At tonight’s Zestfest awards ceremony, companies from all over the country were awarded the coveted Golden Chile award!! Thanks to John “CaJohn” Hard for sending the list out to myself, Scott Roberts, and Al “Buddah” Goldenberg to spread to those waiting with baited breath to know if their spicy works of love made the judges smile, sweat, or whatever else judges do!!  So look for your favorites, and maybe order something from a winning company and see if you agree!!! Why, you ask? Because, Ladies and Gentlemen, It’s a Fiery World!!!!

Snack: Popcorn – Consumer Ready      1. Pam’s Market Popcorn – Triple X Columbus Mix   2. Pam’s Market Popcorn – Hannibal’s Hot Nutz   3. Pam’s Market Popcorn – Sassy Sweet Gooey Caramel

Snack: Salty Snack – Consumer Ready      1. Cajun Tex Salsa and More – Cajun Tex Spicy Cajun Chips 2. PuckerButt Pepper Company – Smokin’ Ed’s Hot Nutz 3. Jungle Heat – What Was I Thinking

Best Snack      Pepper Palace Inc – Pepper Palace Spicy Pineapple Bread & Butter  

Zesty Sweets: Candy/Chocolate – Consumer Ready 1. Texas Toffee – Gotcha Toffee 2. Anettes Chocolates – Chili Lime Tortilla Brittle 3. Poco Dolce Confections – Smoked Almond & Ghost Chili Salt Bittersweet Chocolate Tiles

Zesty Sweets: Cookies/Desserts – Consumer Ready 1. Katie’s Snack Foods – Spicy Brown Sugar Pineapple Jerky 2. Katie’s Snack Foods – Pina Colada Pineapple Jerky 3. Katie’s Snack Foods – Maraschino Pineapple Jerky

Zesty Sweets: Dessert Sauce – Consumer Ready   1. Texas Brew Salsa – Fire Roasted Mango Tequila Sauce 2. Texas Brew Salsa – Fire Roasted Pineapple Spiced Rum Sauce 3. Texas Brew Salsa – Stone Fruit Hatch Chutney

Best Zesty Sweets      Texas Toffee – Gotcha Toffee 

Cook-Off Food: Chile Con Carne      1. Texas Select Seasonings – Ghost Dust Chili 2. Texas Select Seasonings – Texa-Peno Chili 3. SuckleBusters Inc – Sucklebusters Comeptition Chili Kit

Cook-Off Food: Dry Seasoning/Rub      1. Black Swamp Gourmet – X-Hot Rub 2. CRC BBQ Enterprises LLC – Riley’s Smoky and Bold 3. Cowboy BBQ – Smokey Salty Bronc

Cook-Off Food: Table Seasoning      1. AmberFyre Foods – Amberger Jalapeno 2. BBQ’n Fools – Signature Seasoning 3. Mike’s Mojo Seasoning – Mike’s Mojo All Purpose Seasoning

Cook-Off Food: Asian Seasoning or Marinade     1. PuckerButt Pepper Company – VooDoo Prince Death Mamba 2. PuckerButt Pepper Company – Pineapple Ginger 3. The Spice Lab – Gourmet Bacon Rub-Asian Sesame Sweet & Spicy

Cook-Off Food: Jerk Seasoning or Marinade     1. Pepper Palace Inc – Pepper Palace World Tour Jamaican Jerk Seasoning 2. Donna’s Boston Bay Jerk Sauce – Donna’s Boston Bay Jerk Sauce 3. Rasta Bros – Rasta Bros Jamaican Jerk Marinade

Cook-Off Food: Pasta      1. Gorji Gourmet Foods – Gorji Gourmet Foods Arrabiata Diavolo   2. Gorji Gourmet Foods – Gorji Gourmet Foods Puttanesca   3. Gorji Gourmet Foods – Gorji Gourmet Foods Pomodoro

