Online Ordering Available Now

Check out our website: https://sidsauce.net/

Upcoming Shows for Spring 2022

DATE & TIME	LOCATION
March 25, 2023, 12 to 5	Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park, IL
April 22, 2023	Sheperd High School in Palos Heights, IL
April 29, 2023, 9:30 – 2	Sward Elementary School Craft Show in Oak Lawn, IL
May 7, 2023	Wolfden Brewing in Bloomingdale, IL
May 13, 2023, 12-5	Mai Fest in Blue Island, IL

Sauce Spotlight

Many of our favorite sauces are named after our friends and family. For example…

Maggie the Vampire Slayer

Maggie is our beautiful niece and goddaughter. That picture is 16 years old from when she was our flower girl. This sauce is a tribute to our love for her, and gives a nod to my wife’s favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This is a garlicky cayenne sauce with hints of tomato, cumin, curry, and Jamaican All Spice. It’s 6.00 and is available for order. We’ll also have plenty of it this weekend at Shepard High School’s Annual Spring Craft Show this weekend.

New Gift Basket Release – Year Round

The Vampire Basket: 25.00

It includes:

• 3 Floyd’s Beer (1 Bottle)
• Killing Dracula Hot Sauce (1 Bottle)
• Maggie the Vampire Slayer (1 Bottle)
• Decorative Sid Sauce Coffin
• Vampire themed ice tray
• Full Sized Candy

Coronavirus got you home-bound?

We are offering zero-contact delivery to the local area for FREE! By local area we mean the South Suburbs.

• First, you check out our sauces on this page to find out what’s available.
• Second, you email us at sidsauce75@gmail.com OR send us a message on Facebook with your order.
• Third, we send you an invoice.
• Finally, after we receive payment, your order will be left at your doorstep.

EVERYONE Wants to Know Where to Get Sid Sauce!

Gift Baskets – Year Round & Seasonal

Sid Sauce gift baskets are the perfect solution to your gift giving problems. We deliver straight to your door, free of charge.

Staff Sergeant’s Weekend Pass – Year Round (20.00)

It includes 2 bottles of Sid Sauce, jerky, a Koozie, corkscrew and a military tank.

The Siddy Clause – Seasonal (20.00)

It includes 2 bottles of Sid Sauce, holiday candy, and an ornament.

Coming soon is our spooky vampire themed basket.

OUR SAUCES

OUR NEWEST SAUCES

AL CAPONE VS. THE UNABOMBER (6.00 a bottle)

PEPPERS USED: HABANERO

OTHER INGREDIENTS: MANGO/STRAWBERRY

STAN’S APPLE SAUCE (8.00)

PEPPERS USED: JALAPENO

OTHER INGREDIENTS: GREEN APPLES/LEMON/LIME/CINNAMON

UNCLE GENE’S GREEN MACHINE (7.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED: JALAPENO AND GHOST

OTHER INGREDIENTS: LEMON JUICE/ LIME JUICE/ GARLIC

PAPA Z’S BURNT ORANGE (7.00 a bottle)

PEPPERS USED: HABANERO AND GHOST

OTHER INGREDIENTS: PINEAPPLE/GARLIC/ONION

KILLING MR. DRACULA ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED: HABANERO

OTHER INGREDIENTS: GARLIC/TOMATO/CUMIN/CURRY/JAMAICAN ALLSPICE

SERPENTOR’S COBRA PEACH ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED: RED & CHOCOLATE HABANERO

OTHER INGREDIENTS: TOMATO/ONION/GARLIC/YELLOW PEACHES/CINNAMON

THE MANGO SLAYED YOUR FAMILY ($8.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO & SCORPION PEPPERS
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MANGO/KIWI/LEMON JUICE

OUR HOTTEST SAUCE

ZOMBIE GUTS ($8.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED: HABANERO & GHOST

OTHER INGREDIENTS:JAMAICAN SPICES/MANGO

THE GHOST OF EL SID PAST ($7.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  JALAPENO, CHILI & GHOST
OTHER INGREDIENTS: GARLIC

STAFF SERGEANT MOON RACER ($6.00)

PEPPERS USED:  JALAPENO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: LIME & LEMON JUICE

METEORITE SCORCHED ($7.00)

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO & GHOST
OTHER INGREDIENTS: KIWI/PINEAPPLE/MANGO

EL-SID THE GREAT MATADOR (6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  JALAPENO & CHILI
OTHER INGREDIENTS: GARLIC

THE APOCALYPSE ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MANGO/GARLIC/JAMAICAN SPICES

THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MANGO/KIWI/LEMON JUICE

METEORITE SUNSET ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: KIWI/PINEAPPLE/MANGO

BLAZING SADDLE SORES ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: PINEAPPLE/ONION/GARLIC

MAGGIE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  CAYENNE
OTHER INGREDIENTS: GARLIC/TOMATO

JOHNNY’S RED ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  CAYENNE
OTHER INGREDIENTS: VINEGAR/SALT/SUGAR

THE FUZZY ACHIOTE ($6.00 a Bottle)

PEPPERS USED:  CAYENNE/BELL
OTHER INGREDIENTS: ACHIOTE/GARLIC

ALL OUR SAUCES HAVE MORE INGREDIENTS THAN WHAT IS LISTED. WE LISTED THE MAIN ONES.

WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT SID’S SAUCE ON THE STREETS?

JOHNNY’S RED

In the Christmas movie, Fred Clause, the North Pole is equipped with a portal. It’s a snow globe window to see the kids open up their gifts. The Elves and the Clauses watch their good work unfold as kids race down their stairwells with smiles that reach Joker-like, but beyond. Some of the kids cry tears of joy looking at their boxes in its fancy Christmas wrapping left from Santa. For Sid Sauce, a picture is worth 1000 words. Many bottles of Sid Sauce make great stocking stuffers. Sometimes the big fat jolly St. Nick gets some bottles to finish off his list for the Christmas year. In this picture, Beth Williams, Commercial Realtor, is delighted with her bottle of Johnny’s Red sauce. The smile says it all. Johnny’s Red, our go-to Bloody Mary sauce, was a big hit with her. Johnny’s Red can service all the needs of bland eggs, tacos, pizza, and whatever else needs a spark.  

METEORITE SUNSET

DARLENE MIKRUT YERKES

For years, Dar has been a great friend to Sid Sauce. She has introduced us to the VIP’s of the best vendor fairs in town. She makes sure that at each Oak Lawn High School craft show, we have the best table in the place. Where would we be without her? Meteorite Sunset was her choice that she loved. Dar thought the main ingredient was crack cocaine in the Sunset. She used half the bottle on her Chucks BBQ macaroni and cheese she purchased, at the craft show in Oak lawn. Sid Sauce does not put any drugs from the street in the sauce. No drugs at all, but very addictive like a drug. Dar will not be positive doing drugs at her work place.

MAGGIE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

Jay Roy is a native from the Sunshine state of Florida. His last name Roy is not pronounced the same as Hockey Hall of Fame goalie, Patrick Roy. It’s just Roy. Do you trust a person with a first name for a last name? This guy has moxy and can be trusted. Jay finds himself these days living in Chicago, as he has set roots down for over a decade with a nice family and great friends. The former Gator originated in Tampa Bay, and is a graduate of Florida University. Most importantly, Jay Roy loves hot sauce. Jay is a big fan of garlic and hot sauce, both of which Maggie the Vampire Slayer provides. Jay Roy loves to put the Vampire Slayer sauce on lots of meals. including up any type of steak. Jay Roy’s words…

“I put that shit on everything! Farewell tuna steak!”

THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY

TIM LEE

The first time Tim Lee tried Mango Ate your Baby, he was hooked lined and sinker-ed. The former NIU Huskie pitcher loved it so much he almost finished the bottle in one sitting, as he attacked the bowl of chips like he attacked hitters on the pitching rubber. The first bottle he purchased might have not even made it to the fridge that day. Mango Ate our Baby is like that drug the pusher man gets you addicted to. The sauce is for good, not like that evil butt crack on the streets. You can see Tim Lee is very satisfied to land another score of the Mango Ate your Baby as the picture says it all.

JENNY FIELDS

Torn between Fuzzy Achiote and the Mango ate your Baby, the young mother/jack of all trades went with her taste buds. The Mango ate your Baby !! Lots of great dinners now will be enhanced with one of the top selling sauces in the Sid Sauce family. If you’re in the Chicago Ridge area and you smell something awesome in the air, just follow Freakin’ Hot pepper.  she took a liking to Jenny.

FUZZY ACHIOTE

JOHN BRENDICH

John Brendich loves the Fuzzy Achiote. At home he been putting it on most things like tacos and eggs and whatever else he has in the fridge to spice things up. At the local watering hole where John goes, he likes to splash some on his Mexican chips while he watches the game.

STAFF SERGEANT MOON RACER

Meanwhile Staff Sergeant Moon Racer has been a big deal marching into people’s fridges by the dozens.

DJ Serena

DJ Serena was torn between the Mango Ate Your Baby and Staff Sergeant Moon Racer. He did not use a life line to phone a friend. He debated his final decision in his head as he dipped a few chips to truly come up with which one he would take home. He only wanted one for now, perhaps many more in the future. He did ask his new buddy Freakin’ Hot Chili pepper what he thought. He just smiled and gave him a wink which perhaps nudged this young man into Staff Sergeant Moon Racer’s world. That was his final answer as he has big plans for his new sauce that will enhance his food all week if he does not run out sooner.

DJ Serena is a  vendor and he was at Oak Lawn High School just like us, selling himself and his small business to the people. Sid Sauce is a fan of DJ Serena and the business he is involved in. You know what some small businesses say to each other. We have to help each other out and not let big business swoop in like the vultures most of them are and take over and throw us to the side, like throwing away something in the trash. Sometimes we rant and rave because we like to keep things spicy and hot since we are a hot sauce company.

YOUNG LOCAL PHARMACIST

Emily McLoughlin,  a young brilliant pharmacist,  needs her Staff Sergeant in the morning on her hard boiled eggs.  Without it, pills might not get to the right bottles. Salute the Staff Sergeant Moon Racer… helping people across the nation one bottle at a time.

THE DRUMMER FROM RADIO COLLECTIVE

Bob Chinnici and wife, Allison, love the Staff Sergeant on their hard boiled eggs in the mornings.

EVIDENCE:

DEAD SOLDIERS PILING UP IN THE RECYCLING BIN.

THE DEVANEY FAMILY RAVE ABOUT THE STAFF SERGEANT

Staff Sergeant Moon Racer turns tacos into deliciousness.

2022 “99 Bottles of Hot Sauce on the Wall”

RANKING	SAUCE	BOTTLES SOLD
1	Mango Ate Your Baby	11
2	Staff Sergeant Moon Racer	6
2	Uncle Gene’s Green Machine	6
2	Maggie the Vampire Slayer	6
2	Meteorite Scorched	6
3	Johnny’s Red	4
3	Stan’s Apple Sauce	4
4	Mango Slayed Your Family	3
4	Zombie Guts	3
4	Papa Z’s	3
5	Ghost of El-Sid	2
6	Meteorite Sunset	1
6	El Sid the Great Matador	1
6	Blazing Saddle Sores	1
6	Killing Mr. Dracula	1
7	Fuzzy Achiote	0
7	Apocalypse	0
7	Cobra Serpentor Peach	0

TOTAL BOTTLES SOLD: 58

STAFF SERGEANT MOON RACER SLAW

One of my customers actually gave me the idea about using Staff Sergeant Moon Racer in coleslaw. I gave it some thought as a jalapeno sauce mixed with lime, lemon juice, & garlic would certainly zip up your summertime side slaw. Certainly the Moon Racer dots all the I’s and crosses all the T’s. Some of the coleslaw recipes I looked up use vinegar in these recipes. In Staff Sergeant Moon Racer, vinegar is the bloodline. The Moon Racer has a mild heat packed full of flavor which can turn your side into an instant hit with friends or family or just for yourself. I’m not going to lie, I ate the entire first batch I made.

WHAT IS NEEDED:

Not sure how the customer that told me about this wonderful idea, did his. I went with a simple recipe I found and purchased a bag of premixed coleslaw to make this even simpler.

RECIPE

1 (14 0Z) Bag of coleslaw already mixed

2/3 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons of milk

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup sugar

Then the most important ingredient of all

1- bottle of Staff Sergeant Moon Racer

Note: I used about 2/3 of the bottle of the Moon Racer. I think you will be good with a full bottle because it’s milder sauce. I think it depends on your heat level as a person. I think half or more is ideal.

CREATING THE MASTERPIECE

Step #1. Rip open the bag of coleslaw and dump it into an empty bowl.

STEP #2. Dumping the rest of the stuff on top of the coleslaw. I went with the mayo first, followed by the milk, & then went with the sugar, salt, and pepper. The last thing I dumped on top of the slaw was the Staff Sergeant Moon Racer. You can really do this in any order you want.

Step #3. You get your big spoon or big fork and like a cement mixer, you mix everything together.

You will see the slaw does not look green from the Jalapeno sauce. It looks like any other creamy coleslaw mix you have had with your grilled meats. I would then refrigerate the coleslaw for a few hours & then you’re ready to serve. ENJOY!!!!

In our first show of the 2023 season, we met up with the mother ships at Soundgrowler Brewery in Tinley Park. This alien invasion is justified because all they want is good beer and tasty Mexican food which Soundgrowler provides. The Streetz Art Alliance was hosting an alien themed craft show. 

Sid Sauce came in peace with their own little creation of alien-themed sauce called Red Dust. 

Our strawberry, habanero, and red jalapeno creation is dedicated to the alien series in the 1980’s, V. Each bottle has a green alien strapped to the neck with a big painted letter V over the label which stands for Visitor. On the series V, the aliens looked human but on the inside were lizard-like. Humanity created a bacterium to defeat the invaders. They called it Red Dust. We named our alien sauce Red Dust to salute the resistance in the series of V. 

It was a brisk Saturday Spring day and this show was lots of fun. It was a perfect day to drink some beer, eat some food, donsome light shopping, and soak in the festivities. Especially with aliens walking around. 

This guy made this craft show look like Comic con. The show brought in a ton of foot traffic from all over the galaxy. 

Who would not want to see what vendors have to offer with alien decorated tables? Our table had a space themed tablecloth. We had an army of our alien invasion bottles for purchased which were a hot ticket item. 

Look who’s back in action! Around the water cooler the talk has been that Rachel disappeared with Freakin’ Hot Chili pepper to the Island of Misfit toys. We had our new Zombie Guts display on hand which helped sell a few bottles of one of our hottest sauces. The Guts is infested with reaper and habanero peppers with delightful spices. Our top seller was the newest member, Red Dust. The green Jalapeno Staff Sergeant Moon Racer showed its stripes as one of the top sellers of the day. Vampire Annihilation, still making vampires explode, was another sauce people had to have. It was our first show at Soundgrowler. It was not the first time we have visited the brewery. This was a nice way to start off the Spring with many shows on the horizon. Sales were good. Lots of fun was had.   

RED DUST 

The first sauce we ever used strawberry in was the Al Capone versus the Unabomber. The strawberry was mixed with mango and habanero pepper which gave the Capone/ Unabomber a blast of sweetness with some heat. I had an idea of using strawberry by itself mixed with habaneros. I knew it was going to be a red sauce using red habaneros. With the upcoming show and our first show of the year at Soundgrowler brewing with their alien theme, I needed something to fit my new creation in ET’s world. In one of my favorite Sci-Fi miniseries called V, the aliens come to earth looking like humans dressed in red uniforms. Under the fake skin lurked green lizards. The V stood for visitors. The resistance would spray paint the V on these aliens’ planet logo who said they came in peace but wanted to take over earth and use the humans as food. Each Sid Sauce bottle has the letter V painted on them. I could have gone with a green sauce for the lizard under the fake layer of human skin. Instead, I chose to put the green alien on each bottle like a trophy kill. The red sauce would go well with the red uniforms.  

