New York City Hot Sauce Expo 4 of 5

New York City Hot Sauce Expo 

Deception Salsa

Deception Salsa

I love the design on the labels from Deception Salsa. They have a broad selection of heated sauces from "Girly Girl" to "I Dare You." The 5 varieties go from mild, medium, hot to wickedly hot.

Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co. Stupid Hot Sauce

Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co Semper Fry 

Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co Fatality

Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co Hazmat 4

Allen holding Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co Semper Fry

Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co. from Fort Wayne, IN sell many hot sauces, BBQ sauces and ground chiles. Mild to Wild have a cool fire department theme on some of their products. This is appropriate since the hotter sauces seriously burn you up. Mild to Wild also make the world famous "Stupid Hot" sauce.

A & B American Style Pepper Sauce

A & B American Style Pepper Sauce was a first since we had never heard of them before. This all natural, small batch pepper sauce is carrot based and tastes really great. It was very flavorful and had a delicate balance from the carrot and pepper. Allen tried this sauce on a tortilla chip, and would be great to use with a recipe in the near future. A & B American Style Pepper Sauce is made locally in NYC and does not contain sugar. It was great meeting Brian Ballan and his staff.

Baron's International Kitchen

Baron's International Kitchen

Baron's International Kitchen sell a vast selection of international sauces with Caribbean marinades, Caribbean hot sauce and Portuguese relish. President and Head Chef, Therese Baron from West Hurley, NY makes all these fine goods.

David Rosengarten

David Rosengarten

David Rosengarten has an impressive local line of extreme sauces. The hotter sauce bottles were accompanied by a warning sign on the table.

Georgia Peach & Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce

You Can't Handle This Hot Sauce

Predator Hot Sauce and spicy Taffy

Peppers Zesty Blue Crab Salsa

We saw Chip Hearn from Peppers wearing a chicken hat on his head but did not get to meet him. The Peppers table had a huge selection of hot sauce and salsas. They also had some spicy taffy, which was tasty. 

Naga Bhut Spices Sweet Chili Jam

Naga Bhut Spices Bhut Sauce

Food Hound: Tidbits All Purpose Seasoning

Bumblefoot Hot Sauces

Black Mamba CaJohns

CaJohns

Happy Beaver Hot Sauce

CaJohns have a huge line of extreme hot sauces. Allen has known about CaJohns for a few years, but it was his first time trying some of the hot sauces. Only a portion of the hot sauces were on display for tasting and buying. This is Allen's experience: I wanted to try one of CaJohns most extreme hot sauce, the Black Mamba. I have eaten extreme sauces in the last few years, but this was the hottest one ever. The Black Mamba slogan is "Get Bitten." For me, this was exactly what happened. The moment I ate this hot sauce, I started salivating and then sweating. Within 10 seconds or so, I was hiccuping like crazy. The Black Mamba sauce rates on the Scoville Pepper Scale (Heat Scale) at 6 million, making it the hottest sauce I have ever tried. 

Angry Cock Hot Sauce

CaJohns Private Reserve Apple Smoked Bourbon Chipotle Barbeque Sauce

CaJohns Bourbon Infused Chipotle Habanero Hot Sauce

To give you an idea of how hot 6 million, Scoville Scale Black Mamba is, police grade pepper spray is only 5 million on the scale. I ingested sauce hotter than police grade pepper spray. This sauce got me good. It is comical now, but it was a heat experience like never before and took about 15 minutes for the heat to wear down. Now that is capsaicin in the extreme! I was given a sticker to wear on my shirt that said "Get Bitten" Black Mamba CaJohns for surviving (barely) the sample I tried. I only saw a few others with that sticker. 

For further information, please go to:

Deception Salsa: http://www.deceptionsalsa.com/

Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Co.: http://www.wildpepper.com/

A & B American Style Pepper Sauce: http://www.abamerican.com/

Baron’s International Kitchen: http://www.baronsinternationalkitchen.com/

David Rosengarten: http://drosengarten.com/

Peppers: http://www.peppers.com/cube/

Naga Bhut Spices: http://www.nagabhutspices.com/

Food Hound: Tidbits: http://www.houndcomics.com/tidbits.php

Bumblefoot Hot Sauces: http://www.bumblefoot.com/

CaJohns:  https://www.cajohns.com/

-Allen and Sophia/Two Frys

New York City Hot Sauce Expo 5 of 5

New York City Hot Sauce Expo 

Brewla Specialty Brewed Bars

Inside the BiBa space were companies featuring samples of food and drinks. Though I did not try one, Brewla Specialty Brewed Bars flavors Cherry Pomegranate Red Tea, Peach Ginger White Tea, Raspberry Green Tea, Sweetened Espresso and Craft Brewed Root Beer Float all sounded fantastic.