Cook-Off Food: Wing Sauce Mild/Medium      1. Hot Sauce Depot – The Flaming Chicken Hot Garlic Wing Sauce 2. Porky’s Gourmet Food – Historic Lynchburg Wild & Wicked Wing Sauce 3. Pepper Palace Inc  – Wingmaster Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce

Cook-Off Food: Wing Sauce Hot/X Hot      1. Demitri’s Gourmet Mixes – Demitri’s Chipotle-Habanero Bloody Mary Seasoning 2. Pepper Palace Inc  – Wingmaster Smokehouse Wing Sauce 3. Hot Sauce Depot – The Flaming Chicken Scorpion Fire Wing Sauce

Cook-Off Food: Specialty      1. Demitri’s Gourmet Mixes – Demitri’s Chipotle-Habanero Bloody Mary Seasoning 2. The Spice Boys – Ragin Cajun 3. The Spice Lab – Smoked Ghost Pepper Sea Salt

Cook-Off Beverage: Bloody Mary Mix      1. Bloody Reolution Gourmet Bloody Mary Mixes – Bloody Revolution Smoked Habanero 2. The Murph’s Famous Bloody Mary Mix – The Murph’s Famous Hot & Spicy 3. Demitri’s Gourmet Mixes – Demitri’s Chipotle-Habanero Bloody Mary Seasoning

Cook-Off Beverage: Margarita Mix – TIE     1. SlimRitas – Slim Hatch Chile Rita 1. What The Chuck Mix – What The Chuck Mix for Margarita

Cook-Off Beverage: Other Beverage/Cocktail Mix   1. Smokin’ Texas Gourmet – Votew 2. Race City Sauce Works – Snake Oil Love Potion 3. What The Chuck Mix – What The Chuck Mix for Michelada

Best Cook-Off      1. Hot Sauce Depot – The Flaming Chicken Hot Garlic Wing Sauce

Best New Product Consumer Ready Food      1. Georgia’s Sweet Peppers – Candied Habanero 2. Texas Brew Salsa – True Blue Love Confit 3. Feisty Parrot – OUCH!

Best New Product Cook-Off      1. SlimRitas – Slim Hatch Chile Rita 2. Gorji Gourmet Foods – Gorji Gourmet Foods Arrabiata Diavolo 3. Jenks Specialty Food – Sugar Britches BBQ Sauce and Glaze

Marketing: Label      1. Primo’s Peppers – Swampadelic Sauce 2. Race City Sauce Works – Snake Oil Gold Digger 3. Lucky Dog Hot Sauce – Diá del Perro

Marketing: Logo      1. Primo’s Peppers – Primo’s Peppers 2. AmberFyre Foods – AmberFyre Foods 3. Little Bar Double R – Little Bar Double R

Marketing: Product Packaging      1. Cajun Tex Salsa and More – Cajun Tex Spicy Cajun Chips 2. Ana’s Foods – Ana’s Salsa Restaurant Style Medium 3. Chicks and Salsa – Virgin Mary by Chicks & Salsa

Best Overall Product / Best of the Best Race City Sauce Works – Seven Pepper SrirachaH H

Barbecue Sauce:  Mild – Consumer Ready      1. High River Sauces – Rattler BBQ Sauce 2. Woody’s Bar-B-Q Sauce – Woody’s Hickory Mild B-B-Q Sauce  3. Southern Belles BBQ – Original Belle

Barbecue Sauce:  Medium – Consumer Ready 1. AmberFyre Foods – Manhattan Black Cherry Bourbon BBQ 2. CRC BBQ Enterprises LLC – Riley’s Triple R Sauce 3. Full Boar BBQ – Full Boar BBQ Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce

Barbecue Sauce:  Hot – Consumer Ready      1. Pepper Smack LLC – Pepper Smack Pepper Q 2. Full Boar BBQ – Full Boar BBQ Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce 3. Southern Belles BBQ – Southern Heat