For the name, the Red Visitor was kicked around. That sounded like something a female would say about their monthly visitor. I went with the name Red Dust which is the bacteria humanity defeated the invaders with in the series to avoid being lizard food. 

Our newest hot sauce called Red Dust has sweet with the heat. I used red habaneros and red jalapenos to create a nice heat with a recipe with many delicious ripe big and plumped strawberries.  In strawberry short cake recipes, vanilla extract is used in the wonderful dessert and in mixed tasty alcohol drinks. I added some vanilla extract to give this sauce a sweetness to the dessert. Red Dust also can defend your home from alien invasions. Win win!!! 

MONTH OF DECEMBER

It was the annual festival of lights in the suburb of New Lenox. It’s a great Christmas tradition in the town of New Lenox where they decorate the town circle with beautiful brightly colored lights with a towering Godzilla-sized light up Santa Claus. 

It’s a 4-hour festival throughout the weekends in December that turns any Grinch heart into a full dose of Christmas spirit.  The smell of hot chocolate in the air. It’s a family event where you can take the kids to see Santa Claus. 

Looks like something out of the North Pole where Santa sits and takes in your kids’ demands.  If you don’t feel like walking and admiring the lights, they have horse carriages that can cart your bum around. 

The town circle has food trucks for the hungry. They set up these wooden chalets or wooden ice fishing shanties some may call it. This is where Sid Sauce comes in as we set up shop in one of these chalets to help people get their stocking stuffers for the good kids and adults for the Holiday season. 

We are fully loaded with bottles of sauce. Some nice traditional Holiday baskets. Then our signature hot boxes that feature 4 of our signature ghost pepper sauces. From the inside of this Christmas Chalet, we show our view as we capture a picture of a guy in Elf costume walking his little dog.

That elf was not only Elf lurking around as they had another guy that greeted people that looked exactly like Will Ferrell from the movie. The night before, my neighbor told me they had the Grinch walking around making silly noises and playing the actual character yelling at people about Christmas. This was our third year in a row doing this show in New Lenox. The first year we did the show on a Saturday night, we did awesome in sales. Last year in the rain on a Sunday night, we did not really do well. This Saturday it was cold as the small heater fan inside this chalet was not doing my body justice. The joke going around from people walking by was try some hot sauce to keep warm. 

As you could see snow accumulating on the counter, people were not stopping by to take their hands out of their gloves or pockets to try sauce or buy some. The night had everything about Christmas except the shopping aspect of it. The temperatures felt like they had fallen below zero. The sales were not that good at the end of the night. Some frostbite and a handful of vampire sauces were sold to the diehards. One bottle I sold was to one of those church cult guys who probably rang your bell. I thought I would have to sign up to get the seal the deal. These things happen as some shows are unpredictable. Next year we may sell a boat-load of bottles at the festival of lights in New Lenox. Just cut out the middleman and get Santa to buy them. 

THE KRAMPUSNACHT (KRAMPUS NIGHT)  

The month of December, we celebrate Christmas. Which is the son of God’s birthday, Jesus. Then we have St. Kringle, Santa Claus bringing all the little nice boys and girl’s wonderful gifts on Christmas Day. The month of December also has the German Christmas devil called Krampus. The legend has it that Krampus would show up with chains & rattling bells ringing to capture all the bad children. The Krampus will place these children in a basket and bring them to the dark underworld. Krampus, like Santa Claus, always has some time to stop off at their favorite haunt or watering hole. Krampus makes his annual visit to the Blue Island Brewery. 

The Blue Island Brewery this Sunday celebrates the arrival of Krampus and even Santa Claus came by the festival with plenty of beer, food, and vendors. As you can see, they welcome Krampus with open arms.   

This is Sid Sauce’s first appearance doing the Krampus open market. We have done past shows at the Blue Island Brewery for their Spring shows, including one several months ago. All the shows we have done at the Brewery are really fun, plus we do very well in sales, and we have an established customer base at this fine establishment. We had the sauce table set up in tight quarters tucked away in the corner. 

Even though we had a small space, people still found us and we had a great night with people purchasing stocking stuffers of bottles of sauce for their family and friends. We always have those die-hard people that buy sauce for themselves. I love when we have some unexpected visits. A good friend and one of the best softball pitchers in team history, Tim Good, came buy the table to say hi and purchased a bottle of garlic sauce: Maggie the Vampire Slayer. Then we had famous Amos Chris Lanuti who does that number one podcast everyone’s talking about, White Sox in the Basement, stop by the table with his son. Chris interviewed us back in May for one of his local podcasts he does as we met him at the Blue Island Brewery back in the Spring. His son loved another garlic version of our hot sauces Vampire Annihilation. Then longtime family friend, Mary Duhig, loved our strawberry/mango/habanero sauce called Al Capone versus the Unabomber, as she purchased a bottle. Overall, we had a few sauces of ours that did very well. We sold a number of different ones but had a few that were steady in neck and neck sales. We always have good luck at the Blue Island Brewery shows. It was a great time as the staff behind the bar were awesome and made everyone feel like they were at home.  

When the Blue Island Brewery opens its doors beyond their tap room, you come across all the cool posters of festivals they have done over the years or new beers they have made.  If Krampus comes back in 2023 to the brewery, we hope to be there with bells on, as our chains are at the dry cleaners. 

MONTH OF NOVEMBER

In grammar school, before ever making one bottle of sauce, I liked playing sports. In grammar school I went to Catholic school institution, which is still around, unlike some that have seen better days. St. Bernadette, a school rival, closed operations as a school building, & the church will probably be bulldozed at some point. Back then playing basketball you wanted to beat the other schools in the Southwest Catholic conference. It was a part of the competition. It was fun. Winning. Our class did more losing than winning. We loved the game. St. Bernadette played their home basketball games in a tin can, an old bomb shelter. The locals, meaning everyone in the town of Evergreen Park, called this gym the soup can. Because it looks like a Campbell’s soup can without the label. 

The bomb shelter they passed off as a basketball court was a complete dump. I’m surprised we did not have to stock up on Tetanus shots playing there in a league for years. At the same time, I have very fond memories of that place. Present times, who does not like a good lager beer in hole in the wall tavern? I really think we never won a basketball game on their court. It was back in times when we were innocent kids playing a sport we loved even though we were not good at it. Over the years you look back and see many of the Catholic grammar schools shutting their doors due to lower attendance. Many of the schools we used to play on the basketball court are gone. The buildings may be standing or they may not be, if they are just skeletons of the past. Whenever I see a Catholic school still around having a show, I try to sign up for it. In the past, Catholic grammar schools we have sold sauce at have been very few. Schools like St. Germaine and St. Christina have been successful in sales and fun. When St. Christopher contacted us about their Fall show, I was on board. St Chris is located in Midlothian, only a ten-to-fifteen-minute drive from Evergreen Park. I remember playing St. Chris maybe once or twice back in the day on the hardcourt. Back then St. Christpher seemed like it was in another state when we were kids.  

St. Christopher has a beautiful church and has been a staple of the Midlothian community for decades. It is still thriving which is awesome. The craft show was located right on the hardwood floor as I set up shop right in the center of the gym. 

St. Chris is home of the Cougars.  

Not those kinds of Cougars. Every bake sale has those kinds of Cougars prowling the local parish.  

This is the show where we launched one of our new Vampire sauces called Vampire Annihilation.  

The Vampire Annihilation is the newest and hottest sauce we have on the table. Each bottle packs double the amount of garlic from the other vampire sauces we have such as Maggie the Vampire Slayer and Killing Mr. Dracula. I added Carolina Reaper peppers along with the habanero peppers which gives this sauce a sizzling heat with flavor. Spice up that Italian food. We had 17 sauces on hand and sales down the line were pretty good. The Vampire Annihilation sold out in its first appearance ever. Our top selling sauce of the day was the Staff Sergeant Moon Racer.  

The morning hours on this Saturday show had a nice flow of foot traffic. During the afternoon hours it slowed down. We did well in the morning to overcome the afternoon hours. We met a lot of new faces and being November, we probably filled many Christmas stockings. The show had a nice selection of vendors throughout.

They had raffles as well as baked goods. It was well organized. We would definitely be part of the festivities next year.   

   

MONTH OF OCTOBER

The annual Fall Oak Lawn High School craft show is where Sid Sauce, I know, has a permanent home there. It’s a great show organized by great people, and they make us always feel like we are part of the Spartan family. We always have regulars that come by to wish us well and stock up their kitchen with some more sauce. It’s a show that always brings us some new followers. Every year, Oak Lawn High School always has a steady amount of foot traffic in and out of their gymnasium. Besides our table, the locals have many vendors to choose from. Everyone is located right on the hardwood floor of the basketball court. I then notice the Spartans took second place in the 1976-77 state of Illinois Badminton Championship high on the wall of all the sports achievements.

Which school took first in that ole yard game of Badminton? Maybe an old birdie alum will chirp that information later on in the day, as the show started at 10 am and goes on till 3pm. Yes!!! Bankers hours.

Since Halloween was around the corner, we had our little trick and treat vampire baskets. As you can see above, we had a nicely themed spot for the vampire sauce. Killing Mr. Dracula did slay Maggie in sales of our delicious garlic sauces.

Our Serpentor’s Cobra Peach sauce hissed its way to the top in sauce sales on a beautiful sunny autumn day when we were gym-bound. We had 15 different sauces on hand.

We sold at least one bottle of each sauce that made the trip to the ‘burb of Oak Lawn. At the end, our numbers were respectable as we always sell more than a case in Spartan-land. We made a usual donation to the raffles. The Oak Lawn craft show raises money for school functions.

The theater department are putting on a musical in the next few weeks called Mama Mia. Sounds familiar as weeks prior, Reavis High School was doing that same production.

My two funny stories that happened at the show. One older guy asked me if we had any free samples. I said yes. Then he starts to take a full bottle of sauce. I tell him our free samples mean he can sample any sauce we have displayed on the table. Not help yourself to a full bottle. He immediately left in a huff and walked away. Before that, I set the table with all my sauces and vampire toys. I had to move the car. I came back and did not notice right away one sauce bottle was gone. Can you consider this car theft?

Stealing Papa Z’s pineapple sauce that comes with a free car. This bandit when apprehended, I can throw the book at them. Maybe it was that old gentleman wanting his free sample.

Since 2019, Sid Sauce has made every one of Reavis High School’s craft shows except for the pandemic year of 2020, when it was cancelled. Reavis has these craft show to raise money for the Drama Club as they are putting on another exciting musical. This go around is Mama Mia. Which I’m thinking is about a pizza parlor.

Mama Mia is a mystery where they find Mama face down in some pizza dough. Colonel Mustard did it with the pipe wrench.

This is very true. I know nothing about any Musicals. I know after talking to some of the young thespians that they will entertain you on stage as they did at my hot sauce table. We had our table set up in style with a variety of different hot sauces from ghost pepper sauces to savory sauces and a little sweet and heat with our signature fruit blended hot sauces.

One thespian stood in front of my table to try a few selected sauces. Acted like he’s been here and done that as he poured way too much sauce on one chip. The teenager walked away holding the napkin doused with sauce over a small Mexican chip. One teenage girl laughed out loud at many of the names of our sauces. She loved The Mango Ate Your Baby as she did her Australian accent saying, “The dingo ate your baby.” She giggled out loud at one of the newer sauces, Al Capone versus the Unabomber, as we brought Mango, Strawberry and Habanero together to make a delightful creation that will blow away anyone’s taste buds. Al Capone and the Unabomber was a hit at this show to kick off the month of October.

Reavis High School had us set up in the multi-purpose room. The craft show had over 100 booths spread out in that room along with the cafeteria and the gymnasium. It was a nice warm Fall day as the craft show had plenty of foot traffic. I lost out on split the pot but was able to make enough sales to make the trip to Burbank worth it. Our two hottest sauces were very popular on this Saturday: Mango Slayed your Family and Zombie Guts. Like most times though, Maggie the Vampire Slayer sold the most as our number one garlic sauce.

I saw many familiar faces as we always have return customers at the high school looking to restock the fridge with Sid Sauce. One guy stopped in front of the table and made a phone call to tell his son his Hot sauce guy was there. Only in Chicago where everyone has a guy. The show went six hours, mostly busy, except maybe two hours when we had a drought of sales. Reavis is home of the Rams and it’s a big public school on the southside. The school is clean, the campus is huge, and in my opinion it’s one of the better public high schools we have done a show at. I may still not know how to pronounce Reavis. Is it REEVIS? Or REVVVIS? Maybe next time I will have that answer for you.  

MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 

Some see Labor Day weekend as the end of Summer. I see it as the beginning of football season. College football is in action. The start of Octoberfest and the perfect place to get things kicked off is a brewery. The first tapped Octoberfest beer was tapped at the Hailstorm Brewing Company, and it was delightful. Hailstorm has its Artisan market called Flurry and Sid Sauce has a table at it. Things are even feeling optimistic about the Bears’ chances. 

The NFL and the Chicago Bears kick off next Sunday and our local team has not lost any games yet. This is our first time doing a show at Hailstorm Brewing Company. I have been to the brewery before as a patron, so this was an exciting show to be a vendor at. The Sid Sauce table was against a window of the brewery as we had a nice selection of sauces available to hit a new audience, as we always hope for repeat business as well.  

The Hailstorm show had tables both inside and outside. It was a cloudy cool day perhaps with some rain in the forecast, but I was cool and comfortable on a nice cushioned bar stool meeting people talking sauce and even hot button topics. Politics?? Yikes. Sid Sauce has never done any shows in Tinley Park. Some of these towns can be mixed with political views. I don’t care to chat about politics, as this older woman whispered about Donald Trump. Her reason for whispering is because Crook County of Illinois has many Demoncrats lurking. Not a big fan of both sides’ party leaders the last few elections. I told the lady I love Ronald Reagan, and she seemed happy with that reply. That conversation did not lead to a sale. She could have at least purchased a bottle of sauce. A good salesperson jumps on the same band wagon, and I should have waved the Trump flag just to get a bottle in her purse to go. 

The show had many interesting vendors throughout the inside of the brewery. It looked like they had some cool tables outside from my window view. Sales were pretty good, but the show lacked foot traffic. Since it was Labor Day weekend, many people were out of town enjoying the last weekend of Summer as it was to most people. It was Sunday, & most people had the next day off, so beers were enjoyed during the late morning into the late afternoon when the show would go to. My hottest sellers were Johnny’s Red and Stan’s Apple Sauce which was a hit. My good friend Phil stopped by to have a beer with me. Phil, a big supporter of the sauce, purchased a few bottles for his family members. I sold about a case of sauce by the time the show came to an end.  

After I packed up for the day, I bellied up to the bar of the brewery to spend the profits of the day.  

NEW SAUCE TO SID’S SAUCE STOCKPILE

AL CAPONE VERSUS THE UNABOMBER (6.00)

Our latest new hot sauce to join the shelves of Sid’s Sauce is a very flavorful creation that packs a wallop of sweetness with some disco inferno. Al Capone versus the Unabomber features a sauce with strawberry & mango with habanero being the pepper that forms a lighter crimson-reddish color in each bottle. Don’t let the name fool you as Al Capone versus the Unabomber is definitely not the hottest sauce we make. More flavorful than heat but still will give your tongue a nice heat. In each bottle, the mango and strawberry fight each other off for supremacy of your taste buds. More strawberry  than mango but combined gives you nice flavor to bring those tacos for dinner to an even higher taste level. I was impressed at what the Al Capone versus the Unabomber did to my chicken tacos and just some easy making breakfast tacos I whipped up during a hangover on Sunday morning. It’s a nice change of pace sauce if you’re looking for less heat on some days where you know too much heat will not go well with the body.

