Chile grower Jim Duffy of Refining Fire Chiles was kind enough to send me some of his super-hots to sample earlier this week. Included were some brand new varieties, such as the Chocolate Scotch Bonnet, the Jay’s Red Ghost Scorpion, and the Jay’s Peach Ghost Scorpion. Thanks, Jim!
Below are close-up photos of the new chiles. While I have not chomped down on a whole pepper pod of any of these yet, a sliver or two cut off of each was able to give me a good idea on the flavor and heat…
Is there impartiality around the Roberts homestead towards DEFCON sauces? You betcha! We are definitely a “DEFCON house”!
Now, before you rush in to figuratively lynch me and bash the above statement into thinking that I do not take my role as reviewer or critic seriously, I will certainly take a stern critical eye to the things that John and Maggie Dilley (AKA the DEFCON “Creator” and “Createss”) call into being. Their Hobby Horse and Habby Pony Sauces float around the “so-so” level in my preference (simply because I’m not a huge horseradish fan), and their Def-Konichi Asian style tipping sauce (which I believe is now defunct) didn’t exactly pop my taco.
That having been said, I don’t think any soul alive has topped DEFCON for pure wing sauce yumminess (which the exception of Ott’s Buffalo Sauce in the mild category) with the Defense Condition series, which includes Mild (#3), Medium (#2) and Hot (#1) variations. All three are superb, “must-own” products…
The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 008 – Bloggers Round Table from Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire 2012
This round table discussion featured bloggers from ScottRobertsWeb.com, ILoveItSpicy.com, TheHotZoneOnline.com and HotSauceDaily.com and took place during the 2012 Weekend of Fire Fiery Foods Show in Fairfield, Ohio. We touch on a number of topics including what spicy new products we enjoyed at the Weekend of Fire, a lengthy discourse on video reviews of chile peppers ans hot sauces on YouTube and how they compare to written reviews, competing events to hot sauce shows, and a Hot Sauce Blog-era Old School Chilehead Reunion in 2014.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• HotSauceDaily.com
• ILoveItSpicy.com
• TheHotZoneOnline.com
• Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire
• 2GuysTalking Feedback Gauntlet (provide feedback and enter to win $100)
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Another Weekend of Fire is in the record books. While there are always things that can be improved (more on that later), I feel the experience overall was a positive one for virtually all parties involved.
My own journey began on Friday afternoon. Shortly after my two boys came home from school, my youngest son, Kevin, and I hit the highway eastbound and down towards Cincinnati. It was rainy all day in Missouri, so I was hoping for a little break in the wet weather. We had no such luck, as torrential downpours followed us all the way through Illinois and Indiana. Right after we crossed the Ohio border, the rain slowed and ceased completely within 30 seconds. Kevin and I made our way to the familiar confines of the Holiday Inn Express in Fairfield (where we were sharing a room with Al “Buddah” Goldenberg of I Love It Spicy, just down the road from Jungle Jim’s International Market, and crashed.
Our morning began with breakfast and a trip to the Jungle Jim’s store. 12-year-old Kevin was enthralled by the shear enormity and selection of the place. I stocked up on a few hot sauce items not sold at the Weekend of Fire Show in the Oscar Event Center upstairs, dashed out to my truck to grab my laptop bag, and went into the show. It was still T-minus one hour before showtime, so Kevin and I had ample opportunity to stroll around and view all the booths as they were being set up for the day and got to meet some of the vendors, both old friends and new exhibitors to the show…
The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 007 – Interview with Hot Sauce Collector Vic Clinco, Plus Black Swamp Gourmet
Scott interviews chilehead Vic Clinco, who just so happens to have the world’s largest privately-owned hot sauce bottle collection. Vic is an undisputed hot sauce expert, a fellow writer for Chile Pepper Magazine, and has recently undertaken some serious formal culinary training. In addition to chatting with Vic about the collection and the industry as a whole, Scott also picks Vic’s brain to see what his favorite sauces are for particular gastronomical uses.
