Blog Archives
Fiery Flash Review – Born to Hula Imperial Apple BBQ Sauce!
When I heard that Born to Hula was putting a BBQ sauce on the market, I instantly knew I had to try it! Imperial Apple! I’ve been seeing it on the various hot sauce and BBQ groups on Facebook with it’s beautiful label and mouth-watering description! Man oh man!! And lo and behold, a gift arrived at my doorstep today, like manna from heaven! And it was so glorious that I could of sworn I heard angels sing when I opened it! Ten minutes later it was slathered all over my left over grilled chicken breast! And here I am the very same evening just having to share!
It’s a stunning looking label- black with a metallic BTH crested eagle logo and lettering, with a nice unique label shape (see picture!). It has a rich looking, commanding presence with a genuinely German feel and the phrase “100% Natürlich” (that’s natural for you non German speakers!) on the label is a nice touch. And with ingredients like Berentzen Apple Liqueur and Applewood smoked habaneros accompanying the molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, vine-ripened tomatoes and spices, I knew I was in for a treat!
And it did not disappoint! It was thick, robing the chicken evenly, with a nice texture. The richly colored sauce was oh so slightly acidic from the tomatoes and apple cider vinegar, but with just enough acidity to open the palate and get the tastebuds ready for the mild, sweet, apple flavor. Pair that with a zesty pop from the liqueur, a bold “we are spices, hear us roar” statement from the spice blend, and then a subtle, smartly layered habanero based heat that is the undertone for the entire flavor spectrum, and it was just Wünderbar! The applewood smoked habs was a creative stroke of genius, using a nice, bright pepper, but using the applewood smoke to tone down the citrusy sharpness of the hab so it didn’t overpower the other flavor profiles. Born to Hula’s Imperial Apple BBQ sauce now sets right next to a very small club of what I consider top end BBQ sauces!
Ed and Amy Bucholtz have definitely been on a positive roll lately, introducing one winner after another. Their Smokehaus salsa and Smokehaus Blues, the new fatalli based smoked pineapple hot sauce, and now the Imperial Apple BBQ sauce proudly accompany their existing lineup of award winning sauces and spicy snacks. Go to their website, http://www.borntohula.com and stock up on some fiery goodness today! And don’t forget to tell them I sent you! Why, ladies and gentlemen? Because we all know – It’s a Fiery World!!!
“Hot” Off the Press!!! Zestfest 2015 Winners Announced!!!
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
Extract Some Heat and Check out Ken’s Fiery World on Scott Robert’s Weekly Firecast Episode #60!!!
The Firecast with Scott Roberts: Firecast Podcast Episode #60 – Interview with Famous Dave Anderson of Famous Dave’s BBQ
Scott chats with one of the most influential people in all of barbecue, Famous Dave Anderson of the Famous Dave’s BBQ restaurant chain. Ken Alexander also stops by and has an in-depth discussion with Scott about capsaicin and chile pepper extract. Scott reviews Jersey Barnfire Original and Black Garlic Hot Sauces.
Links mentioned in the episode:
- Famous Dave’s BBQ Restaurant Website
- Famous Dave Anderson Website
- Books by Famous Dave Anderson – (Famous Dave’s Barbecue Party Cookbook and Famous Dave’s Rib-O-Licious – Award-Winning Barbeque and Grilling Recipes)
- Jersey Barnfire Hot Sauces
Other Links:
Listen Instantly!
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Click Above to Listen to This Episode Now!
Download this episode | 
Subscribe via iTunes | 
Subscribe via RSS Feed
Cajun Heat “Q’s” Up a Winning Sauce!!!
I have the privilege of telling all of you about a new sauce I had the honor of trying prior to its public release. Clement Bourg, saucemaster deluxe, and owner of Cajun Heat (home to Voodoo Ash and Liquid Napalm), has crafted a BBQ sauce with his native Cajun roots called “C’est Bon Cajun-Q”. I recently saw a post Clement put on Facebook asking if anyone knew a writer who could help him re-write his product sheet. Well, I like to write, so I fired back a quick response and told him I’d love a shot at it. And I was tickled that he liked what I did for his product descriptions. But not being a “professional” writer, I wasn’t sure what to charge him after he asked my fee. So we did the logical thing – we bartered our talents! I think I ended up with the better end of the deal, for sure, because Clement not only hooked me up a great assortment of products to try and enjoy (see the picture! Jealous, huh?!), including stocking me up on Ash and Napalm, my two fav Cajun Heat products, he also sent me his new C’est Bon Cajun-Q BBQ sauce to review. And, if that weren’t enough, he sent me his Batch 1, Bottle 1of C’est Bon, and Batch 1, Bottle 2 with Cajun Heat’s gourmet label scheme (same sauces, different label for a different audience). How cool is that? I know Vic Clinco is drooling over that one! So, with that little story as the lead in, let’s see what’s up with Clement’s newest creation.