The name is not meant to glorify the violence or promote Al Capone and the Unabomber as some kind of heroes. Capone was a head gangster back in prohibition days and got away with plenty of murders and mayhem. The Unabomber sent bombs through the mail for his feeling about what modern technology was doing to the world. Maybe Skynet? Both Ted Kaczynski and Al Capone made history in the state of Illinois by being able to avoid capture for long period of time. Both eventually would get caught as Capone would go down for tax invasion while the Unabomber was ratted out by his own brother. Putting strawberry and Mango together in a bottle which flavor dominates? If Al Capone and the Unabomber bump heads who would prevail? Both have spilled blood. These guys will now spill red hot sauce together instead of violence in the streets. Al Capone versus the Unabomber another intriguing name we came up loaded in office meeting that many topics would be forgotten except the newest name of one of our newest sauces.

THE PEPPER FIELDS

Not quite a pepper field as I do not have acres of land. Nor do I live on a farm. All the different sauces we make at Sid Sauce, we love making with peppers straight from the garden. We do get peppers through other distributors. Local grocery markets are one of sources. Farmers markets can pay off finding some nice plants without getting the thumbs green. We have a number of undisclosed locations around the burbs of Chicagoland where we have some space to install some of our pepper plants. I use my house as the main garden of Sid Sauce, so I can put a variety of different peppers in the grounds.  I even use the bucket method to grow some of the plants.

The Colonel has mastered the bucket method as I thought Herbie was the Love Bug, not a chicken slayer.

Not sure all the locations add up to a pepper field. With love and tenderness and turning my thumbs green, we able to get a good amount of fresh peppers from each plant I put in the dirt. This house is one of the gardens that have some of our hottest peppers. The Reaper of Carolina.

This garden also has the scorpion peppers which I like to use in one of our hottest sauces, The Mango Slayed Your Family. It is a good time of the year where we get down and dirty to stock pile fresh peppers for all of our small batch sauces we will make to finish out the year with a variety of deliciousness as… oh boy, Johnny, hot on the spot.

Month of May

In our 5^th show of the year we invaded the Catholic conference. At least where we were set up at in Brother Rice Gym with the Mural behind us of a Crusader dominating the Catholic school conference. I applaud it as Brother Rice is where I went to high school 4 years paying a small college price for watching movies in Religion class. Brother Rice had us there late last year around Christmas. It was the All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast that did not get many people out there on a Sunday. Many of the people that attended perhaps forgot their wallets because sales were hard to come by.  The sequel of Brother Rice Part Two we hoped would be better than the original.

I thought this go around, the Brother Rice craft show welcomed more vendors which could bring more buyers out on a rainy Sunday.

I felt like we were with some quality vendors as well as they had tables set up in both gymnasiums and along the hallways of the school. We had a guy right next to us that created some excellent wooden signs.

I may have spent any profits on future presents that I purchased from this guy. The greatest hot sauce, Sid Sauce, was set up right in the middle of the hardwood court.

We had most of our sauces on hand for this Sunday affair. The table was set up perfect displaying all the bottles as we had free tastings from most of our popular bottles.

Mexican chips was the food of choice this weekend for the free tasting. We had some people that wanted get down and dirty and sample some sauce. We had the regular looky loo’s as we get at most shows. We even had some return customers we caught up with. The Brother Rice show was a 4 hour day. It had some foot traffic, but it felt like a ghost town at times as well.

Beer and Pizza, but maybe not this place above would be the plan for afterwards. That should most definitely take care of any profits on this show. Brother Rice part two had the same results as the first trip there late last year. Maybe we did better by a bottle or two. Maggie the Vampire along with Serpentor’s Cobra Peach stole the show with most bottles sold.

I would not decline another show at Brother Rice in the future because I’m just a sucker. It’s my ole stomping grounds. I have some pride pushing me to make some appearances at the old high school. Not on a school day or night I promise, mum.  

Month of April

For the last two years we were lost in space with Shepard High School’s Astros. Due to the Covid-19 Virus, the school had to cancel their Spring and Winter craft shows. Once upon a time ago both shows Shepard High School does were always very good for Sid’s Sauce. With things a little better in the world right now from the pandemic, we are back in space with the Astros from Shepard High School.

The Shepard Spring show means all the proceeds went to the band.

Sid Sauce is on board with putting the band on the field. It’s definitely a mission from God. On Saturday April 9^th,  we launched our second show of the year as we returned to the Astros gymnasium to sell the sauce. It was a cool but sunny day with no rain in the forecast. This meant possibly lots of walking traffic for the event. Shepard had as usual lots of vendors spread out in the gym hocking their side hustle. It was less vendors than they had prior years probably with the Covid still lurking. They were trying to spread things out, but the people had many items to choose from.

Guess who finally made it back to the shows?  Our CEO of Sid’s Sauce, Freak’n Hot Pepper, who was MIA for the last few seasons. This was due to going on a bender in the islands to get away from the Covid virus as we all know what that can do to a pepper skin.

The Man, the legend… did not last long as he had a few on the plane back to the states and had to sleep it off. He greeted his following for a whopping 5 minutes.

We had 17 different sauces represented at the Shepard craft show. We had a few of our signature baskets on hand with a well-decorated table for the festivities.

The Saturday event to raise money for the band boosters started at 9 AM and went to three o’clock in the noon hour. It went right to the start of happy hour. The weather was pretty good outside so the show had consistent foot traffic most of the morning and in the afternoon hours. We sold 32 bottles of sauce and doubled the total from the first show at St. Gerald’s, only a week prior. We sold at least one bottle of 15 out of the 17 different sauces we brought to the show. Our top sellers of the day were the Mango Ate your Baby, Johnny’s Red, and Meteorite Scorched all with the same tally sold. It was a good day at the ole sauce gravel pit. We loved seeing lots of returning customers who missed us not being around the last two years because of shows being cancelled with the pandemic invading the country. New relationships were sparked again as it’s great giving out some free tastings which many places forbid the last two years. We have the Shepard winter application for when we will return to the school right before Christmas and spread holiday cheer for the winter craft show.

APRIL 2, 2022

The month of April always brings on Spring in full force. The trees begin to bud. The grass emerges from the soil greener. Propane tanks are filled up while grills are cleaned and fired up. The boys of Summer have their opening day as America’s pastime gets back into the swing of things. As a company in 2022, the month of April brought on our opening day at the St. Gerald craft show in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Just like in baseball, each home ballpark has the opening ceremony. Sid’s Sauce, before St. Gerald’s opened the doors at 9AM of the show, had our bottles lined up all shiny and glistening from the gymnasium lights since the forecast had rain. Butterflies in our stomachs as another anticipated season of shows is about to get under way. New bottles of hot sauce finding their rightful homes all around the surrounding areas just gives you goose bumps. Opening day is on its way for Sid’s Sauce just like the pitcher making the first pitch of the season.

Sid’s Sauce first lady was on the scene. Rachel is the company’s South Region Salesperson in charge of all the Chicagoland surrounding southern burbs.

Last year we did the St. Gerald’s Fall craft show and we had a nice showing. With the Pandemic temporarily in check, we hope permanently, we were able to have samples of the sauce on hand. Samples have been frowned upon the last few seasons because of the pandemic. Samples of our new sauce came in handy, which we call Stan’s Apple Sauce.

Stan’s is a very exciting creation of green apples and green Jalapeno peppers. The density of sauce is thick like your typical apple sauce.

Some will say it’s kind of a salsa more than a hot sauce. Right now we Stan’s bottle in the standard hot sauce bottles. Stan’s debut was not too shabby. Our top selling sauce of the day was one of our staple sauces which involve mangoes and habanero peppers.

You can’t trust anybody these days. Mangoes in disguise. Be careful because the Mango will eat your baby if you look away. It was Mango Ate Your Baby as the top choice on opening day.

It was a pretty good day despite the rain coming down in the afternoon hours which may have stopped some people from coming out. St. Gerald’s had multiple vendors set up. The people came in steady at times, but at other times it was a ghost town. We did better at the St. Gerald’s fall show than today. It was still opening day as the excitement was there. We always love returning customers which we had. Met some new faces as well. We knocked off the rust. The show went from 9 AM until 3 PM just in time for the Homestead Bar across the street to open up shop on that Saturday afternoon.

 

MONTH OF DECEMBER

TRAVELING HOT SAUCE CARAVAN  

Our final show of the year was another high school. It was another Catholic institution for the month of December. Mt. Carmel, home of the Caravan, and an institution with tradition and rich history.

Walking the hall going up steps that need a desperate makeover. Some of them sloped & some chipping way. At each step hanging on to the rail so you don’t slip, trip, or fall, you can feel the history of the Caravan sports world heading to the gym. It was Mt. Carmel’s annual Christmas craft show featuring homemade tamales with boozy Christmas drinks. The Sid Sauce table was set up on the hardwood floor right towards the middle of the basketball court.  

This was another Sunday event as rays of sunlight flooded through the windows of the Caravan gymnasium on a chilly winter day. Looking around soaking in all the history of great past sports teams of the school. Banners with years of domination filling the felt material. Like a hunter collecting heads of their prey which they had just shot down and killed. I remember playing football for another Catholic school institution. How Mt. Carmel dominated us like the Green Bay Packers beating up the Chicago Bears twice a year. How we plotted and prepared for Mt. Carmel’s opening kickoff. We knew what they were going to do. We had a plan to stop it. In a blink of an eye, the ball was kicked that day as the kick returner caught it and ran it out of the end zone. The return man ran towards the sideline as we knew this would happen. Suddenly the Berlin wall went up as the Caravan’s special team made a wall to block out my school’s attempt to tackle their kick returner. Possibly ten seconds off the clock & Mt. Carmel on the first play of the game were up 6-0 pending the extra point.  

The Mt. Carmel vendors were set up in two areas. One area had multiple vendors on the main floor of the school while Sid Sauce was located upstairs. Upstairs was like a ghost town. I may have spent more money getting boozy drinks and hot beverages than I made in sauce sales.

Overall, it seemed more people did not brave the cold temperatures to come on this Sunday. It was a show that started late in the morning and went to five o’clock. Great hours to be at home or at the bar eating unhealthy food while drinking beer and watching the football game. I will say the tamales the mothers club made were out of this world of deliciousness. Mt. Carmel had lots of cool vendors. Even the owners of the Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Company were selling their swag in the gym. However, they forgot their delicious beer. One of their representatives is a repeat customer for the great one and only Sid Sauce. She purchased a bottle while most vendors that day chatted about the lack of sales. It was true because this show lacked the walking traffic. At the end of the day, we only sold about a dozen bottles. Our biggest seller of the day was the Mango Ate your Baby. We met some great people. May have repeats in the future as well from this day. Sometimes you have a bad day at the office once in a while. When the day came to an end, we fled the scene like Fred Flintstone sliding down the Brontosaurus when the whistle sounded to end the day.  

Finally, it was 5 o’clock somewhere in present times.  

The annual Christmas in the Commons in the town of New Lenox brings out all the Holiday spirits. The commons is lit up like Chevy Chase’s X-mas vacation.

The town of New Lenox has a King Kong sized Santa Claus lit up in the middle of town square. This might be the biggest lit up Santa from miles and miles around. Perhaps I would walk 500 miles and 500 more just to be the man to fall down right in front of Old St. Nick.

This is an amazing light festival that has hoses carriage rides for families to enjoy while sipping on hot cider or hot chocolate. Maybe even a hot beverage with that magic syrup inside.  Reindeer for the kids to pet or call them by their names. Hey Comet, Cupid, Doc, and Lazy Smurf!

Let’s not forget Santa Claus.

Then we have the wooden ice shanties. This is where we come in. Bringing the people hot sauce from something you ‘d see in the movie Grumpy Old Men.

Those shanties make you get that feeling like you are in Minnesota, ‘right dick head’? All the shanties have vendors selling their merchandise. When people are walking around, enjoying the lights, & taking the kids to see Santa, you can also cross things off your Christmas list.

It was a Sunday night, and this was the second show of the day for Sid Sauce. Christmas in the Commons we did two nights at in 2020 and we did very well. Last time we did them on Saturday nights. This year we only had one appearance in New Lenox. It was a miserable night weather-wise with cold light rain in the air. We braved the conditions to help people get their stocking stuffers taken care of.

It could have been because it was Sunday, or it could have been the weather. It probably was both as the night was calm and not much foot traffic. Last year we did well on sales in New Lenox. On this Sunday the sales numbers were just average. We had some repeat customers. We had some newbies with sugar plums dancing in their heads purchasing a bottle or two for the first time. Made new friends in the process. Staff Sergeant Moon Racer was the popular choice in this second game of the double header on this 5^th of December. Sometimes it is the way the cookie crumbles in sales as this night was not meant to be. We did not eat the yellow snow and we will be back next year hoping for better weather and a bigger turn out. We left with some nice Christmas spirit because it’s something to do & something to see at the annual Christmas in the Commons in the suburb of New Lenox.  

The month of December brought on another new venue: Brother Rice High school in Chicago, Illinois. 99^TH and Pulaski were my ole stomping grounds where I went to school for 4 years. For Sid’s Sauce, this was the closest show from the house. Just three blocks on a rainy day. It was the annual Pancake breakfast at Brother Rice to benefit the band.

This was the 10^th annual pancake breakfast the school had, but the first time with vendors selling their merchandise. Moving their stock. Loving every moment of their side hustle. Both of the Crusader’s gyms filled with tables of vendors eagerly waiting patiently for the crowds to emerge on a crappy Sunday morning in the city of Chicago. All the while cold rain was turning into sleet in mid-air. Many people, I imagine, would look out the window and rather crawl back in to bed. We enjoyed the pancakes bigger than our heads with piping hot sausage. The school really knows how to cook up a winner. We had the table set up to perfection, as wet footprints would start trickling in with the smell of breakfast foods filling the air. It was sort of nice. Kind of soothing for the soul.

The show would begin at 8:00 AM on a Sunday morning. I think that is very early for any kind of show. They are serving breakfast. It was a four-hour tour ending at noon. Just in time for the kick-off of the noon football games in the NFL. It’s the Catholic way of finding time to squeeze in the band, the food, and make the first game of the day in the NFL. The foot traffic would not cause the janitor to sweat when he had to wipe down the floors after.

In four hours on just a bad weather day, we sold 14 bottles. A twelve pack and a two-point conversion. The green Jalapeno sauce was what people wanted in the Crusader gym. I could hear the echoes still to this day, “R-I-C-E Rice Rice” everyone would scream at the pep rallies. It was the hotter Jalapeno sauce that would prevail – Uncle Gene’s Green Machine set the tone.

Uncle Gene’s was the hot ticket item of the morning at Brother Rice High School. Overall, I like the location right in my backyard. I went to the school so the company would be happy to come back. Still have the school in my heart and try to hit an event or two every year. Definitely like to go see them play football. Friday night lights is a must do. Chalk it up to bad weather. On the bright side, we have 14 bottles at people’s houses. Hopefully, we have a new audience for the sauce. Maybe get some regulars out of the deal. I like to say Sid’s Sauce is like the movie Red Dawn.We have a cult following that continues to grow.   

SHOW RECAP NOVEMBER

Our second craft show in the month of November featured another Catholic grammar school on the southside. This one is in the neighborhood of Oak Lawn, St. Gerald’s. St. Gerald’s, home of the Giants, is located basically off Central Avenue and Southwest highway right across the street from the Home that looks like a bar. And it is a bar ,called the Homestead that has been on that corner for multiple decades.

This was our first time doing one of St. Gerald’s craft shows. We hardly are a stranger to this area as we like to be a patron time to time at the Homestead bar where they treat you like family. The Homestead is family-owned and it seems that would be expected. The St Gerald’s St Patrick day party they have in their basement annually is a must-save-the-date on the calendar. They really do it up the Irish way. The entertainment features Irish dancers of all ages with bagpipers, which is nice family event. St. Gerald’s provides plenty of beverages for the gala with a delicious corned beef catered with all the fix ins. You just had a feeling that the craft show would be well organized, good company, and indeed it checked all the boxes.

The craft show was set up in the gym. Our table was facing the Queen of hearts raffle. Raffles making money give some to the church & everyone is happy. It’s the Catholic way. We had most of our signature selection of hot sauce and plenty of back ups as we did not know what to expect. The craft show features all kinds of interesting vendors selling what they probably like to do best in life. Most of the vendors would easily walk in to their boss’ office and tell them to run up a tree if they can all make a living alone off what they sell. That includes myself.