Elsewhere in this episode, Scott interviews Karen and Bob Basel of Ohio-based BBQ sauce and seasoning company Black Swamp Gourmet. The review of the week is Intensity Academy’s Chai Sweet Chili Sauce.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• Vic Clico’s Hot Sauce Collection Photos (on Facebook)
• Black Swamp Gourmet
• Intensity Academy
• 2GuysTalking Feedback Gauntlet (provide feedback and enter to win $100)
• Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire
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Ontario couple Ron Savoie and Adrienne Kenney’s story is one that closely resembles many a person from the upper parts of our North American continent who have sojourned down to the warmer reaches of Central America, Mexico or the Caribbean: one taste of the heat and flavor and they were hooked. In Ron and Adrienne’s case, Costa Rica was the geographic destination that enthralled them; and long story short, they have a full product line under the name of Jungle Heat Imports that include BBQ sauces, hot sauces and snacks.
Earlier this year they had submitted six of their spicy sauces for me to sample of and review, and it’s taken me a while to put each product through its proper paces. Finally below I present a summary of my findings for each one. Enjoy!
The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 006 -Essential Grilling Tools Special with iGrill and Easy Grilling Products
What do YOU need to help your barbecuing and grilling adventures go smoother? Scott interviews both Christopher Allen of iGrill, a high tech thermometer that outputs info via a mobile app, and Brian Toebben of Missouri’s Easy Grilling Products, a company that produces motorized rotisserie and rotary rack equipment that fits inside your BBQ smoker. Afterwards, Scott lists his top 10 accessories he cannot live without when he has an outdoor cookout. The review of the week is a trio of scrumptious hot sauces from Firefly Hot Sauce.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• iGrill
• Easy Grilling Products
• Firefly Hot Sauce (Passage Creek Farm)
• Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire
• 2GuysTalking Podcast Network
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It’s inevitable in just about any business niche, and there is certainly no exception in the world of fiery foods: flux is constant, and change happens on an almost daily basis.
For chileheads, one very noticeable piece of evidence for this, is that certain hot sauces disappear, or worse, entire companies go out of business.
In the case of the former, it’s usually the obvious case that a particular product did not sell very well.
When it comes to the later, it’s far more complicated to pinpoint why companies up and fold. For vast majority of the cases, it’s that the budding sauce makers have to contend with the stress of having full-time jobs, families, various other extracurricular activities, and quite honestly, having the headache of trying to bankroll a brand new spicy foods company and trying to find time to promote it. Often they actually lose money trying to get their business off the ground. So it’s either sacrifice all their time and money with their other career (that actually pays the bills) and family, or quit. As much as it hurts us hot sauce fanatics, it’s just the cold, hard reality of the world.
So what are YOUR favorite sauces and companies that are no longer available? What are the ones you sorely miss? Let everyone know about them in the comments section below!