Barbecue Sauce:  X Hot – Consumer Ready  1. AmberFyre Foods – Manhattan Black Cherry Bourbon BBQ HOT 2. Pepper Palace Inc – Black Rock Scorpion BBQ Sauce 3. Cobra Chili – Carolina BBQ Sauce

Barbecue Sauce:  Fruit Based – Consumer Ready   1. Southern Belles BBQ – Blueberry Blues 2. Sweet Heat Gourmet  – Apple Bourbon BBQ Sauce 3. Southern Belles BBQ – Hot & Sassy Peach

Barbecue Sauce:  Mustard Based – Consumer Ready 1. Pepper Palace Inc – South Carolina Mustard Style 2. KW’s BBQ Sauce – KW’s BBQ Sauce Sweet & Spicy 3. SuckleBusters Inc – SuckleBusters Mustard

Barbecue Sauce:  Tomato Based – Consumer Ready 1. CRC BBQ Enterprises LLC – Riley’s Triple R Sauce  2. Pepper Palace Inc – Cayenne BBQ 3. Full Boar BBQ – Full Boar BBQ Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce

Barbecue Sauce:  Vinegar Based – Consumer Ready 1. SuckleBusters Inc – SuckleBusters Original 2. Woody’s Bar-B-Q Sauce – Woody’s Original Hot Bar-B-Q Sauce 3. YT’z Trading Company – YT’z Carolina Shark Byte Sauce

Barbecue Sauce:  Specialty – Consumer Ready 1. CRC BBQ Enterprises LLC – Riley’s Triple R Sauce 2. Frog Bone Cajun Sauces – Bayou BBQ 3. Woody’s Bar-B-Q Sauce – Woody’s Marinade and Baste

Best Barbecue Sauce      AmberFyre Foods – Manhattan Black Cherry Bourbon BBQ  

Condiments:  Horseradish – Consumer Ready 1. PuckerButt Pepper Company – I Dare You Stupit Horseradish 2. Pepper Palace Inc – Nasal Napalm Horseradish 3. PuckerButt Pepper Company – Blazing Hot

Condiments:  Jam/Jelly – Consumer Ready 1. Pepper Smack LLC – Pepper Smack Habanero Pepper Jelly 2. Diane’s Sweet Heat – Peach Habanero Jam 3. Rasta Bros – Jamaican Pepper Jelly

Condiments:  Ketchup – Consumer Ready      1. AmberFyre Foods – DeVille Cayenne Garlic Ketchup 2. Grumps Burgers – Grumps Jalapeno Ketchup 3. The Karma Sauce Company – Curry Kats’up

Condiments:  Mustard – Consumer Ready      1. The Karma Sauce Company – Cold Process Mustard 2. AmberFyre Foods – Verona Cayenne Garlic Mustard 3. The Karma Sauce Company – Chipotle Mustard

Condiments: Relish – Consumer Ready      1. Pepper Palace Inc – Red Bell Pepper Relish 2. Pappa Perrys Pepper Products – Pear Chow Relish 3. Cottage Lane Kitchen – Give Me A Switch Spicy Pepper Relish

Condiments:  Salad Dressing – Consumer Ready   1. Frog Bone Cajun Sauces – Remoulade Sauce 2. Stagecoach Salsa – Sheriff Mike’s Spicy Salsa Ranch 3. Pepper Palace Inc – Cherry Balsamic Sauce

Condiments:  Steak Sauce – Consumer Ready 1. Pepper Palace Inc – Pepper Palace Spicy Steak Sauce 2. Pepper Palace Inc – Pepper Palace Steak Sauce 3. Geno’s Food Friendly Sauce – Geno’s Spicy Sauce

Condiments:  Specialty – Consumer Ready 1. Pepper Smack LLC – Fire Lime Sriracha 2. Jake’s Famous Foods – Jake’s Famous Chipotle Mayonnaise 3. PuckerButt Pepper Company – VooDoo Prince Death Mamba

