Kat Thompson is the audience editor of Eater’s Southern California/Southwest region. The rhythmic pounding of my late grandma’s century-old mortar and pestle is as familiar to me as any lullaby. The ...

My refrigerator is a graveyard of half-used jars. Jams, condiments, spreads, pickles – you get the idea. Even so, there’s at least one personal favorite staple I like to keep around all the time: ...