Blog Archives
People’s Choice Sausage Company is jerking you around…in all the best ways!

People’s Choice Beef Jerky boasts a great lineup of products!
When I was approached by Brian Bianchetti from Los Angeles about trying out some of People’s Sausage Company’s People’s Choice Beef Jerky, I did some digging around on the world wide interwebs and discovered that he was part of a family business that started making meat products back in 1929 in downtown L.A. Fast forward to 2016-four generations and almost nine decades later, and they still employ the painstaking, handmade processes utilized when their sausage business first started back in the day. Brian’s dad added beef jerky to their product line along the way, and the rest, as they say, is history!
People’s Choice sent me one of everything they offer: Large packs of thin sliced jerky, their three “signature” lines, and their Beef sticks. What do they all have in common? The quality of beef used is excellent. I wasn’t told what exact cut of beef is used for each, but they all had an excellent base flavor and texture, and I knew I was experiencing a higher quality cut of beef than most jerky I’ve eaten (and I’ve eaten a lot of jerky in my day, folks!). Without exception, it’s a great lineup of styles and flavors. I won’t go into significant detail about every one of them, cause I would jerk you one way and then jerk you another, and then you’d start thinking I was a jerk, and well, we wouldn’t want that, now, would we?! But I will touch on all of them and give a little more detail on a few that truly stood out. So let’s talk some jerky!
The 3 large packs were simply labeled “People’s Choice Beef Jerky” and came in Original, Hot & Spicy, and Teriyaki flavors. They had larger sheets of thin sliced beef, and while albeit tougher than the others, they weren’t overly tough. The Original had a good flavor, focusing on the natural flavor of the beef with a nicely rounded, traditionally minded use of garlic, onion, and other spices. It was slightly sweet, but not overly so, and while not highlighted, had less than 300 mg of sodium per serving, something almost unheard of in jerkyland! As someone who tries to watch my sodium intake, I was very impressed. The Hot and Spicy also had less sodium, but I didn’t find it much spicier than the original. It wasn’t quite a sweet on the front end, and there was a little more discernible pepper flavor, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “hot”. But then again, I’m a chilehead, a lover of heat and spice, so this flavor configuration probably works well for most palates. The Teriyaki was understandably sweeter, and with a fairly subtle soy and ginger flavor profile, which I enjoyed because it didn’t overpower the flavor of the beef. It also had slightly more sodium than the other two, which I would have expected.
The Old Fashioned line (also in Original, Hot & Spicy, and Teriyaki) was slightly thicker and in smaller pieces, and was dry, but not Sahara desert dry, if you know what I mean. The marketing sheet says this line features old family recipes, and the flavor profiles follow closely with the large, thin sheets found in the large packs. The one exception is that the smaller, thicker pieces were not as sweet on the front end, with the exception of the teriyaki. And the Hot & Spicy brought more spice and heat forward, and after eating an ounce or so, I could tell my mouth was “feeling the burn”(If you’re reading this during the 2016 presidential campaign, well, no pun intended!) The sodium content in this line, while higher than the thin sheets, was significantly lower than beef jerky you find in most stores.
The Carne Seca line also used a thicker cut of meat, but it was still lean. It was mostly dry, but not tough. I tried the Limon and Limon con (with) Chile. The lime (Limon translates lime-most of the time) flavor was very, very mild and hard to pick up, but there was a slight “brightness” of flavor that I could only attribute to the influence of the citrus. The “with chile” version added a layer of spice that wasn’t overwhelming and played well in the sandbox. The other traditional Mexican flavors were pleasant, the sodium again lower than you’d expect, and while not my favorite in the lineup, I sure wouldn’t turn it down if offered to me.
The Tasting Kitchen line focuses on limited edition, small batch, special flavors, that the company changes every so often. I sampled the Orange Honey Teriyaki, Sweet Chile Habanero, Garlic Ginger, and Sriracha flavors. The first three mentioned featured thick cuts of lean, moist beef, and I felt more like I was eating a nice flank steak, or maybe a round steak that was marinated forever and fully cooked, but not tough at all. The Sriracha, while very lean and flavorful, was much drier than the other three. It was hard to isolate a definitive Sriracha flavor, but after several bites, I felt a nice spice, and if I closed my eyes and concentrated really hard, I could tell that maybe…just maybe, I was eating Sriracha flavored jerky.
