Pepper

Invest in a pepper mill. It does not have to be fancy—the pretentious ones you see in restaurants are no better than those you can use at home. Grind pepper only as you need it by milling the peppercorns over the pot or dish. Few foods are more delicious than a bowl of Spaghetti alla Carbonara with lots of freshly ground pepper. In general I recommend black pepper unless you are making a delicate, light sauce, in which case white pepper will do.