It was a Saturday morning show that started at 9 AM and went until 3 PM. St. Gerald’s has had this craft show for years. They did not disappoint as they had plenty of foot traffic in and out the entire day. St. Gerald’s had a taco food truck out in the parking lot which was a  hit throughout the day as they always had some kind of line. Our hot sauce and their tacos made a great combination. During the day we had some down time, but we had pockets where we were busy as bees. We met a lot of new faces. We welcomed all the new customers into our hot sauce family. We have always thanked our regulars for stopping in to stock their kitchen shelves for the Holidays. We have some dedicated customers and we can recognize them under their Covid masks they wear. Love catching up with them especially these wild and crazy guys.

As I walked around the gym I recalled the glory days of playing grammar school basketball. I played for a Catholic grammar school in the area so we did face St. Gerald’s, but never at this gym. They probably handled us with ease since we had two seasons when we never won a game. The games we did win, I remember the victims and they were not the Giants of St. Gerald’s. I did admire that they have some of their best players jerseys throughout the years hanging up on the walls of their gym.

At the end we did very well in sales at St. Gerald’s Not one sauce jumps out in sales as a few of them ran neck and neck for top selling bottle. Across the board was pretty equal. The ghost pepper sauces, the savory sauces and the fruit based sauces were divided pretty equal. This show is around the Holidays so everything seems to be sold equally as we know many bottles will end up as stocking stuffers. Next year we hope to do St. Gerald’s again and maybe we will be able to get a grasp of what they like in their parish taste-wise when it comes to the hot sauce.  

SHOW RECAP OCTOBER

THE ELKS CLUB

When I was a younger lad, I loved to watch the cartoon, The Flintstones. Many times after school, I remember watching Fred Flintstone and his best pal in Bedrock, Barney Rubble. Both were members of the Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo Lodge. My parents belonged to the Moose in their HEYDAY!!! Could the Elks Club be a part of the future for Sid Sauce and myself? Perhaps I can trick Fred out of his Fruity Pebbles.

Last October, Sid Sauce was very limited in terms of shows due to the pandemic. One of the shows in 2020 was the Elks Club in Crestwood, Illinois for their annual Fall craft show. It’s only a four hour commitment on a Saturday, but very fun and the show gets some good foot traffic walking in and out of their joint.

Since it’s only a 4-hour window, sales are decent but not through the roof like in other shows which go longer. On this Saturday, numbers were decent, contacts were made, & great conversations were had. It featured about 20 tables with vendors. Lots of unique homemade crafted stuff. Side hustles, which many do for the love of the hobby and would quit their day jobs if they could live on their side job talents. The club had their own table for baked goods. Everything was going for a good cause as well.

In the 4 hours, we hit double figures in sales, which is a win at this particular ole ball park. Which now they call Ozinga Field across the street from the Elks club. Which is home of the Thunderbolts Minor League Baseball.

Our popular sauce of the day was Staff Sergeant Moon Racer, our signature green Jalapeno sauce which is always one of our top sellers.

It’s like the bottles with the plastic Army guys on them just march off the table right into the hands of new owner. After the show concluded, we some beverages were had in the bar area of the Elks club.

The bar is a classic old school throwback oval or you can say horseshoe style with the rounded rails and leather-backed brightly colored bar stools. From there, we learn that the old department store Venture used to sell condoms.

Venture was my stop for Nintendo games. At the time, condoms, to me, I thought were used for water balloons. Sitting at the bar, the patrons were friendly which made the place like Cheers where everyone knows your name.  Fun conversations were had. Swapping great times telling old stories while drinking a few beers is a way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Venture being brought up, who knew they had such a thing as a section of rubbers. The Elks club has their bingo game every week. The club is looking for one vendor every Thursday to set up shop and sell their product. Sid Sauce will get behind that deal. Perhaps bring some troll peppers and indulge in the games. Meet more club members and see what K-Mart was selling back then. Maybe I even fill out that application and see about being a member of the Club in the future. Might be lots of fun. Perhaps good for the future of the hot sauce company as well.  

SHOW RECAP: AUGUST

During the dog days of Summer, we hooked up with another outdoor show. The new tent for Sid Sauce has been paying off dividends so far this year. It was an outdoor event in New Lenox, Illinois called Ladies Night at the Commons. We are very familiar with the event, as it was not our first rodeo. It was our second. Last year due to the pandemic, the show was cancelled. In 2019, the last time we were in New Lenox, it was hot, but the clouds came in and the skies opened as it poured cats and dogs. This year it was a calm & humid Summer night.

When I think of these ladies nights events, I think of those old Budweiser retro advertisements they did. It was guys dressing up in women’s outfits to get into the bar and drink for free or very cheaply on Ladies Nights. They wear make-up. They have their wigs on. The only thing they forget is to remove the mustache. I don’t think any guys go to this length to shop at the Commons for the Ladies Night craft show. It was on Friday night and the show was slated for a 4 hour tour.

We had the table looking snazzy with many selections of sauce to offer. Other vendors had similar ways of setting up with a table under a tent.

The whole event reminds me of the talk show, The View. All these ladies sitting on a stage which is their own table.

Then the females shopping the event is like the live studio audience. Last go at the Ladies Night, the sales were ok. This year they were ok once again. Sometimes if you continue to do the annual event every year, things pay off in the long run. Sales brought some sauce to be placed in households around the area & maybe some beyond New Lenox. It was saying hello to some old friends and meeting some new people. The biggest part is taking advantage of being outside during the Summer and when the Covid virus is mildly at bay around this part of the year. We like to take as many show opportunities as possible to make up for the lack of them in 2020. Good, bad, or ugly we get out there to all the shows we do in 2021 and bring anybody plenty of stock for whoever wants to try our delicious hot sauce.  

MONTH OF JUNE

MONTH OF MAY

In our second show of the season, we were outside in the back yard of the Wolfden Brewing Company in Bloomingdale, Illinois. As you can see the picture above is of our beach. A sunny day even though it was chilly on a very windy Spring day. It shows our hot sauce. Then a nice shiny gold beer glistening from the sun on the deck in the backyard of a house that’s a brewery.

No place like home, making beer, which would give anyone a reason to get up. Let’s not forget the full sized bar in the living room. Now the place feels like home. Has that home name of Wolfden.

The back yard was filled with vendors like ourselves in an organized brewery craft show. We did not mind braving the chilly weather on a Spring weekend. It was a Saturday to drink beer while selling hot sauce. With Covid-19 still lingering but perhaps somewhat in check at this time of year, precautions were taken wearing masks. Only a few people could sit inside. Plenty of seating on the back deck. In 2020 our first show came in the beginning of the Fall season. Already in 2021 early spring, Sid Sauce has had back to back shows outside and at a brewery. Makes a nice combination.

For the Wolfden festivities, we had all sauces on hand. The new tent we broke in at the Blue Island Brewing festivities not too long ago was easier to set up in the second go around. The sun was out, but it was the wind that we had to worry about. Eventually the wind died down and the craft show had plenty of walking traffic buying more than just their delicious tasting beers. What a concept drinking beer and shopping. We were able to drink plenty of beer and sell plenty of sauce. It was pretty much an all-day event from morning hours to the late afternoon, which is expected on these outside shows.

Sales were very good to us as we sold about two cases of sauce. We may have drank a case of beer as well. There goes the profit margin. Wolfden did have some food on hand. Some of our buyers purchased hot sauce from us and used it on the food they had. Immediate feedback was remarkable. We could not have any free samples due to the pandemic still lingering. Some of the workers at Wolfden really loved our sauce. On this day we sold a little of bit of everything as nothing stood out as our top sauce of the day. Bloomingdale has a wonderful downtown area. We discovered a new place to eat and drink at. It shared the spacious parking lot with Wolfden Brewing. Huge red barn no one could miss called Roosters Bar and Grill.

Roosters had more than just chicken. After the show, we bellied up to the bar, drank more, and feasted on some great sounding dishes. Overall it was a perfect day for Sid Sauce. We have branched out of our territory and found another audience that loves our sauce. We discovered another great place to eat and drink. Actually two places as I would go back to the Brewery to hang out and drink and eat on a free weekend. Sid Sauce plans to go back to Wold Den for any future ventures they do. Importantly we met a a lot of great people, made new friends and have new relationships established.

SHOW RECAP: APRIL

This year it only took until the month of April to get the hot sauce season kick-started. Last year with the invasion of the Corona Virus, it was late Summer before we did any kind of show. On a chilly cloudy day Sunday in April, we had our official opening day. The weather forecast sounded like one of many opening days the Chicago baseball teams have had over the years. April is one of those months when, like a can of mixed nuts, you don’t know what you will get. In Chicago, wait ten minutes because anything could happen. The show was called True to the Craft Fair, hosted by Blue Island Brewery. If great beer, live music, and some outside shopping could not draw some people… then the virus is winning.

All the vendors set up shop in the parking lot of Blue Island Brewery. This show had about 12 vendors with some really cool stuff like the couple next to us recycling beer bottles. This guy is a brewmaster during the day with a side hustle with his wife, turning a cool looking beer bottle into a hand sanitizer bottle. A regular Woodsy the Owl doing his part to help save the Earth.

They turned the beer labels into cool coasters as well. We set up shop next to them right along the street in front of a tattoo place that was closed. Blue Island is a historic neighborhood in which the brewery is located, on Olde Western Avenue. Olde Western Avenue features many little cool shops with some cool eating and drinking establishments. It was cool that it drew a lot of locals who came by bike or their feet, and were introduced to our hot sauce.

Sid Sauce has done a few outdoor events. We came with brand new tent. Thank God we had good Samaritans to help us with it. The day job gets in the way of prepping and practicing the tent set up and take down. I’m not one of them, but you know people that do that. This was the first brewery show we ever did. We have thrived in events when you can drink and shop. This was the same thing except you can get a pour of fresh suds right out of the tap while you listen to great music and indulge in tacos from the truck. It was a four hour show, we had about ten of our sauces to choose from and a pretty good stockpile. We did not know what to expect. We did find some diehards.

This is the MVP of the show. Casey from Homewood, Illinois. Casey wearing his hot sauce face mask. Withh this show, even being outside, masks were still needed. Which is not a problem and I’m glad they were needed so we did not miss out on his cool mask of hot sauce bottles. Casey came to the show most likely for some beers & to listen to some music, but was mistaken several times being asked if he was with the sauce people. Casey then had to come over and check our sauce out, as he did not leave empty handed. Looking forward to having a beer in the future with Casey. hoisting a few beers at Lassen’s tap.

Overall, it was a great day. Just being there and feeling a little normal after having cabin fever the year prior. I enjoyed saying hello to old friends who you only see once in a blue moon via a Facebook posting. To recognize someone wearing masks, not knowing that either one would be there was pretty cool. The rain stayed away. The show had great walking traffic throughout the 4 hour show. Plenty of tasty beverages were drank. Sales went well. New audience was established. It was a great time. Hopefully we have more shows in breweries in the future.

HOT SAUCE FUNNY OF THE WEEK

THE NEW SAUCE IN TOWN

The Staff Sergeant Moon Racer was our best selling hot sauce of 2020. The Moon Racer is a simple green Jalapeno hot sauce. It has notes of lemon and lime juices which can zing up a nice homemade taco. It has a nice heat with flavor that makes this sauce popular. I zinged up the Moon Racer to keep the same great flavor, but give the sauce more heat. I added the perfect amount of ghost peppers which helped me create Uncle Gene’s Green Machine. Now this sauce gets those tacos, or whatever you like to put sauce on, nice heat to clear the nostrils and make you sweat while you enjoy mauling deliciousness.

This sauce is named after a great man.: My Uncle Gene. The sauce is green which rhymes with Gene. The machine part is interesting because my Uncle Gene had a machine shop. Plus, on his farm he would a tractor. Which the kids love to ride along with. People might think of the cool big wheel, the green machine. Each bottle of Uncle Gene’s Green Machine has a toy machine tractor around the neck of the bottle. Unfortunately my Uncle passed away last year. It’s a great sauce to honor and remember a important person who brought love to all in the family. Uncle Gene will always be missed. However we will ride on tractor style.

99 BOTTLES OF SAUCE ON THE WALL

(THE HOTTEST SAUCE SALES OF 2020)

WHO’S BUYING WHICH SID’S SAUCE THE MOST IN 2020?

BASKETS SOLD (7) Vampire baskets (3), General X-Mas Basket, (2), Military basket (2)

THE SAUCE RANKINGS (176 BOTTLES SOLD)

RANKING	SAUCE	BOTTLES SOLD
#1.	STAFF SERGEANT MOON RACER	28
#2.	MAGGIE VAMPIRE SLAYER	20
#2.	MANGO ATE YOUR BABY	20
#3.	ZOMBIE GUTS	17
#4.	METEORITE SCORCHED	16
#4.	KILLING MR. DRACULA	16
#5.	THE MANGO SLAYED YOUR FAMILY	14
#6.	GHOST OF EL-SID PAST	12
#7.	METEORITE SUNSET	11
#8.	COBRA SERPENTOR’S PEACH	7
#8.	EL SID THE GREAT MATADOR	7
#9.	BLAZING SADDLE SORES	6
#10.	FUZZY ACHIOTE	4
#11.	JOHNNY RED	2
#11.	APOCALYPSE	2
#12.	JOHNNY, YOU’RE AWAY WITH THE BAND	0

NEW LABELS

We have some breaking news about your favorite hot sauce company. Sid’s Sauce has replaced the paper labels on the bottles with a new sticker label.

The paper stickers get wet and peel off too easily. The new sticker labels will stay intact for those wild and crazy pool parties.

The paper stickers will return at some point for that old school anniversary or perhaps a seasonal sauce. The sticker labels will save the redwood trees, as we may now be called environmentally savvy.

NEW SIGN

Sid Sauce has a new banner style sign with which we can dress up the booth at some of our shows. We’ll look a little more classy than say those Walmart monopolies.

Our CEO, Freak’n Hot Pepper thinks it’s a Christmas card photo op. Inviting the Grinch and carrying baby Crack pepper on his big cowboy hat sombrero.

New Lenox Christmas in the Commons – December 2020

We ended the year with two shows outside in the month of December to cap off Steven King’s 2020 horror movie. The Village of New Lenox hosts a Christmas themed light festival with vendors and lots of hot chocolate; just what is needed to warm the bones on a frigid night. Some had their trusty alcoholic beverage while they shopped and looked at all the pretty lights that lit up the skyline in the little village of New Lenox. Not many choices for Christmas events to do around the Holidays with family due to the pandemic. This yearly festival took care of a nice family horse and carriage ride while seeing all the Christmas colored lights, as well as visiting Santa.

We did two shows in these well crafted wooden shanties that some locals constructed for all these vendors. We did not freeze our freakies off, as each shanty had a heater and a light. Plus the cooler of beverages that we provide to our top tier sales people in the company. It was the first time we did the Christmas themed show in New Lenox .We did a summer show there in the past which did not drum up much people. It was the second place for the year that we did an outdoor show.

Both shows were a huge success. We had all our sauces on hand. We tapped an entire new market. In only two shows we cranked out more bottles than we had sold for the year coming in. Many stockings were filled with our 5 ounce bottles of deliciousness. People were loving the different themed gift baskets. Many people waking up on Christmas day would have huge smiles as Sid’s Sauce made it to their home. FINALLY !! We met many new people. We made many new friends. Most importantly, we stayed warm and healthy for the Holidays.

South Suburban Elks Club – October 2020

Our second show of 2020 was an inside show at the Elks Club in Crestwood, Illinois. I think of the Elks Club as a place my parents would go, to get away and socialize.They actually belonged to the Moose Lodge which I’m sure had the same activities posted. Only difference is they may have had a gigantic moose out front instead of an Elk. This was the first time we ever did the Elks club and this was an inside show that was not cancelled. Unlike most all indoor shows have been this year, for us at least. Mask were required to enter and to be worn by both vendors & customers for this Saturday Fall adventure. Temperatures were checked walking inside the door. They had quite a few vendors spread out in their bar area and their banquet room.

