Grinding it out.

• Position: What's New? - Grinder fro spices - Brief Article - Product/Service Evaluation

* Bland is out and spicy is in as Americans' palates are learning to coexist with a wide range of ethnic foods, as well as hot dishes that are really hot. Supermarket spice sections are growing almost exponentially, with tins and jars of exotic flavors muscling in among the basic condiments of yesterday. Still, even these newcomers can't stand up to freshly ground versions.

Until recently, most people's familiarity with fresh grinding was limited to the giant pepper mills brandished over their plates by showoffish waiters. The next timid step was to introduce sea salt and peppercorns into the kitchen. With anything else, grinding was a hassle--until Oxo International, New York, introduced the Grind It line. These self-contained grinders with a firm rubber grip for easy rotating come in a couple of dozen flavors, all of which benefit immensely by not being ground until you are ready to put them into whatever you're cooking or over what's on your plate. We started out with fresh garlic, thyme, cumin, cinnamon, and an Asian...