The Sweet Chile Habanero was by far my absolute home run favorite! I wrote notes on every product and I’ll just tell you what I wrote about this one in particular- AWESOME!!!!! Okay, I only used 2 exclamation marks in my notes, but I’m all excited now that I’m sharing my thoughts! It was very moist and tender with a great base beef texture and flavor and a sweet front end. I swear that it almost tasted like it had been candied! Crazy good! The habanero heat layers in very nicely, sliding in behind the sweet, ramping up to a discernible burn, but very manageable for most people. And the heat lingers a bit, just like a habanero should, but the sweetness of the beef and other flavors tempers it to a very enjoyable level. This one is definitely worth multiple repeat performances! And it didn’t have any more calories or significant difference in the amount of sugars, etc. found in the other flavors. The Orange Honey Teriyaki was very moist, and slightly sticky. I could discern the orange, and I almost found this one a tad too sweet, but my wife and jerky lovin’ son ( And for the record, no, I did NOT call him a jerk,…even though he did try to steal some before I was ready to fully share the wealth!) really liked this flavor. The Garlic Ginger was also excellent, with subtle Asian tones (I mean, duh, it does have ginger in it) and a well balanced flavor profile.
And the big surprise for me were the Beef Sticks, also in Original, Hot & Spicy, and Teriyaki flavors. I’m generally not a fan of beef sticks because I find them greasy, either too tough or too mushy, and with an artificial tasting flavor. Not this time! They were lean, not greasy or oily at all, and tasted fresh and natural. They had a nice firm casing that was not tough at all, and the meat was just the right texture and consistency. While the Original and Teriyaki mimicked their thinner cousins very closely in their flavor profiles, I found the Hot & Spicy beef stick to be spicier than its cousin, with a nice, layered heat, which I thoroughly enjoyed! I can’t think of a company making similar products that could shake a stick at them! Get it? Stick at them? Beef stick!? Sorry…couldn’t resist. Anyway, I loved them!
So, there you have it, peeps! A great lineup of beef jerky that boasts something for everyone! From traditional to sophisticated and unique, People’s Choice Beef Jerky lived up to their claim of making things that are made with purpose. It’s very difficult to really get a sense for someone’s emotion in an email, much less their passion, but it was easy for me to tell that this family run business in downtown Los Angeles is proud of their products, their roots, their family, and the handcrafted traditions used in crafting some really smart beef jerky. And well they should be! If I have to wrap the company up in one rating, I’d have to give People’s Choice Beef Jerky and all their collective goodness 4.5/5.0 Fiery Worlds!!! And I promise, I’m not jerking you around! I know! I know! But I just couldn’t resist. Go visit their website at www.peopleschoicebeefjerky.com and tell them that “It’s a Fiery World” sent you! Because we all know, Ladies and Gentlemen, that it truly is a Fiery World!
High River Sauces Announces 2016 Screaming Mimi Winners!
Hot off the press!!! After a weekend of sauce, spice, and killer sales for vendors, here is the list of winners of the ever coveted Screaming Mimi awards for 2016. It’s a Fiery World congratulates all the winners! And apologies for the formatting- I wanted to get these pushed out as soon as I received them!! Because, Ladies and gentlemen, It is a Fiery World!!!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 25th, 2016
NYC Hot Sauce Expo – Screaming Mi Mi Award Winners
The NYC Hot Sauce Expo is proud to announce the 2016 Screaming Mi Mi Award winners. With hundreds of entries the winners were selected by blind taste test by New Yorks finest and brightest in the culinary industry. The panel consisted of chefs from FOX, CBS and Food Networks, Food Critics from NYC Newspapers, Bloggers, Magazines, Hot Sauce Retailers, and some of NYC’s Top Chefs. The Screaming Mi Mi Awards have been creating a large industry buzz within the Hot Sauce Community. Past winners have received features on TV, magazines, newspapers creating a profile that has lead for their product distributed by wholesalers and national retail outlets.