It was a four hour show that had a nice flow of people coming in and out. It was a lovely fall day, so nice that this show could have been done outside in their parking lot. Since it was our first show at the Elks Club, we met many new people. We did have some our regular customers show up to get their fix and say hello. Most of our sauces were on hand, including a few gift basket ideas we have. We did end up selling one of our proud Military Survival baskets which features a bottle of Staff Sergeant Moon Racer Jalapeno sauce. Our sales were average as we did get into the double digits in bottles sold. I always believe the first go around at some of these shows is just building blocks for a new town that will love Sid’s Sauce.

I loved the retro bar they have in the lounge area. It’s a blast from the past as I did get a chance to sit and watch some College football. I was able to have some lunch and talk to a few people that were part of the Elk’s club. They made you feel like you were at home. It’s a place you’d want to go back to if they did an annual show. I found out to be a member, they require two things. One, believe in God. Two, be an American citizen. I check those boxes. Then you show up because it is open to the public. A member sponsors you, and then you’re in without the paddles to your rear end. It seems interesting just from the bands they have booked in the future. Bingo is always fun. Cool Elk pictures on the walls remind you of a ski lodge or small country bar. The wives make some sweets for the bake sale. Home cooking fills the air and watching the game sounds like a nice weekend to get you through the battles of everyday life. Hush hush, as our CEO Freak’n Hot Pepper missed out on a good time. He is still indisposed from Covid still lurking.

Oak Lawn High School – September 2020

It took all the way to the month of September to do our first show in 2020. Last show we did dated back to December of 2019. 2020 has been a story written by Steven King that we all have been living. A version of the Stand with the pandemic settling into our communities. The violence & redrum redrum as King’s The Shining shines in. We had shows booked in the early months that had the same outcome. Cancellation after cancellation like we were trapped at the airport snowed in, while watching the big board of flights being cancelled. Finally, nothing would prevent us from doing our first show that was outside the high school due to the pandemic. Mother Nature chimed in on this wild and wet Saturday in September. The rain did take out multiple vendors, but the show went on and we had sauce to sell and addictions to cure.

We were saved after borrowing a tent from some good friends of the sauce. Rain did blow in sideways and the roof of the tent needed to be drained a few times. On this Saturday, the weather did cease and people did come. Oak Lawn High School has been a regular craft show for us and we have always found success at it. On this day, 28 bottles of different varieties were sold as somehow we emerged past Corona and mother nature in one afternoon.

Our CEO, the big red pepper Freak’n hot as he goes by in the local circuit, was a no-show. Freak’n was not quarantining, but the rain ruins his glow. He will have to wait to make his first appearance on the site in 2020. So the rumor he was out and contacted the virus doing the Mamba and the Salsa at the local watering hole with others, is untrue.

We did miss some of the usual regulars that traditionally show up at Oak Lawn High School. It was great seeing some of the other regulars that looked to be doing good and wish their loved ones the best during these trying times. Chuck’s BBQ was on hand serving the craft show lunch. Found out Meteorite Sunset is a hit on top of Chuck’s delicious Mac and Cheese. Plus Serpentor’s Cobra Peach can turn Mac N Cheese’s taste into something from out of this world deliciousness.

Sward School – December 2019

Our good friend, Brady McDonald, goes to Sward as his parents told us about the craft show at his school. The wooden snowman above is what Brady McDonald cranked out at his craft table to sell to all the people of Oak Lawn and others. They had a mix of tables from kids from school with crafts to sell and lots of other vendors like us, selling our merch. First show ever at Sward for Sid’s Sauce. It was the seventh show of the year for the company, and the last show of the year as well. We were hoping to go out with a bang for the year, having plenty of stocking stuffers around the neighborhood for good men and women, not grouchy ones.

The table was set up to our liking as always. We had our table with all of sauces to be sampled. We had three new sauces available for the public, which we brought to the table.

We came up with a Habanero and Garlic sauce. It’s called Killing Mr.Dracula. It’s similar to Maggie the Vampire Slayer but hotter. Then we had our new line of peach sauces. Johnny You’re away with the Band has a blend of peach and mango that gives this sauce a nice flavor with heat.Then the one we are very excited over is called Serpentor’s Cobra Peach.

 

We named a sauce after the Cobra dictator just for kicks. Cobra peach has that peach cobbler thing going with a peach cinnamon flavor and some heat. People were happy with all three sauces. We sold at least one from each of the new line.

We were set up in the gymnasium. They had vendors in the hallways and everyone had some elbow room. The foot traffic was pretty constant from the opening of the doors of the school. We met a lot of new faces. Plus we had some of our customers for life on hand as well. Love the regulars. Got to have your norms in any business. We were very impressed with the sales by the time the end of the day came upon us. Sward will definitely have to be in the regular rotation for years to come. Now let’s hope Brady McDonald’s father did not snag the kid’s profits from his hard work on the snowmen. I brought one, had it up before Christmas, and the big fat man Santa could not stop raving about how cool it was. “Great craftsmanship,” he mumbled while drinking my spiked egg nog and devouring all my cookies. He even tracked mud all over my clean floors. Next year Santa and I will be airing our grievances around the festivus pole.

St. Christina – November 2019

In 2018 our first ever trip to St.Christina grammar school in Mt.Greenwood was one of the best nights we ever had at a craft show. We sold a record amount of bottles that night that filled some Christmas stockings up as we tallied over 40 bottles in sales. St. Christina shows are like the Lollapalooza of the craft show world. Plenty of drinks and food. Since it’s a Catholic church, lots of alcoholic drinks. Plenty of wine and boozey drinks for all of the ladies on a Friday night shopping spree. Plenty of tables packed with all sorts of stuff right before the Holidays. Throw in the live band and St. Christina knows how to throw a party. The second go around had all the same bells and whistles. We brought every sauce we had. We had extra stock on hand hoping for another repeat of last year.

Our table was set up perfectly facing the band. Both band members gave our sauce some publicity mentioning our sauce a few times between songs which was cool of them. AS the night wrapped up both band members indulged in their own personal tasting of Sid’s Sauce. Plus they left with a few bottles of their own as they were happy with their purchases. We were delighted with how they performed on stage playing many great songs.

While the band played. While the crowds of people shopped. While the booze settled in. Great food was had. We saw many familiar faces. Love saying hello and talking sauce with old friends. We made new friends as well. The sales were steady the whole night. Everyone was doing well except our CEO Freak’n Hot Chili Pepper. Usually kids love him. Red Hot had a little boy tackle the red greatness down to the Gymnasium floor, not once but twice. The kid had a nice right cross or two by the end of the night Freak’n hot was concussed.

We did better in 2018 than in 2019. Thought they had more people the first year we went. We did very well though. By the end of the show, most of the people drank by the bar in the other room and socialized. St. Christina was one of our better shows in sales for the year. We sold a variety of bottles down the line. Out of the twelve kinds of sauces we brought, at least nine of them had a bottle or more purchased. Fun was had. Our boss was knocked out. Overall a good night at the office.

OUR ANNUAL SPARTY TIME AT OAK LAWN

It was our fifth show of the year as we returned to Oak Lawn High School. It’s the home of the Spartans and their fall craft show is a place we’d like to call home to. Sid’s Sauce has attended two years in a row as we felt last year we planted some seeds in the community. We sold some bottles. Plenty of people tried our sauces. We had some great insight about what people like to put hot sauce on. Some recipes were swapped. Great conversations were had indeed.

This year they had us in a sweet spot. People in business say “location, location, location” and this go around we had a real nice location. We were not going to missed by anybody who walked into the gym unless they were just reading the sports banners up high on the walls. They probably would have knocked down someone’s booth and the whole gym would be up for grabs in some kind of showdown in the thunderdome.

Last year we had 11 sauces on display for the community of Oak Lawn. This year we had 13 sauces available. Thirteen was the number of bottles sold last year. This year we broke that record with 21 bottles sold and we were very happy with the results. 9 different types of sauces were sold, with The Mango Slayed Your Family as the crowd favorite.

We love our returning customers. Sid Sauce is like the first Red Dawn movie. On the big screen they did decent. Then they have a cult following. From being there last year we did have a following coming back for more sauce this year. Since we are Russian free we can get our important VIP’s their stash of hot sauce in Spartan land.

You know the kid instead of yelling Wolverines is yelling Spartans.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Spartans of Oak Lawn do a very great job of running their craft show. They are very well organized. The Students were fantastic. We’d like to thank Darlene Yerkes as she is one of the organizers of the show. Dar and the rest of the staff make you feel like you’re at home, welcoming you to this event. In 2020, we will be back there again and loving every moment of it.

SHOW RECAP – 10/5/19

REAVIS HIGH SCHOOL (HOME OF THE RAMS)

In Burbank, Illinois, besides Chucks BBQ they have a high school in their community named Reavis. We invaded the their school to sell hot sauce in our 4th event of the year. It was our first time doing Reavis.

HISTORY OF REAVIS

OPENED IN 1950

FAMOUS ALUMNI:

LANCE DREHER (2 TIME MR.UNIVERSE & FORMER MR. AMERICA)

RAY HANANIA (JOURNALIST & COMEDIAN)

JAMES CHICO HERNANDEZ (3 TIME BRITISH SILVER MEDALIST IN SOMBO WRESTLING)

TOM LEMMING (COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING ANALYST)

BOBBY MADRITSCH (BASEBALL PITCHER SEATTLE MARINERS)

WILLY ROY (SOCCER COACH WHO’S IN NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME)

DREW FORTIER (MUSICIAN, SONG WRITER, ACTOR, & FILM MAKER)

The Reavis fall craft show was to raise money for the theatre program.

It was for the production of the Addams family

We are all about breaking a leg. Indeed our show must go on as well. Our mission stays the same. Just the location is different. Introduce some great hot sauce to the Burbank area and that’s what we accomplished. We sold some sauce. We talked to many people. We had some “Looky Lous” but we think they will ultimately be back as many samples were tried. Business cards were given out. Friends were definitely made. I think we got our name out in the Burbank community on that Saturday fall day.

Reavis High School put on a nice show.They had over 100 vendors. I did not realize how big the school was. Hundreds of buses in the parking lot gave me that clue when I first pulled into the parking lot.

We had all twelve of our sauces on hand.

WHAT WAS FREAKIN HOT PEPPER EYEBALLING ON OUR PEPPER CAM ?

Overall we always wish the number of bottles sold would have been way more. We hit double figures but stayed in the teens at a pretty much all day show. Our hottest sauces with the ghost peppers were the popular choice at this show. We did like the vibe of the people. We definitely will come back to Reavis next year because it was a well run show. All the high school kids in the production were very helpful and friendly. We think our numbers would go up next year when we show our faces there again. We felt like we were a Reavis Ram for the day. Their slogan says once a Ram always a Ram. I feel horny. Not what you’re thinking!! I mean the horns of the animal.

SHOW RECAP 8-16-19

IT WAS LADIES NIGHT IN NEW LENOX

Our latest show had us outside for an evening event catering to the ladies. It was our second overall outside event we have done. It was a 4 hour late afternoon event that went into the evening vendor show, in downtown New Lenox. Some of the event was under the lights on a sticky summer night.

It’s been a long time in between events as this was only our third event of the year and the last one was in the Spring. This would be the second event without Freakin’ Hot Chili pepper since he is male. It was up to our ladies and we did sneak in Freak’n Hot Chili Pepper’s son, Crack pepper in to supervise.

As you can see it was a nice set up by our staff. We had all our sauces on hand. We had many free samples to be tasted with some tasty Mexican chips. Over the years we have seen many females shy away from trying the hot sauce. Perhaps too hot too handle. We did sell some bottles, but most of it was ladies buying a gift for someone else. Since it was ladies night, the males could not stay away since hot sauce was in town.

This group came by and tried the sauce. Of course hitting ladies night at the local pub to get that impressive discount on their beer purchases. They demanded their fair share off each bottle of hot sauce as well. As Chili Crack pepper’s blurred vision could not tell our sauce dripping off their mustaches from them sampling many of our signature sauces. We ended up slashing our prices for these very ugly men that night.

Overall we sold ten bottles in 4 hours with about half an hour cut off by rain. Zombie Guts and Maggie the Vampire slayer led all bottles in sales with three each. We had 4 others of our bottles sell one as well to make up the ten. I was there to pack up the table during the storm that came down and wash things away early. I had to go to the bathroom and went in one of these pink port a potties that were abandoned at the time since everyone was fleeing the scene as the dark skies opened up. It was surreal in these pink port a potties. They had a couch in there. They had fragrant candles going. I thought I heard violin music playing as well. It was an out-of-my body experience. Perhaps something crossed off my bucket list as well.

SHOW RECAP: SPRING TIME AT THE SHEPARD

Our second show of the 2019 came at one of our regular stops every year Shepard High School, home of the Astros.

Early April showers bring May Flowers. On this early April Show it was “ice ice baby, word to your mother.” It looked like a cold winter day with heavy sleet coming down. This Saturday morning show was a struggle just to get the sauce to our people. After drying out and getting the table set up, we were ready to roll.

We had all our sauces on hand for this adventure in Palos Heights. Things were off to a slow start without the usual early morning traffic you get at these shows at Shepard. The gym was full with the max of vendors, so we just needed the people to come in as a herd of buying zombies. We hope they brought their wallets.

Like the story my mother used to tell us kids, “We used to walk 5 miles to school in a blizzard.” We carried my little brother on our backs and made it on time. Nobody ever lived across the street from the school. I did not know blizzard conditions happened in the country of Ireland. People did show up as the weather got a tad better later in the morning. They piled in and we got to sell some sauce. Say hello to the regulars. Plus talk shop with everyone who tried our sauce.

The first show of the year, Freak’n hot Red Pepper was a no show and we did not do very well in sales. This time he was on hand for this show. What was he eyeballing?

We sold multiple bottles of sauce on that day even with the weather not being good. We sold a variety of different flavors down the line. It was a nice rebound from our first show at the Quarry. It’s always good to just be at home which is what we feel about Shepard High school. It’s a relaxed atmosphere and the people like hot sauce. We did about our usual sales numbers at Shepard. A little over a case of bottles found new homes that Saturday, an early winter weather spring day.

SHOW RECAP MARCH MADNESS (1st show of 2019)

Our first show of the year was done at the Quarry. Not the Quarry in Bedrock, but we worked the phones and finally were able to land our first gig. We invaded the Quarry in Lemont, Illinois.

Our first stop of the year as we were able to get through the hot sauce slow season. This was our first appearance at The Quarry Pub and Grill in Lemont. The Quarry used to be a bowling alley.

It’s a huge establishment that used to be a bowling alley as they still had some lanes, but not being used at this time. Now it’s a place to drink and eat. It’s a place to shoot some pool.

It’s a place that has live entertainment. On Sundays when football is not being played, it turns into a good sized craft show. We were thinking people would be coming out drinking and having a good time. We’d have some spice for the Bloody Marys.

We were set upon the dance floor right in front of the stage. We had no Freakin’ Hot Chili pepper as he was elsewhere dealing with hot sauce and hot sauce related situations.

Must be nice to be the CEO of the company and head off to the islands on a cold March weekend. We were in good hands with Freakin’ Hot Chili pepper’s son, Crack Pepper.

We had all the sauces on hand for our first show of 2019. We unveiled some of our new plastic taster bottles to make it easy for people to sample our great sauce on their favorite chips.

This show had many vendors but were missing the customers. There were not very many. The foot traffic was lacking in the 8 hour day adventure which hurt the sales of the first day out. We did sell 7 bottles. A little bit of everything. Most of the sales came from other vendors. Was not a particularly good day at the office, but we got our feet wet at the first show of the year. We tried a new market as well, it being our first time in the city of Lemont. We will check in with the Quarry again as they have multiple shows a year. Picking something closer to the holidays at that location might be the better idea. We did get some cards out. We did get a few people trying sauce. It’s baby steps but steps were taken out in Lemont at the Quarry Pub and Grill.

SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

Some people might say I kind of went overboard with bringing so many hot sauces back from a trip from New Orleans. I will absolutely admit that indeed I did. I love the sauces I make. I have always liked the cool labels on hot sauce bottles. Plus the hot stuff inside always gets me fired up. Found this sauce with the gator on the bottle in a place called the Pepper Palace in the heart of New Orleans, even though I did tour the swamps. This sauce is Xtra-HOT!!! It’s called Gator Death Roll…

The only pepper in the Gator Death Roll is the almighty Habanero. Which I use in a number of my sauces. It has your regular salt and sugar along with vinegar which is the blood of most sauces. They have additional spices which give this sauce some very nice heat. You do not need much, as I dabbed it on few eggs over the last few weeks. It has the heat and it has some flavoring from the pepper and the additional spices. Without  Ghost peppers it definitely provides a radiant type of heat. I got the chili fired up with a few drops of the gator roll. Overall it is a great sauce for the collection. It’s the charcoal starter the grill needs.

At the Pepper Palace, I was like a kid in the candy store.

I even met some of the models who posed for the picture on the Gator Death Roll bottle. The gator who won the contest is in Hollywood, living the dream.

SHOW RECAP 12-1-18 THE RETURN TO SHEPARD

Sid’s sauce always like to return to their old stomping grounds. One of the places where it all started. One of the places where we built up nice customer base. Lots of familiar faces. Shepard is place everyone knows your names and we our glad we came. This second time in 2018 doing a show at Shepard. We did their spring show earlier in the year. This is the third time overall and our second winter slash Christmas vendor show we did at Shepard.

Alan B. Shepard High school is home of the Astros.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

RON MAHAY MLB PLAYER (RELIEF PITCHER) YEARS PLAYED (1995-1997-2010)  8 DIFFERENT TEAMS

DAVID KNOX  GUITARIST OF POP PUNK BAND  (REAL FRIENDS)

STEVEN LUKASIEWICZ  RETIRED NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (1996-2016)

OUR TABLE

This show, we had ten of our sauces on hand. We had the usual chips set out for anybody who wanted to try some sauce on this rainy cold Saturday could do so.

IT’S A BOY

The well known pepper through the hot sauce circuit is our own Freakin’ Hot Chili Pepper. Recently as you can see above, there’s happy news… it’s a boy. Little Freaky was on hand for his first show. The mum pepper was a crack pepper and should explain Little Freaky’s crazy look and those angry eyes. He was a good little lad and was on his best behavior, even if he is from the dark side of the ghost pepper in his genes.

SPEAKING OF FREAKIN’ HOT WHAT WAS HE EYEBALLING ?

He liked the Snowman sticks this vendor had to offer. He was able to get one. Freakin’ Hot Pepper was again the hit of the show for the company.

Thelma and Louise took an immediate liking to Freak’n Hot pepper. Both ladies had an action packed day ahead of them as they were just getting started with our CEO. Two awesome ladies that know how to have fun and we had a great conversation with them.

Overall we had a successful day at Shepard, as we always do. The weather outside was horrible. It started off slow, but it really picked up. We saw lots of people we knew from just doing past shows there. They enjoyed some new options and we have their old favorites on hand as well. Out of ten sauces we brought, nine of them had at least one bottle purchased. Our numbers of bottles of sauce keeps going up every time we visit. We will definitely be back at our old stomping grounds there again this Spring for another adventure and look forward to seeing all our favorite people.

 SHOW RECAP 11-16-18  ST. CHRISTINA

We invaded St. Christina grammar school on the South side of Chicago with our 12 different hot sauces. This was our first time attending St. Christina for a vendor fair. This was not our normal vendor fair we usually do. This fair was on a Friday night. It was only 4 hours. It was inside their gym with plenty of boozy drinks and beer with that feel of a South Side St Patrick’s Day parade. It had live music. Yes it is home of the Cardinals and this vendor fair had all the essential bells and whistles for a good time and having lots of fine people trying our sauce.

OUR TABLE

They did manage to pack a lot of vendors in a grammar school gym.

WHAT WAS FREAKIN’ HOT CHILI PEPPER EYEBALLING ?

Freakin’ hot Chili pepper you know was eye balling something for his crack pepper gal. We have no pictures of her at this time. She’s in rehab.

They had a bar set up with some more tables in a few rooms connected to the gym. The new bar in town on 111th street, the Firewater Saloon, was the genius who created masterpiece drinks. Had a very nice selection of beer as well. This vendor fair attracted mostly women. It was a crowd of people having a great time.  Even Freakin’ Hot, our CEO, was having a good time with a particular beautiful lady.

Thank God Freakin’ Hot Chili Pepper’s gal is in rehab. She would be jealous.

This was only a 4 hour show. And it was less than that due to a power outage of some kind. We sold 40 bottles which is a new record at any Craft or Vendor fairs we have ever done. Lots of people will be happy to see Sid’s Sauce in their stocking come Christmas Day. It great seeing old neighbors from the old neighborhood. Eleanor and Martin both on my list of all time best neighbors. It was great seeing many people try the sauce and liking it. We made many new friends there, as we try to do everywhere. It was great talking about hot sauce in general. Love knowing what people put the sauce on. Always some interesting tidbits. These shows give us some new ideas. Ideas to help improve the company going forward. Definitely will make St. Christina a main staple in our 2019 tour.

SHOW RECAP ST. GERMAINE

Our first ever show that we did was at St. Germaine grammar school in Oak Lawn. It’s home of the Trojans. We have a pretty good following established there as this was the second time of 2018 we have done a show in their gymnasium. In 2017 we were welcomed there with open arms. We met many people. Many people tried our sauces. The conversations about sauce and sauce accessories. Different peppers people liked. What level of heat the average Bear could stand. It helped us build the foundation of the company. Whenever we go back to St. Germaine we like them to get first crack at any new sauces we come with. On this day, I brought the heat Ricky…..

Before the zombies could pick the bodies clean, we were able to harvest some key parts to create our newest heat.

•  
•  

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO ZOMBIE GUTS

No zombies were hurt while we made this sauce. Actually no zombie guts were actually used. We believe they have laws they enforce on that kind of child’s play. Zombie Guts is brother of the Apocalypse sauce, one of our original six. It has the same ingredients except Ghost peppers were added to the mix. It has flavor but it packs a wallop of heat. Be ready to sweat to the oldies minus Richard Simmons. Zombie Guts’ debut was a hit.

Zombie Guts gives us twelve total sauces. It is our third sauce that has some type of ghost pepper inside. We had all twelve sauces to offer our Trojans from St.Germaine. Our table was set up the usual way. This go around, besides Mexican chips to dip into our sauces, we also provided flat pretzels that also went very well. Our Table was in the same location right when you walked through the gym doors. It was the usual set up.

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

As usual it was another great day at St. Germaine. All our numbers increase every time we come by for a visit. Sales went across the board with a few sauces selling out. The grand tally at the end of the day was 29 bottles. We had a lot return customers and we thank them. We love seeing familiar faces and they know what they like. It’s great making new friends with many others to make this trip another fun outing and another successful day for the company to continue growth.

WHAT WAS FREAK’N HOT PEPPER EYE BALLING?

•  
•  
•  

He loved a few vendors. As you can see what he was looking at. He made some friends throughout the day.  After a long day at the gravel pit leaning against a table, he was ready to hit the local happy hour scene. Of course he was not buying as some of the profits had to go to his very expensive martinis. He does not stop at four either.

SHOW RECAP 10-20-18 OAK LAWN HIGH SCHOOL

The first thing I think of when I hear about Oak Lawn High school is the tornado that took place in that town and involved that school in 1967. April 21, 1967 a tornado blew down and took the whole school’s roof off. In its path it created lots of havoc. I was not alive at the time when this baby came in and destroyed parts of the suburb of Oak Lawn. It is local history. It is near where I live, so if you do not know, I’m glad to give you history lesson about my local area. I have a pipe. I have a beard unkept. I’m even wearing elbow patches on my corduroy jacket. Just call it South Side History 101 and I’m the professor.

FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM OAK LAWN HIGH SCHOOL

C.J KUPEC: NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER (1975-1978) Went to Michigan University

BENN JORDAN: COMPOSER/ Recording artist known as “The Flash Bulb.”

ROB MACKOWIAK: MLB BASEBALL PLAYER/ Played a few years with the White Sox

TIM PURPURA: GM HOUSTON ASTROS (2004-2007) He was there when the White Sox beat his Astros in 2005 in the World Series.

Oak Lawn High School home of the Spartans

This was our first appearance at Oak Lawn High School doing their craft show. Some of our sauces are seasonal at times, due to certain peppers. Or not enough of certain peppers grown that year. This is the first show we did where we had all 11 sauces we offer.

FREAKIN’ HOT PEPPER WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW – OUR CEO

As you can see many people took pictures with our CEO and the smile says it all, as he loves getting out and hanging with the locals.

Freakin’ hot pepper even had clowns to his left when you’re looking at the picture and jokers somewhere to the right.

We sold only 13 bottles that day. But we made a lot of contacts as we talked to many people. Some people gave their life story to us as if we ranked up their with the local bartenders for advice on any life situations. It was great talking about hot sauce in general and what peppers people like. I liked that we had a steady traffic flow of people sampling the sauce all day long. We got many great ideas from people that will help our business in the future. Great ways to improve the day to day operations.

GENERAL HIGH LIGHTS

WHAT WAS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF FREAKIN’ HOT PEPPER

Freakin’ hot pepper likes to buy all his pepperettes something nice for the upcoming holidays.

Overall we liked Oak Lawn High School. We will be back there next year at whatever shows they have to offer. We feel like we made some great friends there. We feel  like many people liked it. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there again next year.

SHOW RECAP JOLIET

This was the first ever show we’ve done outside selling our hot sauce. It was in Joliet, Illinois right across from Ingalls Park.

This was a benefit for the Joliet Hospice. It was a day and night affair to raise money for hospice. This show was right out of a Sons of Anarchy episode as it was a biker club running the show.

I can say this was a new experience. This was also a great time. Besides talking and selling our product to the locals, it was being outside. It was listening to some live music as they lined up a few rock bands all the way through and rocked it out all day and night.

•  
•  
•  
•  

Plus you got to drink beer. Eat BBQ. It was for a great cause. Plenty of cheese balls to go around. Plus they had the coolest car show in their parking lot with many awesome  classic cars.

•  
•  
•  
•  

Our table was set up under a tent in area with other vendors. We had chips and sauce in sample cups for people to try any one we had to offer.  We had some hand painted Sid Sauce wall pictures as well, to offer. As you can see, our CEO was on hand for this affair, the hottest pepper in the crate. The Sultan of Swing. Breath that can melt the paint off your car, the one and only Freakin’ Hot Pepper. He’s going to fire me after he reads this recap.

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

We had nine sauces to offer for the clubs and friends. It was the first show that we had Staff Sergeant Moonracer on hand. His army invaded the table as one of nine sauces to choose from.

•  
•  
•  

Staff Sergeant Moonracer is our first green jalapeno sauce we have made. It a perfect sauce for Mexican food. People rave about it, as they like it on their eggs. Besides the Jalapeno flavor, it has hints of lime and lemon that gives this sauce a nice zest to it. We did a trial run earlier in the summer as the Staff Sergeant was a party favor for everyone who attended an anniversary party. Lots of great feedback came back to us. I was hoping more people would try some on it’s first debut at these shows or on the shelves. Sold a few bottles. Had people trying it. With nine sauces to choose from, it was all over the board equally, as no particular  sauce was tried more than others. We noticed every show is different as to which sauce is the most sold.

WHAT WAS THE FREAKIN’ HOT PEPPER EYEBALLING ?

•  
•  
•  

Freakin’ Hot Chili Pepper was eyeballing some leather patches and some skull beads for his badass self. He might be asking Santa for a hog for Christmas. I told him, “You have no arms or feet to drive a hog.” He settled for a leather jacket and some cool tats on his pepper of angry fried green tomatoes.

Overall, the experience was awesome. The cause was great to be a part of, raising money for Hospice care is something very important and much needed. The show started off slow, but we were able to get in the double figures of bottles sold. We met some great people. We believe we have created another following of great people that love our sauce we make. I believe they have this show every year and you better believe we will be back for some rocking good times with guys that ride the hogs.

SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

In New Orleans, I found a treasure load of great hot sauces. They love the spice in these parts so I found myself using a hot sauce, on one of their main staples. Probably a Southern comfort main staple… red beans and rice with some spicy sausage.

The old bar/dive restaurant has been around the block for many decades. Besides selling shirts and their own brand on hats, they make their own hot sauce. The name of the joint is Buffa’s down in the ole French quarter. The bartender was immediately in my head as he placed their hot sauce in front of me, as if knowing I might dabble some on the food. I have had Red Rice and beans before, never with hot sauce. Out of the few choices, I went with the Buffa’s Mango.

The Buffa’s Mango had a nice little kick to it. Along with a nice flavor added to the meal. Little different then our Mango Ate Your Baby. It reminded me of our Blazing Saddle Sores by substituting the pineapple for mango. That could be a future sauce.

Buffa’s Mango consists of habanero peppers, mango pulp, lemon juice, carrot and pepper. Tomato paste to thicken. Overall I think this sauce is pretty good. It can be used for a variety of foods. It seems to have the perfect heat with the perfect flavor. I did notice a few establishments made their own hot sauce and you were able to buy it. I believe Buffa’s was charging a fiver for each bottle. Well worth it.

IN SEARCH OF THE BEST BLOODY MARY

In 2017, we started the search for the best Bloody Mary and we were able to hit three spots. In 2018, we will continue the search for Spock, but before that we will enjoy a Sunday Funday at one of our local watering holes called Jack Desmonds in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. Old Jacky boy is known for his Irish craft beers on tap. They do an awesome Irish breakfast as well. Let’s see what his staff is creating behind the bar for their Bloody Mary.

Jack Desmond’s Bloody Mary did not make me jump out of my seat. It was your basic Mary Jane. Not that there is anything wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld and George would say.

This Bloody’s garnish consisted of two olives and a lemon wedge. I did like the spice as I had a nice burn on my tongue while I waited for the Irish breakfast which they serve any time since the clock was ticking in the noon hours. Overall, it was ok. I only indulged in one though because it did not wow me. Went to beer after the great breakfast which was indeed delicious.

RANK	ESTABLISHMENT	YEAR	CITY AND STATE
1	55 South	2017	Franklin, Tennessee
2	Journeyman	2017	Three Oaks, Michigan
3	Black Oak	2017	Oak Lawn, Illinois
4	Jack Desmond’s	2018	Chicago Ridge, Illiniois

Right now Jack Desmonds is at the bottom In the search for the best Bloody Mary. Some establishments have weaknesses and thrive in other stuff. Jack Desmond’s Bloody Mary is probably in the local area better than lots of places. However we are in search of the best and we will not give up until we find the best. Every stone will be turned over until we find the breakfast of champions.

SPLITTING OF THE PEPPER

On April 7^th, we had two scheduled shows in one day. Both places we did last year. Both places were very successful for this small business trying to lift off the ground. With two shows, who was going to get custody of the company mascot, Freak’n Hot Pepper?

One idea was just to cut the pepper in half and each show has a half of a Freaking pepper. With laws out there, especially the stuffed animal act, it is against the law in this state to sacrifice a stuffed animal or any kind of stuffed vegetables etc…

Instead Freak’n hot pepper chose where he wanted to go and he went with the St. Germaine craft fair. He loved his time at the Shepard Christmas fair last year. But his main squeeze was in the Oak Lawn area.

Both shows had to go on even with our Geico spokesman, Freak’n Hot pepper, at one location. No worries we still had a variety of sauces at each show. We also unveiled two new ones added to the Sid Sauce family. Both sauces had some different style peppers in them as well.

