chain that started back in 1933 with a small fruit and vegetable stand on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Today, Fairway Market is legendary for its experts and expertise in all things food, and a relentless obsession with quality throughout all of the different departments in its stores. In December of 2011, Fairway launched this online shop, so that we could bring the best of the best of what Fairway offers, at the same great values, to those who don’t live near one of our stores. Why keep all of this foodie goodness to ourselves? That simply would not be fair.