You can do regular 24" deep base cabinets with roll outs, a combo of rollouts and drawer bases, or 12" deep cabinets with shelves. Can you post a layout? I don't know if I understand exactly what you mean.

roll outs

I don't like rollouts for food items because you can't stack - things tend to fall off the rather low sides. For that reason I'd prefer drawers.

This is the rough layout at the moment. The railing at the end of the kitchen is what I'm just calling the pony wall. I can't think of what else to put in the base cabinets besides food. I don't want to put a cooktop over there since I don't want an island hood or a downdraft. Putting the sink and the dishwashers there would be good except there really isn't space for a prep sink in the main kitchen area. I'd have to give up a 24" base cabinet to accommodate the prep sink. So the only thing that doesn't need to be in the main kitchen is the food storage. Hence putting the pantry items into base cabinets.

I'm open to other ideas and thoughts for the space though.

Drawers would be my pick, although I do get what you're saying about adjustable rollouts. I would measure the types of stuff I'd expect to store and see how best to get them into drawers. Perhaps a combination? But don't skimp on the 24".

What is the floor-height difference between the kitchen and family room?

benjesbride--the step down is 8"

I think I would put shallower shelves or pull-outs combined with on the door storage, so that less get's lost in the back. Rev-a-shelf does make a pantry system for a base cabinet, but it's one of those swing out things that I'm always afraid will lose stuff of the back. https://www.rev-a-shelf.com/p-191-base-cabinet-swing-out-single-pantry-swing-out-unit-sink-and-base-accessories.aspx

Herbflavor-- I like your idea. I can see it in my head. The 15" deep cabinets would be great for not losing things in the back.

Right now I've got everything on an 18" deep metal shelving unit. The 18" is great for the mixer but sucks for tomato sauce and pasta boxes.