METEORITE SCORCHED

If you liked Meteorite Sunset, then you will like Meteorite SCORCHED. Everything the same except we have added ghost peppers to the mix giving it a nice heat along with that same great taste.

INKY, PINKY, BLINKY AND CLYDE APPROVED

It has pineapple, kiwi, and mango with Habanero peppers. Plus the added ghost peppers give it an out of this world experience with your taste buds doing the twist.

EL-SID THE GREAT MATADOR

This sauce has a very nice flavor. This sauce consists of Jalapeno peppers along with chilis and some added spices. Plus garlic to keep out the blood thirsty vampires. This sauce is good for the regular stuff you put your hot sauce on. However it will go well with your exotic foods. Chinese, Indian and some of your other cuisines.

Both sauces did very well at both shows with a limited supply and are expected to be main staples in the Sid Sauce universe for years to come.

GERMAINE PARISH CRAFT SHOW

OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS

St. Germaine parish, home of the Trojans was our very first show ever. In the second year we loved to keep tradition alive so we had to attend this one the second year in a row. The first year it was great getting the name out there in the neighborhood. Plus getting great feedback on how the sauce tasted. We had some returning customers along with some new customers. Our bottle sales did increase there from our very first show we did one year ago.

HIGHLIGHTS

AS YOU CAN SEE FREAK’N RED HOT WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW

SHEPARD HIGH SCHOOL

PALOS HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS

Shepard high school home of the Astros was our second show we did right before Christmas. We did very well as many Sid Sauce bottles were purchased for stocking stuffers and people that love the sauce. Both schools we are looking to be main staples at. Both schools were doing their shows on the same day and we did not want to say no to either of them. The second time being at Shepard was another success. Even though we had less sales than the Christmas show. The success came from many repeat customers craving another bottle of sauce. It felt like a customer base, a foundation was being built. We did get some new customers that enjoyed some of our sauces and we are hoping will join our family and want our sauce for years to come.

HIGHLIGHTS

YOU CAN NOT WIN THEM ALL

You cannot please everyone. Everyone is different. Some people are the “can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen” type. Those are the people that they sniff the bottle and they will think it’s too hot for them. We are working on getting something really hot. Our Meteorite SCORCHED is our hottest sauce. But it’s not a burn the mouth dragon type with flames coming out. However some thought the Meteorite SCORCHED would be that way. This gentleman who was obviously a Vet with the hat on that had military pins on it. He told me “I eat habanero peppers like candy.”

He grows his own peppers in his own back yard and just pops them in his mouth like they are M&M’S. None of our sauces fazed him. We do find challenges like that. We are working on something for his taste and we are hopeful our paths will meet again.

 SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

Liquid Mistletoe has a few things to offer. Stroking some woman’s boobs, under the mistletoe. Where does that occur, Hugh Hefner’s mansion? This sauce you’re thinking was free with purchase of a porno beta movie. Perhaps. On the side of the bottle they have a Santa Claus. Got to put the fat man on the bottle somewhere when you are offering your green Christmas hot sauce. It looks like the Santa is watching what’s unfolding under the green weed hanging above the red headed slut. Instead of egg nog red headed slut shots.  I did get this green sauce as a gift over the holidays.

It’s a simple sauce with jalapeno peppers mixed with vinegar. It has a nice bite to it. I have tried it on the usual suspects of foods.  Eggs and tacos it added a nice flavor to them. Overall, Risqué Hot Sauce Company came up with nice sauce. Plus, it has a fun label. It’s a sauce that can spice up your Christmas fruit cake. If you already have a spicy red head coming over, then use the sauce on another holiday. Sid Sauce will be coming out with some green hot sauce in 2018. We already have been working on some recipes with jalapeno peppers in them. We just need to sign up a red head for the new advertising campaign.

SID SAUCE’S NEWEST RECIPE:

FIRE ALARM FRIED TATERS

Fried spuds is one of the best side dishes you can make. I’m Irish so I love my spuds. I love my spuds many ways. But fried spuds are like the French fries at home. It might be the poor man’s French fries. My Dad is why I do fried spuds. He loved to fry spuds up when we were kids. With a burger, dog or Sloppy Joe and many more dishes it makes sense. Spuds in my house as a kid came in many forms. So I’m thinking my dad wanted these spuds over the other his wife/my mother wanted, who came from the potato capital of the world, Idaho. If she reads this she will be kicking my ass or I should say arse all the way from Dublin to Donegal, Ireland. She would tell you the potato crop and the best come from the old country.

I will fry spuds normal with some salt in a frying pan. Well I started that way frying spuds. My mum is from Ireland and many of them like their food bland. I like some salt. But I love the spice so I will tell you how to spice up those taters in my personal favorite side recipe, my Fire Alarm Fried potatoes.

These are things you will need for this spicy adventure.

3 IDAHO POTATOES   You can use more than 3. Plus you can use any style of potato.  You can peel them or leave as is. Wash the spuds before putting them in play. Or you might get a potato famine and leave the state.

2 TABLE SPOONS OF VIRGIN OLIVE OIL (you can also use vegetable oil)

CHILI POWDER (Your choice)

SEAONING SALT (Your choice)

CRUSHED RED PEPPER (Your Choice)

SID’S SAUCE (Your Choice) The more the hotter.  THIS RECIPE I’M GOING WITH SID’S SAUCE (BLAZING SADDLE SORES)

TRAP JAW APPROVED

HERE’S MY PICTURE OF ALL THE INGREDIENTS

This batch I first peeled the spuds. Then I cut them in round slices all the way through.

Then I got my best frying pan out. Poured the two tablespoons, or more if you want, of oil in the pan. I put the flame on the oven top at half way. Number 5 on my oven out of ten. Let that oil heat up.

After it heats up my estimation for these spuds to work is about 25 minutes. That’s flipping them in between.

When everything is heated up we are ready to roll.

Then let them sizzle in the pan for five minutes. Then flip them to get the other side for five minutes. You will start to see them browning on each side. You can flip then in-between the five minutes if you want. But the first ten is all about browning them and getting them softer.

After ten minutes I shake on the chili powder on one side of the spuds. You can put spices on in any order. I always wait last for the Sid’s Sauce. After five minutes you flip the spuds. Now I shake on the crushed red pepper. I shake on the stuff on each potato side as I get everything evenly. Then I let that cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Next I do the same thing this time with the seasoning salt. Shake it on the one side of the spuds and let it sizzle in the pan for like 2-3 minutes. Now you should be able to stab the spuds with a fork with ease. Most of the oil has been absorbed from the spuds and the sizzle. I lower the over top half way. This is where I put my hot sauce on. Now you have to watch carefully so you don’t get hot sizzling oil coming back and hitting your arms when you’re shaking the sauce evenly over one side of the spuds. When the hot sauce hits the pans it starts a nice chain reaction like gasoline on a fire. These spuds get a nice blaze. After it calms down, give them another flip and let cook another 2-3 minutes or so. Then you are done and you have one of the tastiest side dishes of all time to go with whatever meal you have planned. It makes a nice spicy fried spud that’ll make your taste buds dance.

RECOMMENDATION FOR MORE FLAVOR TO POUR ON TOP WHEN READY TO EAT:

Ketchup, BBQ sauce, Malt Vinegar

THE SEARCH FOR THE BEST BLOODY MARY

The third and final bloody Mary I indulged in for the 2017 year was in Franklin, Tennessee. We only were able to get three bloodies in last year. However we started the Search for the Best Bloody very late in the year. This being the third of the year, we can say third time is the charm. The restaurant slash bar called 55 South gets my vote for the best Bloody of the year.

On Sundays at 55 South you can create your own bloody as they have an area where you can build your own with all the fix ins. Usually on Sundays, bars will go the extra mile to enhance their Bloody Mary. Some places on weekdays use a much scaled down version of a bloody. On this Sunday I went with the experts and had the bartender create me their masterpiece instead of assembling one of my own. I have been to 55 South before. On this recent trip I have been there a few times. The food, the atmosphere, and the drinks are well worth going to visit this place more than once on the same trip.

I was impressed with spice right off the bat. My guess it seems like a homemade Bloody Mary mix. I can tell they use a top shelf vodka giving this baby some flavor as well as a nice kick. It had the rim of the glass plastered with salt. Two olives. Then two wedges – one lemon one lime. All together this Bloody did its job from being out the night before. Plus it was very tasty and it made me want to have another one after the first one. It ends the year on a high note as well. All three Bloody Mary’s were very fantastic.  We are looking forward to finding more bloodies in 2018 to continue our search for the best bloody.

RANK	RESTAURANT/BAR
1	55 SOUTH
2	JOURNEYMEN
3	BLACK OAK

SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

At times we might not have access to Sid’s Sauce. Sometimes sticky situations come upon us and we have to turn to desperate measures as those eggs in that diner need a little spicing up. However, your Sid’s Sauce is in your safe at home with all your important family documents. Plus the briefcase of drug money you found on the bus. Let’s not forget the diamonds you spoil your wife with as well in that safe.   Before I made hot sauce, I always liked many different sauces that were on the market. Loved all the cool different bottles. Love the crazy art on them as well. If they taste as great as some of these bottles look, it’s a win win. I have to give credit to other sauces out there in the market that have done a great job for me in a pinch. Or even just seeing a cool label.

I was on vacation and I was having breakfast at this place called 55 South in Franklin Tennessee. I have been here before. I love their breakfast tacos.

Yes they taste as good as they look. Even those fried spuds were awesome. This place offered three kinds of hot sauce in their caddy. I went with the Mexican hot sauce since they are tacos I was dealing with at the time.

Valentina Salsa Picante hot sauce turned these great tacos into something out of this world. It was like Haley’s comet seeing that in the sky, but only this comet was the salsa style sauce on the tacos which packed a very nice heat. I even had some sweat beading on my forehead. It was that delightful.

THE SHOWS MUST GO ON IN 18

Sid’s Sauce was able to do two craft shows in 2017. Both were very successful. The first being St. Germaine in Oak Lawn while the second was in Palos Heights at Shepard High School right before Christmas. Both were very successful in their own ways. Both helped get the product out there. In 2018 we are seeking to have our product at many more craft shows throughout the Chicagoland area. Both shows we did in 2017 provided the company with a lot of feedback to help our sauce grow. The St. Germaine show was done in the beginning of the year and that one gave us our first experience. While the Shepard one was our most recent success, using tricks we learned from the first show.

The Shepard show we had more sauces available then we had in our first show. We had seven choices    compared to the three we had at Germaine. We launched two new ones at the Shepard craft show. Both of them sold out. Maggie Vampire Slayer and the Fuzzy Achiote were extremely popular. We sold 15 bottles at Germaine while selling 37 bottles at Shepard high school. Both Craft shows we will come back and do in 2018, if they have them again. We know we will do Shepard’s spring craft show coming up in a few months. We tested the waters in 2017 by dipping our sauce in the shallow end of the pool. In 2018, we will be diving off the high dive some pools had back in the day. We will be doing cannonball commitment to more craft shows in 2018.

SOME OF OUR HIGH LIGHTS IN OUR RECENT SHEPARD SHOW RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

THIS IS WHAT OUR FREAKIN HOT PEPPER WAS LOOKING AT!!!!

BRING THE HEAT

Some feedback we had at the Shepard craft fair was people were interested in some really hot stuff. We do have hot stuff presently but some people were wondering about ghost pepper hot.

We are working on a hot sauce with ghost peppers in it. We will have it appear at some point in 2018.

MILD TASTING FOR LITTLE ENGLISH LADIES.

During the last show an English lady wanted to try our mildest sauce we had. We told her all of them have some heat. However she still insisted on trying the mildest one we had in our opinion. First thing, she put way too much of the sauce on the chip. We told her a drop or two. But she said she’d be ok. We had no tea to put out the fire in her mouth. She walked away with her mouth sizzling. She was ok. I guess the big red hot chili pepper in front of the table did not send any red flags in her head that this is too much sauce on one chip. We need to carry some more beverages to put out fires that spark certain people’s tastebuds.

SEARCH FOR THE BEST BLOODY MARY

Our second submitted Bloody Mary of the year took us to the Black Oak.

This is the first Bloody Mary from Illinois. This Bloody Mary is pretty much basic. Vodka with a Bloody Mary mix. They had a wedge of lime and a lemon wedge on the rim of the glass. Better order food with this bloody because it does not offer any eats with the treat. They did not give you any vodka options. It was a tasty bloody. It had to be a pretty common mix that is popular. It had a little kick to it. My guess… Zing Zang. The vodka that was mixed in it made this a pretty good beverage to start the morning off. Nothing on the cheap side. Overall I like it.  But it’s something I could throw together at home.

RANK	PLACE	TYPE OF PLACE	CITY	STATE
1.	JOURNEYMEN	DISTILLERY	THREE OAKS	MICHIGAN
2.	THE BLACK OAK	BAR	OAK LAWN	ILLINOIS

By far Journeymen is still number one on the Search for the best bloody. They made their own vodka. They had more stuff in the Bloody Mary.  The bloody part was homemade with tomato juice and spices.  Most of all they had a better spice.

TWO NEW SIDDYS JOIN THE FAMILY

Sid’s Sauce now has seven different sauces. Before the show in Palos Heights at Shepard High School, the stork brought two new additions in Sid’s World… Excellent!!! You can say one’s a girl sauce and one’s a guy’s sauce by the names.

SID SAUCE introduces you to: The Fuzzy Achiote (The sixth sauce)

SID SAUCE introduces you to the: MAGGIE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (The seventh sauce)

Both these sauces are made from Cayenne peppers. The bad part about it is they are not around all year. Both are named after two people I know. Maggie comes from my Godchild while Fuzzy is a nick name for a great friend of mine.

The Fuzzy Achiote is a red sauce like Johnny’s Red but thicker. The main ingredient in the Fuzzy achiote is achiote, a Mexican spice which really gives this hot sauce a nice flavor. It’s a mild flavor. It also has bell peppers in it as well. Everything is well balanced – some bite but a very nice flavor. Like these two below.

This is Fuzzy having his way with Freakin Hot pepper. Fuzzy is the one who gave me the Fuzzy Freaking hot pepper. These are two fuzzies getting a little too close for comfort in an outside garage bar. Freakin hot pepper went through a rough patch and was being taking advantage of. But he is feeling much better these days as he’s been dating other fuzzy peppers from other business mascots and keeping it in the same species. Meanwhile my Friend did find someone. He got married to a girl who goes by the name Fuzzina. Two happy clams.

The Fuzzy Achiote is good to put on the standard things hot sauce is used for. Your eggs, pizza, tacos and many other things. However I think the Fuzzy Achiote can do wonders to Asian food. Mix in with meats with rice and veggies. Lots of stews. Even a variety of chicken recipes with rice and veggies. So far I have really gotten a great response from this sauce. I think it will become one of the popular sauces when we mass produce a lot more than the small amount we did this year.

Maggie the Vampire Slayer is a brownish color similar to the Apocalypse. Maggie the Vampire Slayer’s main ingredient is garlic besides the pepper mix in each bottle. Garlic rids vampires. If I made an Apocalypse as I was thinking Zombie apocalypse, I need something to deal with vampires so I cover both fronts. I will say I love all my sauces. But this one I have to say is one of my top ones. Besides Garlic it has some other spices mixed in which will give it that garlic boost. If you like garlic you will love Maggie the Vampire Slayer. This sauce is great with the standard hot sauce foods. However for Italian foods this sauce says, “Mama Mia!” Great in Spaghetti sauces. I put some on some homemade tomato bread I made just jazz things up and it gave it a delightful taste. On garlic bread it will explode your pores with garlic, but I have not got to that level yet. I’ll wait for a weekend when I’m alone so no one has to run for the hills. Another thing is just on regular taco chips. Put a few drops on a chip and I compare it to regular potato chips with French onion dip.

I named this the Maggie Vampire Slayer for many reasons. The garlic I was thinking vampires. Garlic slays vampires. I was doing the show at my Goddaughter’s school. Threw her name on there. Plus she plays basketball and is very good at it. She slays her opponents as she controls the ball and scores with ease. So why can’t she slay vampires as well?