This year’s top honors goes out to Ghost Scream Hot Sauce for winning the Grand World Champion. The panel of judges gave his Shost Scream Hot Sauce the top honors of all entries.
Here are your 2016 Screaming Mi Mi Award Winners.
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Asian Style
Yai’s Thai
Chili Garlic Hot Sauce
2nd Place – Jersey Barnfire – Ginger
3rd Place – BONMi – BONMi Bonfire Sauce
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Caribbean Style
Krista’s Caribbean Kitchen
Jerkalicious
2nd Place – Dashelito’s – Undertow Caribbean Curry Hot Pepper Sauce
3rd Place – Dirty Dicks – Pepper Sauce
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Louisiana Style
Hoff & Pepper
Hoff Sauce
2nd Place – Ed’s Red – XX Hot Sauce
3rd Place – Gater Hammock – Gator Sauce
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Chipotle
Caption Foods
Old Man Gourmet Creole
2nd Place – Jersey Barnfire – Smoked Ghost Taco
3rd Place – All Spice Café – Chipotle Garlic
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Fruit Based
Dirty Dicks
Hot Pepper Sauce
2nd Place – VooDoo Chile – Psycho Tropic
3rd Place – Clamlube Brand – Authentic Black
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Fruit Based Hot
Dirty Dicks
Hot Pepper Sauce
2nd Place – Angry Goat – Purple Hippo Hot Sauce
3rd Place – Red Flag Spicy Foods – Not Dead Yet
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Habanero
Crowley’s Hot Sauce
Haba Nice Day
2nd Place – Volcanic Peppers – Volcanic Dust
3rd Place – Heartbreaking Dawns – 1542
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Jalapeno
Hell’s Kitchen
Retro Jalapeno
2nd Place – Hot & Pepper – Hoff Sauce
3rd Place – Queen Majesty – Jalapeno
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Pepper Blend Mild
Jersey Barnfire
Black Garlic
2nd Place – Lucky Dog – Brown Label
3rd Place – Friendly Fire – Tamarind & Ghost Pepper
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Pepper Blend Hot
Ghost Scream
Ghost Scream Hot Sauce
2nd Place – Rescue Me Hot Sauce
3rd Place – Purple Pam – Kiss of Death
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
XXX Hot Sauce
Cully’s Hot Sauce
Firewater
2nd Place – Heartbreaking Dawns – Fervor
3rd Place – Primo’s – Swampadelic
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Chicken Wing
Defcon Sauces
Defense Condition #3
2nd Place – Defcon Sauces – Curbstomp
3rd Place – Defcon Sauces – Cluckwing Orange
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Spicy BBQ
Texas Rib Ranger
Hot BBQ Sauce
2nd Place – Tom’s Roid-Rippin’- Double RR Citrus BBQ
2nd Place – Rufus Teague – Blazing Hot BBQ
3rd Place – Southern Belle – Spicy Hickory Smoke
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Spicy Salsa
Texas Brew Salsa
Hot Iron Habanero
2nd Place – Todd’s Original – Ghost Pepper Salsa
3rd Place – Deception Salsa – Oink
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Best Hot Sauce Label
Puckerbutt Pepper Company
The Reaper
2nd Place – All Spice Café – Cayenne Habanero
3rd Place – Mikey V’s – 512 Pot Sauce
2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo
Screaming Mi Mi Award
Grand World Champion
Ghost Scream
Ghost Scream Hot Sauce
For more information about the NYC Hot Sauce Expo please contact Steve Seabury: steve@highriversauces.com
Official website: http://www.NYCHotSauceExpo.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NewYorkCityHotSauceExpo
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/highriversauces
3CB466ED-471B-4F72-BCC8-4334797AD655
What’s all the Bugaboo about Rougarou!?
Well, I gotta tell you it feels good to be in the review mode once again! And it’s fitting that my first written review in a while comes from my backyard – Cajun Country!! The Rougarou lineup of Louisiana style sauces from the new startup company Bayou Blend, from Napoleonville, Louisiana did not disappoint.
