The Spice Girls taught us many important lessons, including how to Zig-a-Zig-Ahhh, not to drive in 5-inch platforms (remember the bus crash in the movie?)and the importance of variety.

If it’s choice you want, head to the new Spice Station, with hundreds of varieties of spices, herbs, salts, peppercorns, teas and chillies that can be ground on site or sent home whole, depending on your preference.  Choose spices from the mosaic-like shelves of the otherwise simple store, or head online to pick up gorgeous gift sets, like the Salt and Pepper set ($55), featuring four peppercorn varieties and six sorts of salt or the Chile set ($40) for those who like it hot.

Spice Station, 174A Bernard St., Montreal, 514 274-1514, www.spicestation.ca

You’ll spend $30 on a good bottle of olive oil, but spices? The $1.19 supermarket mix will do just fine.

Instead, spice up your life with quality seasonings from Montreal importers Epices de Cru.  Known as the Indiana Jones of spices, the owners travel to remote villages and mountain tops in search of the best flavours. Their finds are preserved whole then presented in pretty tins, individually (from $1.25) or by blend.

Start out with the 101 Kit ($20) featuring Spanish paprika and Indian fennel, then go bold with the sublime eight pepper blend ($10). The devoutly eco-conscious will love the pesticide-free line (from $4) including Sri Lankan cinnamon and Madagascar vanilla.

PVR the Food Network and you’ll be the galloping gourmet in no time.

At Fino Marche Gourmand, 1616 Sherbrooke W., Montreal, 514 751-2878 or online at www.epicesdecru.com