Best Condiment      Pepper Palace Inc – Red Bell Pepper Relish   

Hot Sauce:  Asian Style – Consumer Ready     1. High River Sauces – Foo Foo Mama Choo 2. Pepper Palace Inc – Tsunami Asian Style Hot Sauce 3. The Karma Sauce Company – Curry Karma Sauce

Hot Sauce:  Caribbean Style – Consumer Ready     1. AmberFyre Foods  – Mango Suave 2. Scorpion Gourmet Hot Sauce  – Scorpion Gourmet Hot Sauce XHOT 3. High River Sauces  – Tears of the Sun

Hot Sauce:  LatinStyle – Consumer Ready      1. AmberFyre Foods  – Xoxoctic 2. Pangean Foods LLC – Chantico Pepper Sauce 3. Race City Sauce Works – Deadwood

Hot Sauce:  Louisiana Style – Consumer Ready     1. AmberFyre Foods  – Livingston Parish 2. Todd-Sik Sauce – Todd-Sik Garlic Hot Sauce 3. Pepper Palace Inc  – Black Rose Hot Sauce

Hot Sauce:  Chipotle – Consumer Ready      1. High River Sauces  – Hellacious 2. Pepper Palace Inc  – Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze Hot Sauce 3. Hot Sauce Depot – Irazu Volcanic Pepper Sauce Chipotle

Hot Sauce:  Fruit Based – Consumer Ready     1. Sweet Heat Gourmet – Pineapple & Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce 2. Jungle Heat – Caribbean Heat 3. Jungle Heat – Mango Heat

Hot Sauce:  Pepper Blend – Consumer Ready     1. Scotty B’s Hot Sauces – Ghostly Garlic 2. Lucky Dog Hot Sauce – Pink Label 3. Chicks and Salsa – C & S Original Roasted Reaper-Habanero

Hot Sauce: Mild – Consumer Ready      1. High River Sauces  – Tears of the Sun 2. Race City Sauce Works – Deadwood Eulogy 3. Lucky Dog Hot Sauce – Green Label

Hot Sauce:  Medium – Consumer Ready      1. Chicks and Salsa  Virgin Mary by Chicks & Salsa 2. Consuming Fires Specialty Foods – Consuming Fires Smoked Jalapeno Sauce 3. Lucky Dog Hot Sauce – Orange Label

Hot Sauce:  Hot – Consumer Ready      1. Lucky Dog Hot Sauce – Black Label 2. Smokin Texas Gourmet – Angry Twist 3. The Karma Sauce Company – Cherry Bomb Hot Sauce

Hot Sauce:  X Hot – Consumer Ready      1. Race City Sauce Works – Seven Pepper Sriracha 2. Chicks and Salsa – Scary Bloody Mary by Chicks & Salsa 3. Scotty O’Hotty Hot Sauce – The Ghost Sauce

Hot Sauce:  Ultra Hot Pepper – Consumer Ready     1. Chicks and Salsa – C & S Signature Roasted Reaper-Habanero 2. Primo’s Peppers – Swampadelic Sauce 3. Born to Hula – Reaper of Sorrow

Best Hot Sauce:      Race City Sauce Works – Seven Pepper Sriracha

Fresh Salsa: Mild – Consumer Ready      1. Ana’s Foods – Ana’s Salsa Original Mild 2. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Jack’s Special Mild 3. Olympus Fare – Olympus Fare Salsa “Aphrodite”

Fresh Salsa: Medium – Consumer Ready      1. Citas Salsa – Red Rage 2. Olympus Fare – Olympus Fare Salsa “Zeus” 3. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Jack’s Special Medium

Fresh Salsa: Hot – Consumer Ready      1. Citas Salsa – Fiery Fiesta 2. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Carolina Reaper Hot 3. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Jack’s Special Hot

Fresh Salsa: Fruit – Consumer Ready      1. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Mango Habanero with Ginger & Honey 2. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Mango Peach 3. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Mango Pico de Gallo

Fresh Salsa: Specialty – Consumer Ready      1. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Tomatillo Salsa 2. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Fire Roasted Tomatillo 3. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Fire Roasted Black Bean & Corn