Let’s start with the foundation of their lineup, Cajun Cayenne, since it appears that the Cajun Habanero builds on that profile. At first, this appears to be a pretty straight forward, cayenne based sauce, but it has some pleasant twists. It has a simple ingredient list – cayenne peppers, garlic, onion, vinegar, and spices. It’s a thin sauce, with maybe just a bit more consistency than another very well known Louisiana based sauce, but with a tad more texture. It has a very appealing look, where you can see the fresh spices suspended evenly throughout. I credit the textural difference to those visible flecks of spices and black pepper swimming around in the sauce, kinda like the beady eyes of a gator in the swamp, which is their label and logo mascot. In fact, the black pepper is a fairly dominant player on Cajun Cayenne’s flavor team. I could pick up the garlic and onion notes, and much to my liking, not a lot of salt! I really am not a fan of super salty sauces. Most traditional Louisiana style sauces are simply peppers, salt, and vinegar, and this sauce ( and the other 2 in the lineup) took a nice, bold step to break that mold! At only 40 mg of sodium per teaspoon, there’s lots of room to guage your own saltiness needs in your food, so the sauce compliments, rather than competes, with other ingredients being used.
The heat level is a mild to low medium for the average person, and a definite very mild for the Chilehead, with that quick pop of heat you’d expect with a cayenne pepper based sauce, accented by the vinegar on the front end, with a lingering zing and a playful heat tang. It pairs well with all the staples you’d think with a Louisiana style sauce- eggs, pizza, a “cajunized” bloody mary mix, etc. and with the way the spices are blended, it could easily compliment any sauce or dish.
The Cajun Habanero shares most of the above comments, with the following additions: It obviously adds a layer of heat from the habs, as well as that nice fruity, “citrusy” note that I enjoy from a habanero. The layering of heat with the cayenne is done smartly for this medium heat sauce. You get the quick up front palate pop, then the mid palate heat takes over, which lingers much longer than the cayenne sauce, as would be expected. And for both of these sauces, the vinegar is noticeable, and after all, it is a Louisiana style sauce, but it works well in the overall flavor profile.
These sauces are respectable, if not too, too remarkable and would work well with all the usual staples, as well a companion to lot of other dishes where you want a fairly mild, but somewhat zingy punch of flavor and heat.
Bayou Blend’s Luzianne Red Habanero is a straight up, Louisiana style sauce made of red habanero peppers, salt, and vinegar. It’s thin, red, with a big vinegar front end and a fairly mild habanero heat. I like a nice,traditional Louisiana style sauce to mix with ketchup, add to soups, beans, and eggs. The added heat from the habanero is a nice deviation from either tobasco or cayenne peppers, the stalwarts of Louisiana sauces. And speaking of heat, I would say that even though this is a Hab sauce, it’s only a mild heat, or possibly a medium heat for the faint of heart!
Now if you remember, I love me a good label, and Bayou Blend gets an A+ on their graphics and label design. it’s clean, catchy, not too busy, uses a really catchy font, and just has a great, marketable look about it. Their brand logo of the gator with the name embedded is really clever and eye appealing. And if you’re a sauce maker competing with lots of others on a shelf in the store (where folks buy on looks and impulse, cause they can’t taste it!), then your label is everything! Great job, Bayou Blend!
I’m gonna give Bayou Blend’s Cajun Cayenne and Cajun Habanero both a solid 3 Fiery Worlds, which is above average in my world. They had great flavor, a nice heat balance, and would pair well with most anything. I’m giving the Luziana Red Habanero an average rating of 2 1/2 Fiery Worlds, since it’s really not any hotter than most readily available Louisiana style sauces currently on the market. If the folks at Bayou Blend go back and truly do justice to the habanero’s heat potential, I’d rate it at least 3 Fiery Worlds, since I haven’t seen too many true Louisiana style hab sauces true to the flavor profile with enough heat.
Even though these sauces haven’t made their way to Bayou Blend’s website, bayousnacks.com , I’m sure they’ll be there soon. I’ve tried their original jerky, which is tasty, with great flavor and texture. They have several jerky flavors available, so go check them out. And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen – 3 sauces from a bayou state newcomer to the scene. I encourage you to order some and try them for yourself, and do your own review. I’m just one man with a unique palate and an opinion. And there are lots and lots of tastebuds and taste prefenences out there! Why, you ask? Because we all know – It’s a Fiery World!!