Hot Sauce Festival Winners 2018
The judges – and the people – have crowned their local hot sauce royalty
By Jessi Cape, 1:25PM, Mon. Aug. 27, 2018
Not even the 100-degree heat on Sunday, Aug. 26, could keep thousands of attendees from tasting hundreds of hot sauces at the 28th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival. Thanks to everyone who braved the heat and helped us benefit the Central Texas Food Bank!
Restaurants, commercial bottlers, and individuals submitted their concoctions to be judged by more than 50 judges, and the official results are in.
Red
Individual
1st: Anders Dowd
2nd: Shasta Erickson
3rd: Dallas Milton
Restaurant
1st: Posse East
2nd: Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen
3rd: Sazón
Commercial
1st: Texas Brew Salsa – Salsa Roja with Charred Poblano
2nd: Schlotzsky’s – Louisiana Hot Sauce
3rd: Mikey V's Foods – Smoked Beer Bacon Sauce
Green
Individual
1st: Dan Cook
2nd: Sal Solano
3rd: Francisca Nunez
Restaurant
1st: Don Dario’s
2nd: Quetzal Tex-Mex
3rd: Serranos
Commercial
1st: 3 Sons Foods – Diablo Verde Hot
2nd: Yellowbird Foods – Serrano Condiment
3rd: 3 Sons Foods – Diablo Verde Mild
Special Variety
Individual
1st: Aaron Alterman
2nd: Josh & Jon Smetana
3rd: Jim Birdd
Restaurant
1st: TacoDeli
2nd: Eldorado Cafe
3rd: Quetzal Tex-Mex
Commercial
1st: Mikey V's Foods – I Love Taco Sauce So Much
2nd: Smoke Point Foods – The Heater Smoked Salsa
3rd: Hot Line Pepper Products – Hatchanero
Pepper Sauce
Restaurant
1st: TacoDeli
Commercial
1st: Mikey V's Foods – 7-Pot Primo Salsa
2nd: Evil Cowboy – Smokin Ghost
3rd: Mikey V's Foods – Sweet Ghost Pepper Sauce
People's Choice
Red
1st: Mom’s Kitchen – Spicy Salsa
2nd: Mikey V’s Foods – Smoked Beer Bacon Salsa
3rd: Yellowbird Foods – Blue Agave Sriracha
Green
1st: Yellowbird Foods – Serrano Condiment
2nd (tie): 3 Sons Foods – Diablo Verde
2nd (tie): Mikey V’s Foods – Hatch Green Chile Salsa
Pepper
1st: Aztexan Pepper Company – Habanero Supreme
2nd: Perry’s Pepper – Reap the Benefits Reaper Sauce
3rd: Stellar Gourmet – Tropic Like It’s Hot
Special Variety
1st: Perry’s Pepper Sauce – Habanero
2nd: Kent’s Sauce
3rd: Das Güd Spice Co. – Blueberry Habanero
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