SpicePassport

SpicePassport is a mobile + web app that helps people source authentic Latin American ingredients locally without wasting time driving to the wrong store. Users search for specific items (e.g., aji amarillo paste, hoja santa, panela, achiote, queso Oaxaca) and see nearby stores that likely carry them, with aisle hints, substitute suggestions, and “call-ahead” checklists. The app blends crowdsourced inventory confirmations with lightweight AI that predicts availability based on store type, neighborhood demand, and past confirmations. It also includes a simple recipe-to-shopping mode: paste a recipe link, and it generates a shopping list with the best nearby sourcing options and acceptable regional substitutions. Realistically, the hardest part is keeping inventory accurate; the MVP focuses on high-confidence predictions and user confirmations rather than pretending to be a perfect real-time inventory system.