Best Fresh Salsa:      Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Tomatillo Salsa  

Salsa: Mild – Consumer Ready      1. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Tomatillo Salsa 2. Daniel’s Fire Roast – Medium Black Bean & Corn 3. Cajun Tex Salsa and More – Cajun Tex Hickory-Smoked Salsa Picante

Salsa: Medium – Consumer Ready      1. Damn Good Heat – Jalapeno Garlic Salsa 2. Cajun Tex Salsa and More – Cajun Tex Hickory-Smoked Salsa Picante 3. Casa Morales Inc – Casa Morales Restaurant Salsa

Salsa: Hot – Consumer Ready      1. Damn Good Heat – Habanero Garlic Salsa 2. Daniel’s Fire Roast – Hot 3. Holmes Made Salsa – Marty’s Roasted Green Chile – Red

Salsa: X Hot – Consumer Ready      1. Silverleaf International – Scorpion Salsa 2. La Familia Salsa Co – XX Red Scorpion  3. PuckerButt Pepper Company  – I Dare Your Stupit Reaper Salsa

Salsa: Bean & Corn – Consumer Ready      1. Sweet Slap’n Salsa Company  – Medium X 2. Daniel’s Fire Roast – Medium Black Bean & Corn 3. Holmes Made Salsa – Spicy Black Bean w/Corn

Salsa: Chipotle – Consumer Ready      1. Daniel’s Fire Roast – Medium Black Bean & Corn 2. Stagecoach Salsa  – Smoke and Fire 3. Daniel’s Fire Roast – Hot

Salsa: Fruit – Consumer Ready      1. Pepper Palace Inc  – Pepper Palace Peach Salsa 2. Sweet Slap’n Salsa Company  – Strawberry Medium 3. Chehalem Ridge Brands – Blues Berry Fruit Salsa

Salsa: Exotic Blend – Consumer Ready      1. PuckerButt Pepper Company  – I Dare You Stupit Reaper Salsa 2. Pepper Palace Inc  – Pepper Palace Manzano Salsa 3. Deception Salsa – Oink

Salsa: Verde/Tomatillo – Consumer Ready      1. Texas Select Seasonings – Tomatillo Avocado  2. Pepper Palace Inc  – Pepper Palace Avocado Tomatilla 3. Pepper Palace Inc – Roasted New Mexico Green Chile Salsa

Best Salsa:       PuckerButt Pepper Company – I Dare You Stupit Reaper Salsa

Snack: Cheese – Consumer Ready      1. Pepper Palace Inc  – Pepper Palace Queso Blanco 2. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Cream Cheese & Salsa 3. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Mexicali Dip with Cheddar

Snack: Chips – Consumer Ready      1. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Moe & Joe’s Tortilla Chips 2. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips 3. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Original Tortilla Chips

Snack: Jerky – Consumer Ready      1. Katie’s Snack Foods – KT’s Original Beef Jerky 2. Oregon Trail Jerky  – Sweet Habanero Jerky 3. Just Jerky U.S.A. – Just Jerky USA Chipotle Cayenne

Snack: Pickles – Consumer Ready      1. Pepper Palace Inc  – Pepper Palace Spicy Pineapple Bread & Butter 2. Pepper Palace Inc  – Pepper Palace Horseradish Pickles 3. Pepper Palace Inc  – Pepper Palace Habanero Chunk Pickles

Snack: Pickled Other – Consumer Ready      1. Smokin’ Texas Gourmet – L’il Gems Candies Jalapenos 2. Shaggy Dog – Shaggy Dog Spicy Pickled Asparagus 3. La Familia Salsa Co – Candied Jalapenos

Snack: Prepared Dip – Consumer Ready      1. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Guacamole Zesty 2. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Mexicali Dip with Cheddar 3. Garden Fresh Gourmet – Garden Fresh Gourmet Artichoke Jalapeno Dip