The Nugget Spot

Every time I went past The Nugget Spot table, they were out of samples and making more. By about 4:00pm, I was able to get a sample and really loved their crunchy and flavorful nuggets and honey mustard sauce.

Empire Biscuit

Empire Biscuit were serving biscuits and gravy and gumbo samples. Allen's gumbo was nicely seasoned, and I thought the biscuits and gravy were super yummy.

Jarlsberg

Jarlsberg had some cheese samples and a very tasty grilled cheese sample. Allen loved it so much he had three.

Chef Derrick Prince

Chef Derrick Prince was serving a lovely sample of pork that melted in my mouth. The sliver of habanero just about knocked me out since I am a wimp, but Allen ate his with no complaints. The dish was well balanced with great spice and flavor.

Crowd at New York City Hot Sauce Expo

Bruce Cost Ginger Ale was my favorite non-alcoholic beverage of the day. We tried the original flavor and it was so fresh tasting and delicious.

The Jerky Connection

The Jerky Connection offered some great jerky and the sample Allen tasted had a nice balance of both heat and flavor.

Jimmy's No. 43 Beef Sliders on the grill

There was a food section in the center of the vendors selling everything from brisket, sausage to beef sliders. I ordered two sliders from Jimmy's No. 43. There was a slight wait for them to cook but it was well worth it. The sliders were juicy and full of flavor. I wanted more but did not want to wait again, since I had so much more hot sauce to taste and photograph.

Melt

Right after I devoured my slider, I bought a strawberry ice cream sandwich from Melt. It was so soothing and tasty. Just what I needed at the moment.

Me with my Orange Creamsicle and Smores Macarons

I fell in love with the macarons from Dana's Bakery. I bought the Orange Creamsicle and Smores macarons. The macarons are gluten free, made with almond flour, tender and melted in my mouth.

Dana's Bakery

Dana's Bakery

I tried the spicy caramel sauce from The Madison Chocolatier and it was creamy, very rich with a hint of spice that kicks in after a few moments. This caramel sauce is very satisfying and great tasting.

The Madison Choclatier

For further information, please go to:

Brewla:http://www.brewlabars.com
The Nugget Spot: http://www.thenuggetspot.com

Chef Derrick Prince: http://www.borntobraisehell.com

Empire Biscuit: http://empirebiscuitnyc.com

Jarlsberg: http://www.jarlsberusa.com

Bruce Cost Ginger Ale: http://brucecostgingerale.com

The Jerky Connection: http://www.thejerkyconnection.com

Jimmy's No. 43: http://www.jimmysno43.com

Melt: http://meltbakery.com/

Dana's Bakery: http://www.danasbakery.com/db/

The Madison Chocolatier: http://madisonchocolatiers.com/

-Allen and Sophia/Two Frys

New York Hot Sauce

New York Hot Sauce

New York Hot Sauce

New York Hot Sauce is a red hot sauce that looks and tastes like a Louisiana Style sauce, yet kicks with more of a hot pepper punch. New York Hot Sauce is made with hot aged Habanero Peppers, instead of Cayenne Peppers. I really enjoy the added heat from the Habanero Peppers and the vinegar, salt and spices. This sauce features a nice balance of ingredients and is a tasty compliment to rice and vegetable dishes. I have also tried and recommend this hot sauce on any New York pizza slice for an added kick. You will also love this sauce on breakfast eggs. New York Hot Sauce is kosher, vegan, and gluten free (a plus for people that cannot use condiments with gluten). I also like the NYC artwork on the bottle with a skyline and taxi like design. This sauce is recommended by Two Frys.