Ingredients: Tomato Sauce, Ketchup, Vinegar, Brown Sugar, Yellow Mustard, Cajun Spices, Liquid Smoke, Salt, Brown Mustard
Appearance/Texture: This is an interesting looking sauce, with lots of character. The color is light for a BBQ sauce, almost a rusty brick red, not the deep, dark look of many BBQ sauces. I attribute this to the lack of Molasses in the ingredients. It is full of specks of spices, all of which serve to paint a spicy canvas which advertise the diversity of flavors inside. It is like a natural silk garment…it lays on the tongue with a good smooth drape, but with a touch of texture that speaks to the flecks of natural spices and goodness contained within its fabric.
Flavor: This is where Clement has gone deep into the recesses of a gator infested bayou, and waded through the murky, cypress studded waters, and emerged with a sauce that is……wait for it…….obviously Cajun, no, wait……Carolina…..no, how about Country, no, that’s not it………. Caribbean, no that’s not it, either. So what is it? After all, it has Cajun Q in the name! Well, I think it’s all of the above!!! It took me a while to figure it out. It has the sweet of a country sauce, the zest and uniqueness of a caribbean, the tang of a good North Carolina vinegar based sauce, but with an unmistakable Cajun pop and flair! Thoroughly confused?! Don’t worry! It’s just the swamp gas and it’ll pass! This sauce is so eclectic in its spice blend that it could have many mommas and daddies in its heritage! The sweetness of the tomatoes, ketchup and brown sugar, with that touch of earthy smokiness and zingy spices found in cajun flavors, make a great foundation of flavor. Add in the mustard (both yellow and spicy) and the vinegar, and the flavors lighten up, the vinegar opening the palate and allowing the privileged partaker to experience the full impact of the worldliness that this sauce expresses. Given that Clement relocated to Virginia from Louisiana, I found myself thinking that he is paying homage to his roots and his new home, and all points in-between.
Heat: This isn’t a hot BBQ sauce, nor does it advertise itself as such. It provides some pop from the vinegar, mustard and spices, but just enough to be playful. It truly works for any taste and any person.
Label: Those of you that are familiar with my reviews on I Love it Spicy and Hot Sauce Daily know that I’m big on labels. Why? Because that’s the window to the soul of an initial product purchase. Why do you think companies spend gazillions of dollars every year on Madison Avenue type advertisers? So that manufacturers and business owners can showcase their products in the best visual light! So what about Cajun Heat’s C’est Bon Cajun-Q label? Well, the label is eye-catching and fun. It reminds me of something frequently found in tourist shops. Cartoonish and bright! And Clement calls it a “novelty label”. But the company name is missing on the front of the label, and I think that hurts brand recognition. How are you going to instill customer loyalty if they don’t know what company is selling the product? The Cajun Heat tagline, “Eat Like a Freak” is clearly visible, but the company name and logo (which is well done and very polished) is pushed off on the side of the label. I think Cajun Heat would do themselves a favor by putting out a label that clearly displays the company name. As to Cajun Heat’s “gourmet” label, it looks generic and gives no real help to establishing identity of company or product.
Overall: 4 1/2 Fiery Worlds : This is an excellent BBQ sauce. It’s complexity and diversity belie its name. And being that South Louisiana is my adopted adult home (I guess 30+ years here allow me that claim!), I am proud that Cajun Heat’s C’est Bon Cajun-Q proclaims a Cajun identity. However, it could rightfully claim an idenity in any of the BBQ Capitals: Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, North Carolina, etc. etc. etc. It’s just that diverse. I’ve had it on several different things, including chicken, pork, and even on my oven roasted chicken Subway sandwich, along with Cajun Heat’s mustard! If you’re BBQ loving family and friends can’t decide on a style of sauce to use at your next BBQ feast, this sauce may very well satisfy even the most loyal of sauce style followers!! If you’re in the Stephens City, Virginia area, give Clement Bourg of Cajun Heat a shout. Or check out his website to pick you up some today. You definitely won’t be sorry. And don’t forget: Explore the spice in your life because It’s a Fiery World! Thanks for stopping by!
PostScript: This review is posting on Clement Bourg’s birthday, April 27, 2012. To promote the launch of C’est Bon Cajun-Q, Cajun Heat is offerering a discount to all early purchasers. Put in the coupon code CAJUN-Q, and receive a 35% discount for all Cajun Heat orders placed Friday, April 27th!! Cajun Heat’s website highlights their entire line of cajun inspired products. They also feature two different labelling schemes for their hot sauces and BBQ sauce. Their product line includes the popular Voodoo Ash spicy seasoning and their hottest sauce, Liquid Napalm! They also feature a wing sauce, three different cajun hot sauces of varying heat levels, a cajun mustard, and of course, C’est Bon Cajun-Q! Bon Appetit!!!
It's a Fiery World 