My husband and I serve in Brazil as missionaries but I am a native of Austin, MN. Since we can't buy certain spices, flavorings, and other basic American food items in Brazil, I'm always on the lookout for those items to tuck into our suitcases so that we have them when we want them. But it's not always easy to buy a 2-4 year supply at one time! In the past, I've had to order from large restaurant suppliers or have bought large quantities at Sam's Club that take forever to use. My sister, who lives in nearly Riceville, told me about Kountry Kupboard and we met there to shop one day. The store has the atmosphere of a an old country store, and its shelves hold hard-to-find products for candymakers, from-scratch bakers, and health food lovers. They also sell all of the practical but modern equipment that any fancy kitchen store would stock. The dried spice items are packaged in nice plastic containers with tight-fitting lids that stack nicely in a cupboard or tuck into a corner of the freezer. And the employees are happy to weigh and package exactly the amount that you desire, no matter what the item may be. They also have a nice selection of fresh cheese, homemade candy, and meats. Osage is a quaint town that serves many Amish families who live in the area. It's worth the trip when you think of the good prices and all the fun to shop there!
Pros: small-town, friendly, attentive service
more