To order New York Hot Sauces, go to: http://www.nyhotsauce.com/

Like New York Hot Sauce on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYHotSauce

-Allen/Two Frys

DEFCON 3

DEFCON 3 Defense Condition All Purpose Wing Sauce Low Heat


Defcon 3

Defcon 3 is one of several Defcon Hot and Wing Sauces. For Easter, I made a batch of chicken wings with Defcon 3 and they were eaten in record time. People were asking for more wings and really liked the mild yet flavorful heat of Defcon 3, which features aged Cayenne Peppers. This is also a gluten free hot sauce and one of my relatives was able to eat it so that was cool. Defcon 3 is the mildest of the Defcon sauces and added a really nice spice to the chicken wings I made. Some of our family could not eat extreme hot sauces (such as my wife), and this went well with all dinner attendees.

I recommend Defcon 3 for grilling chicken and oven baked wings. Support local chiliheads and order New Jersey based Defcon Sauces. This sauce has garnered multiple hot sauce awards over the past few years. Defcon 3 is worth trying out.

To order Defcon Sauces, go to: http://www.defconsauces.com/

Like Defcon Sauces on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Defcon-Sauces/90520567476

-Allen/Two Frys

Zombie Apocalypse Hot Sauce

Zombie Apocalypse Hot Sauce

Zombie Apocalypse

Zombie Apocalypse (Torchbearer Sauces) is one of the hottest sauces I have had to date and it comes as no surprise since Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) and Habanero are the star ingredients. The sauce is flavorful yet the heat will get you before the flavors even get a chance to kick in. This is a great sauce for extreme heat fans. Zombie Apocalypse is not a hot sauce you would cook with for average spicy food fans as it may burn them up. I love this sauce in moderation, but my family who are spicy food fans found it too hot or some were afraid to try it.

This extreme sauce gets major points in the hot chili fans book of must have sauces. Zombie Apocalypse is not for the weak or heat intolerant. I suggest trying a bit of it in bulky meat dishes. I dipped some vegetables in this sauce and it was really hot. Zombie Apocalypse may be the sauce to separate the men from the boys or women from the girls. This sauce really brings the heat on and is the hottest sauce I have tried from Torchbearer. Also, Torchbearer has a nice selection of more mild sauces that will not knock you out like Zombie Apocalypse.

To order Zombie Apocalypse or other Torchbearer Hot Sauces, go to: http://www.torchbearersauces.com/

You can like Torchbearer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torchbearersauces

Allen/Two Frys

NYC HOT SAUCE EXPO 2013 - SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

NYC HOT SAUCE EXPO
April 20th & 21st, 2013
East River State Park
110 Kent Avenue  Brooklyn  NY 11211
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS


Saturday, April 20

10 AM Doors

Noon - Evil Seed – Peanut Brittle Challenge

1 PM - Volcanic Fiery Pizza Eating Challenge

2 PM – Michelada Competition (Sponsored by Corona)

4 PM – Screaming Mi Mi Awards Show

6 PM - Close

Sunday, April 21

10 AM Doors

Noon – Heartbreaking Dawns – Spicy Cookie Challenge

2 PM - Blood Mary Mix Down Challenge (VIP AREA)

4 PM - Rippin Red Hot Sauce Challenge - Brownie Eating Contest

6 PM – Close

http://www.nychotsauceexpo.com

Heartbreaking Dawns Mango Habanero Hot Sauce

Heartbreaking Dawns Mango Habanero Hot Sauce

Chicken Wings with Heartbreaking Dawns Mango Habanero Hot Sauce

Heartbreaking Dawns Mango Habanero Hot Sauce is a hearty hot sauce with a very good, fruity yet hot flavor. The fruitiness from the mango is a welcome addition to both chicken and pork. I also tried this hot sauce on Chinese food and really enjoyed it on steamed dumplings.


Heartbreaking Dawns Mango Habanero Hot Sauce

Heartbreaking Dawns makes a great line of hot sauces from mild to extreme. We have tried many of their hot sauces and love them all! I made chicken wings with this sauce and they were all devoured promptly by the family. I also suggest this sauce for shrimp and grilled fish. This is a sweet, yet hot dipping sauce for habanero heat lovers.

To order Heartbreaking Dawns Hot Sauce, go to: http://www.heartbreakingdawns.com/

Like Heartbreaking Dawns Hot Sauce on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heartbreaking-Dawns-Hot-Sauce/152291705168

-Allen/Two Frys

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

I got this No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe from Cooking Channel in my email last week and had to try it. I love strawberries and have a spring form pan I have been wanting to use, so no better way to break it in. I bought the ingredients and made it Saturday evening. It was a three step process but easy to do. Just follow the recipe directions and measure correctly. This was one of my desserts for Easter dinner and I would have liked it to set more. I should have made it Friday so make it at least 1 day ahead. It was a tad soft, but so delicious and not too sweet. It is a perfect dessert for spring and summer. The No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe is courtesy Zoe Francois via Cooking Channel: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/no-bake-strawberry-cheesecake.html.