The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 005 -Interview with Chef Bud Selmi of Sizzlin’ Sauces, Plus Chilehead Reviewer Ryan Graub
I talk with Chef Bud Selmi of Sizzlin’ Sauces about his award-winning lineup of fiery products, and review seven of his hot sauces, tapenades and garlic relishes. Later, fellow “Missouri Boyz” reviewer Ryan Graub and I chat about chile pepper growing, the chile heat race, chile flavors and the state of the hot sauce industry.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• Sizzlin Sauces Website
• Sizzlin Sauces Facebook Page
• Sizzlin Sauces Twitter Page
• :finn Slide Guitarist Soundcloud Page
• RG’s Sauce Reviews
• 2GuysTalking Dexter Podcast
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The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 004 -Interview with Neil “Bigmista” Strawder of Bigmista’s Barbecue
A discussion with Neil ‘Bigmista’ Strawder of Bigmista’s Barbecue. We talk about his BBQ roots, his favorite meats, his TV appearances on TLC’s BBQ Pitmasters and CBS’s The Ultimate BBQ Showdown, and he even shares some dating tips out of his book! Plus, I review Backyard Grill’s Gnarly Knucklebuster Hickory Habanero Sauce.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• Bigmista’s Barbecue
• Neil Strawder’s The Secret to Her Heart – The Dating Man’s Cookbook For Him to Get Her
• Bigmista’s Facebook page
• Bigmista’s Twitter page
• Bigmista’s YouTube channel
• Backyard Grill/Backyard Texas Sauce
• 2GuysTalking Dexter Podcast
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The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 003 – Double Feature Interview with Ed Currie and Pepper Joe, and Brian & Marilyn Meagher of Hot Sauce Daily
First, I speak with Brian & Marilyn Meagher of HotSauceDaily.com and HotSauceWeekly.com, and discuss briefly the history of their site and podcast, what they think of hot sauce reviewing in general, and attending fiery foods events. Then I chat with Ed Currie of PuckerButtPepperCompany.com and Pepper Joe of PepperJoe.com about the release of the HP22B Chile Pepper AKA the Carolina Reaper Pepper, which is a contender for the Hottest Chile Pepper in the World. Plus, I review Captain Thom’s Thai Monkey Sauce.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• Hot Sauce Daily
• Hot Sauce Weekly Podcast
• Pucker Butt Pepper Company
• Pepper Joe
• Rippin Red Wing Sauce
• Big Fat’s Hot Sauce
• Volcanic Peppers
• Captain Thoms Chili Pepper Company
• Chilli Pepper Pete
• Blue Marble Radio
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The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 002 – Interview with Jim Duffy of Refining Fire Chiles
An in-depth discussion with chile pepper grower and seller Jim Duffy of Refining Fire Chiles. He talks about how novices can grow their own super-hot chile peppers in their own home garden, the super-hot chile race to claim the world’s hottest pepper title, why super-hots are like NFL quarterbacks, what his favorite flavors and types of chiles are, and the state of chile pepper-eating videos on YouTube.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• Jim Duffy’s Website
• Youth Venture
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Another chile pepper test on camera. This time out I eat and cook with the HP22B Chile Pepper AKA Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper. This comes courtesy of Ed Currie (hence the name “Smokin’ Ed”) of the Pucker Butt Pepper Company. This is being touted as the world’s hottest chile pepper with averages (not top heat numbers, but average/mean numbers) of over 1.4 million SHU.
It will be announced via press releases on Labor Day 2012 concerning its heat record claims, and that the Pucker Butt Pepper Company and Pepper Joe’s will be the exclusive seed vendors.
While whether or not the Scoville numbers will trump the Moruga Scorpions or if the HP22Bs will become Guinness-certified is open for debate, these are indeed some of the fiercest peppers I’ve ever eaten.
The Audio Weekly Firecast with Scott Roberts:
Episode 001 – Interview with John “CaJohn” Hard of CaJohn’s Fiery Foods
Your favorite fiery foods and BBQ video show has now switched to an audio podcast format! Click here to subscribe via iTunes for playback on your iPod, iPhone or iPad, or subscribe via RSS Feed to download the episode(s) in your favorite podcast catcher.
Scott speaks with none other than “The Godfather” of hot sauces, John “CaJohn” Hard! CaJohn chats extensively about his history, his fiery products, what it takes to create new flavors, and the chile pepper heat race. Scott also reviews Hellfire Hot Sauce’s Blueberry Hell Hot Sauce.
Links mentioned in the episode:
• CaJohn’s Official Website
• Map Link to CaJohn’s facilities in Westerville, Ohio
• Bowers, PA Chile Pepper Festival
• Houston Hot Sauce Festival
• Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire
• Hellfire Hot Sauce
• HotSauceDaily.com and HotSauceWeekly.com
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Coming Soon! Please view the video for more info…