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake 

-Sophia/Two Frys

Easter Coconut Cupcakes With Whipped Coconut-Vanilla Frosting

Easter Coconut Cupcakes With Coconut-Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Easter Eggs Nests - Coconut Cupcakes!

Coconut Cupcakes

A few weeks ago, I bought a set of sprinkles at Target and decided to make Coconut Cupcakes for Easter. When I saw Hungry Rabbit's blog, I got the idea to make Easter Egg Nests. I bought Jordan Almonds to use as the eggs and Toasted Coconut for the nests. I did not use Hungry Rabbit's recipe for Coconut Cupcakes, but it was my visual inspiration. For Hungry Rabbit's Easter Coconut Cupcake recipe, go to: http://hungryrabbitnyc.com/2011/04/easter-coconutcupcakes/.

Coconut Cupcakes

On March 28, I came across Brown Eyed Baker's Vanilla Bean Cake With Coconut Meringue Buttercream Frosting. I used the cake portion of the recipe to make cupcakes, and a different frosting recipe. I did not have vanilla beans and couldn't find any at the last minute, so I used pure vanilla extract. I will be making this recipe again once I buy some vanilla beans! The cake was amazing in its texture and taste. I bet the vanilla bean would have taken it to the next level. I recommend this recipe greatly. The recipe yields exactly 24 cupcakes. For Brown Eye Baker's, Coconut-Vanilla Bean Cake With Coconut Meringue Buttercream Frosting, go to: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2013/03/28/coconut-cake-recipe/. I used Goya Coconut Milk with this cake recipe.

Coconut Cupcakes Ready To Go In Oven

Coconut Cupcakes Right Out The Oven

I am fond of the Whipped Vanilla Frosting recipe from A Culinary Journey With Chef Dennis, which he slightly adapted from Sweetapolita, one of my favorite blogs. I recently used this frosting with the Coconut and Red Velvet Cakes I baked during the Christmas holiday. This frosting is divine! I am a serious POF (pal of frosting), and this ranks in my top 5 for sure. If I had more time, I would have made Brown Eyed Baker's Coconut Meringue Buttercream Frosting, but I will soon since the cake recipe was fabulous! Just reading the description of the frosting is encouraging enough for me to try it. I made the Coconut Cupcakes last night for Easter dinner today with my family. I made one adjustment to the frosting, and added coconut extract and reduced the amount of vanilla extract. The recipe calls for 1 1/2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract. I used 1 tablespoon coconut extract and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. It's a little more extract, but the consistency was the same. For A Culinary Journey With Chef Dennis' Whipped Vanilla Frosting, go to: http://www.askchefdennis.com/2011/12/im-dreaming-of-a-white-christmas-cake-with-sweet-peony/.  I will try the white cake recipe soon.

Time To Decorate The Cupcakes

Whipped Coconut-Vanilla Frosting

After baking the cupcakes, let them cool completely, cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge overnight. The flavors will develop this way. Before frosting, let cupcakes come to room temperature (about 1 hour) and frost with an offset spatula or pastry bag/tip. I used an offset spatula. I made the frosting right before decorating the cupcakes, but you can make it ahead of time and place in an airtight container in the fridge. If so, bring frosting to room temperature before decorating the cupcakes.

Easter Egg Nests Coconut Cupcakes

Easter Egg Nests Coconut Cupcakes

To toast the Coconut, preheat oven to 350 degrees and spread out 2 cups worth on a baking sheet. Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until Coconut has turned golden brown. Let Toasted Coconut cool completely before adding over the frosting. Add Toasted Coconut generously over frosting and top with 2 or 3 Jordan Almonds. I made 12 Easter Nests Cupcakes and 12 Cupcakes using various sprinkles, colored sanding sugars and nonpareils. Another suggestion is using gel colors to tint the frosting and/or the cake batter. Maybe next Easter I will do that. :)

Easter Egg Nests Coconut Cupcakes

Sophia/Two Frys