SHEPARD WINTER ARTS/CRAFTS SHOW

Sid Sauce will be at the show tomorrow, fully stocked with our delicious hot sauce.

Alan B. Shepard High School – 13049 S. Ridgeland Avenue in Palos Heights

IN SEARCH FOR THE BEST BLOODY MARY

In one of the Star Trek movies, they had one they dedicated to their main man, Spock. In search of Spock they called it. I really don’t care about Spock. However I do care about Bloody Mary’s. Especially during football season. I call it bloody Sunday. Blood on the gridiron. Blood in the drinks. After a few hours you might spill some blood with those people that hate. Too old to spill blood so might have to take in a few bloodies to avoid a bloody Sunday. I like that peaceful easy feeling with the team winning, of course.

You might think the best Bloody has to have Sid’s Sauce in it. Well my friend you are bloody right. I know the best bloodies have the good stuff in them. However I’m not a bartender nor do I play one on TV. Yes I can bring the heat but lots of people have their own creation which to them is a great Bloody Mary. When I’m at home I will use my sauce on my own creation. When I’m out just don’t rat me out if you see me take a bottle from my coat pocket. Many different things can make a bloody incredible. Hot sauce is just one part. Vodka is the oil of the Bloody Mary. However moonshine is like wow. Like Forest Gump would say, “that’s all I got to say about that.”

Whiskey and even bourbon can make a Bloody Mary delicious. Besides the booze you need something that will turn it red. What kind of mix are you using? Or are we using tomato juice or some will say V8? Plus you have other spices. Plus what kind of food are you putting in the glass? Used to be a celery stick. But now you can get whole meal out it. I have lots of questions as you may as well. In this search we will get through it together.

I will submit the ones I try. I will give you the place. I will tell you what I think of it. I try to describe what’s in it. Sometimes they have the bar recipe written down for you on the menu, However sometimes you’ve just got to use your spidey senses. Then when we have more than one, I will compare which one is better. We will rank them. We will find the best damn Spock there is. While we search we enjoy what the world has to offer when it comes down to one of my and one of your favorite drinks… the BLOODY MARY.

FIRST BLOODY TESTED AND APPROVED

Journeymen Distillery

It’s in a small town called Three Oaks, Michigan. This is the same town the Christmas Movie Prancer was filmed.

Journeymen does not serve beer. It sounds sacrilegious, doesn’t it? Well it is a distillery so I knew that coming in. I knew I would not see any sports since no televisions are present. It’s all about the well drinks and they do have great food.

LET’S BE RAMBO AND DRAW FIRST BLOOD

Journeymen makes their own vodka. They call it Red Arrow Vodka and it is Russian approved. Journeymen’s Bloody Mary to me is vodka mixed with tomato juice and spices. They did not have a meal inside the pint glass. They had a hot pepper with an olive and a hunk of summer sausage. If you order food from the menu, the portions will fill you up. It was not that spicy. Overall it tasted great. It had a nice blend of spices in it. The vodka is very good. It went down smooth. I actually ordered a second one for the road. Officer it’s only V8. He would be the guy to say it’s tomato juice. You say Tomato I say tommmato.

This is the first one under our belt. We will be looking for more as the Holidays get closer. I usually love having a bloody with the fat man that comes down my chimney. Then I fall asleep and the bastard takes all my gifts.  Those Bloodies can pack a punch. Next time the big guy will get a knuckle sandwich with his bloody that he can fill his glass from his nose and see how he likes it.

The Very Latest at Red Tail Market

SID’S SAUCE RECIPE

One of my favorite meals to make is chili. It’s not hard to make. You can make it an all-day event by adding to the big pot simmering on top of the stove as your taste buds salivate. As the smell of the chili wafts through the house, it makes your tummy rumble as you wait patiently until you can dig into a bowl of greatness. Plus you have many different ways you can make a personalized chili designed for your own taste buds. I have many chili recipes I have made over the years with many different meats, veggies, beans, etc. Lots of time combining meats which makes a tastier meal. I love adding a bottle of beer to the mix which can complete change the dynamic of your chili. What kind of beer? It all depends. Love the October Fests and the stouts. Sometimes just an old domestic beer from Milwaukee will do great stuff as well.

JOHNNY’S MARDI GRAS CHILI

THE LIST OF INGREDIENTS

1 1B Ground Turkey

1 package of smoked sausage

2 cans of 14 ounce beef broth

1 12oz bottle Samuel Adams October fest beers

1 15 ounce can of Chili beans

1 15 ounce can of Italian Stewed tomatoes (undrained)

1 15 ounce can of Kidney Beans (rinsed and drained

3 tablespoons of flour to thicken

MY SPICES

1 Teaspoon Oregano leaves

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

3 Table spoons of Mexican Chili powder

1 table spoon of brown sugar

2 tea spoons of JOHNNY’S RED SID SAUCE

The first thing I do is open a beer for myself and a beer for the Chili. I believe in the one for me, one for you method. In your favorite big pot, dump the beer in along with the two cans of beef broth, the chili beans and the Italian stewed tomatoes. I give everything a quick stir. I get the oven going and put the flame on simmer.

I then open the can of kidney beans, dump them in a strainer, rinse them and then add them into the chili. Then mix them in with a big spoon.

Next I cut up the smoked sausage. You can dice them or cut them in chunks, you can make the call on that. I then open up the ground turkey, put the meat in a pan, and brown the meat. Then I drain it even though it’s not much to drain.  I throw it into the pot and mix everything again. Then In another frying pan I warm up the smoked sausage. Even though it’s cooked, I still like to brown it a tad more. Then after 5 minutes I will throw the smoked sausage in the pot. That simmers for two hours.

Then I come back and add all the spices. I add the flour to help thicken it up. It’s not thick chili. The flour will bring it together a little more. You could also had a small can of tomato paste to thicken it up more.

Let it simmer all day long. Then around dinner time or game time, you’re on your sixth beer and it’s time to indulge in a nice big bowl of delightfulness.

Egg noodles is an idea to pour it over to make it a more filling meal. I like a spoonful of sour cream and some Mexican cheese on top. I crumbled Mexican chips on top of it instead of oyster crackers. Cilantro is a nice touch as well.

GUESS WHO HAS INVADED THE RED TAIL MARKET

YOU GOT IT THE ONE AND ONLY SID SAUCE, OH JOHNNY THAT’S HOT!

IF YOU CAN’T WAIT. IF YOU ARE RUNNING LOW. HEAD TO MOKENA. SID SAUCE HAS LANDED ON THE SHELVES AT THE RED TAIL MARKET. WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR AWHILE GHOULING AND GHOSTING IT UP FOR THE FALL AND HALLOWEEN SEASON.

NOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU SPICE UP THAT TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING. WE HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT FLAVORS TO SPICE UP THAT WHITE CASTLE STUFFING.  PLUS WE HAVE GIFT BASKETS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU KNOCK PEOPLE OFF THAT CHRISTMAS LIST.

RED TAIL MARKET

19830 S.LAGRANGE ROAD,

MOKENA, ILLINOIS, 60448

MAKE SURE YOU GET SOME BEFORE COBRA TAKES IT ALL

SAUCED LEGS

This recipe is for BBQ chicken legs done in the oven. However I made some modifications to really get these legs sauced. I’m talking smashed. First thing I do is put aluminum foil down on a cooking sheet. Then I place all my legs on the aluminum foil. I usually put down a spicy seasoning on all the legs. Today I did sprinkle some of the legs with the spicy seasoning. However I want some of these legs saucy so I pulled out the bourbon spices. My spice tray consisted of regular spicy seasoning, bourbon smoked Chili powder, bourbon smoked citrus pepper, and a bourbon smoked paprika.

First, sprinkle the spices on all the legs. You can put it down any way you want. I did each leg lightly as I did each leg on the plate. I used one spice for a few legs, then I switched and used another spice on a few more, and then did another on the remaining legs.

Then I waited ten minutes and flipped each leg over on the cooking tray. I did the other side the same way I did the first side and used the same spices on the same leg as I sprinkled them all lightly.

Then I waited another ten minutes and it was time to get down and spicy. You can pick whatever Sid Sauce and whatever spice you want to lather each leg with. For the ones I seasoned with the bourbon chili powder, I went with a smoky bbq sauce. I pour the bbq sauce into a small bowl. Then took a brush and lathered the sauce on the one side heavy. I also used a regular bbq sauce on a few of the legs I just used spicy seasoning on. Did the same thing and poured the sauce into a small bowl. Then lathered those babies too on one side.

With the hot sauce it was easier. No bowls. For some of the spicy seasoning l used the Apocalypse Sid Sauce on them. I shook the bottle and opened the cap. Then shook a few drops on the one side of the leg. Then I lathered the sauce in with the brush to get them nice and spicy.

I used Johnny’s Red Sid Sauce on the spicy legs with the bourbon smoked paprika. Did the same thing, shook a few drops lathered it in with the brush until the whole side was covered?

Then I used the Mango Ate your Baby on the bourbon smoked citrus pepper spiced legs. Did the same thing shook the sauce on to the leg and lathered it in on the brush.

Then I waited 15 minutes and turned all the legs over. I then did the same thing to the other side with the same sauces.

Then I heated up the oven at 350 degrees. Waited until it got nice and hot and put the whole tray of legs in the oven for 45 minutes.

WHAT KIND OF HOT SAUCE HAS UGLY PUMPKIN BEEN SUCKING DOWN?

MAYBE THE OTHER BRAND TURNED HIM THIS WAY!

MEANWHILE, THE OTHER PUMPKINS ARE ENJOYING BLAZING SADDLE SORES.

THE NEW SHERIFF IN THE SID SAUCE WORLD!! SADDLE UP!

EVEN THE MUMMIES ARE SPEECHLESS.

FINALLY ON THE SHELVES…

Did you know…….
That Sid Sauce now comes in 5 flavors?
That we offer home delivery to your door?
Any recipe that calls for peppers, can be made better with Sid Sauce?
Sid Sauce can be purchased at the fabulous Redtail Market in Mokena?

THE GODFATHER OF THE DEAD

<header>If there was ever a zombie apocalypse, people would have to make sure they had Sid’s Sauce apocalypse in their survival bag. I have always been a big fan of zombie movies and the graphic novels of The Walking Dead, along with the series on AMC. I named one of my sauces the Apocalypse for a few reasons. First, for the love of the zombie apocalypse. Two, it sounds like a cool name.&nbsp; Third, it brings the heat. Plus, Apocalypse Now, the Vietnam War movie was filled with explosions. I guess you can say a zombie apocalypse is filled with explosions and blood gushing all over. My Sid’s Sauce, the Apocalypse, has a brown coloring that resembles zombie blood.George Romero, the Godfather of the dead, is the one that got me interested in zombie movies. I remember watching the black and white version of the Night of the Living Dead, when I was younger, on VHS. It was George Romero’s first classic in 1968. I watched it in the early 80’s and it was scary good. The imagination was running wild, seeing the dead rise up and kill the living. Not just kill them, but eat their organs as blood dripped from their cold dead lips.</header>

In the present I love the show, The Walking Dead. I started watching the show and moved on to the graphic novels and the books as well. Back in the day, my favorite (and still is) Romero movie was Dawn of the Dead, which came out in 1978. I remember the SWAT team trying to clear the building when they opened a door to see a zombie lurch out. The SWAT guy blasted it with a shot gun and the bullet ripped off the zombie’s head as blood spattered. Then they got a ragtag group together that got away from danger and fled to a mall where they held up. They cleared it and had plenty of supplies as they were living pretty good, some would say the high life, in a zombie apocalypse. Then as always, more obstacles came upon them as a biker gang broke through the mall walls. The rag tag group even made their own wall with semi-truck trailers which the gang was able to get by. Then zombies followed the bikers and chaos brewed.

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

George Romero recently died of lung cancer. He was born, February 4^th in 1940 and died at 77. He was married 3 times. His son, Cameron, followed in his dad’s footsteps as he too is in the horror business. He obviously has big shoes to fill as George has an incredible legacy. He was and American-Canadian film maker who did it all. He was editor, writer, director and probably even a gopher at one point.

His list of credits and what he did to scare us is amazing. He was the one that created the show, Tales from the Darkside. I watched that staying up late on Sunday nights, a school night, to watch at 10 PM on WGN. He helped bring some of Stephen King’s books to life like The Dark Half and Creep Show. Other zombie movies which I loved were Day of the Dead and Land of the Dead. He did the 1973 The Crazies, which later was remade. I imagine he inspired the creators of the Walking Dead as well, as they have done totally awesome in their series.

I’m sure I have missed many other great things George Romero did. I hope my Sid’s Sauce Apocalypse will help a band of survivors get past the hordes and hordes of the dead. Sometimes you think you’re actually in the apocalypse in rush hour every day after work. Remember your Sid Sauce because when the shit really hits the fan, you will be glad to have it. ALSO DON’T LET THE ZOMBIE EAT YOUR APOCALYPSE SID SAUCE BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT JUST LIKE YOU. <header></header><header><figure><img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-5180″ src=”https://thewildshamrock.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/img_0053.jpg&#8221; alt=”IMG_0053.JPG” width=”640″ height=”362″></figure></header><header></header><header class=”entry-header”>100 BOTTLES OF SID SAUCE ON THE WALL</header><header class=”entry-header”>This is the pursuit for 100 bottles of Sid Sauce in your household, in 2017.Bottles Sold or Donated:53Magic #:100To Go:47FLAVOR POWER RANKINGS 2017</header>

RANK	NAME OF SAUCE	BOTTLES SOLD
1	MANGO ATE YOUR BABY	24
2	JOHNNY’S RED	14
3	APOCALYPSE	9
4	METEORITE SUNSET	3
4	BLAZING SADDLE SOURS	3

SID SAUCE RECIPE

BLOODY MARY

I’m not a bartender. I do not play a bartender on TV. I know people have thousands of different ways to make a good Bloody Mary which is always interesting to taste or hear about how much or what goes in one. That’s why bars have build your own Bloody Marys with lots of options. On Sunday fun day I always love a good Bloody Mary to get the day kicked off. I usually look inside the fridge and look to what’s in there that I could place in my bloody Mary. I have many likes on what I like to put in a bloody Mary. I don’t want to over do it though in toppings. However I do love a spicy Bloody.  To achieve my goal I picked a few things out of the fridge. To get the spice I went with the newest Sid Sauce in the family the Meteorite Sunset.

It is not my best but I was pretty impressed on how it turned out.

Here’s how I achieved my bloody for Sunday Funday.

INGREDIENTS

OBVIOUSLY ICE (filled the glass)

Grey Goose Vodka (four second pour but I did five)

Worcester Sauce bourbon aged ( 3 drops)

Olives ( I did not have a tooth pick or sword so I put a straw through two)

I went with one queen olive stuffed with pimento and one stuffed with jalapeno

1 celery stick

1 pickle spear

SID’S SAUCE Meteorite Sunset

Walkers Southern Bloody Mary Mix Spicy

The secret to a perfect Bloody Mary is pouring the vodka first. Make sure to give it a vigorous stir after you pour the Bloody Mary mix in. Don’t fill it too high or you’ll have a flood on your hands when you add your tasty toppings.

SID’S SAUCE HAS A NEW SAUCE OUT !!!!

THE UNVEILING

METEORITE SUNSET HAS LANDED IN THE SID SAUCE FAMILY!!!!

This sauce has the same ingredients as The Mango Ate Your Baby. Except Meteorite Sunset has pineapple in it. Yes, three fruits:  mango, kiwi and now pineapple which gives you a blast of flavor. Instead of the orange habanero peppers that are used in the Mango that Ate Your Baby and the Apocalypse, I put in red habanero peppers.  They give it some heat with a blast of fruitiness which makes it a very exciting sauce. I recommend the usual foods you put the sauce on and beyond. The color of sauce is an orangeish reddish color that looks like the meteor hit the sun as the colors would create a breath taking sunset. This will give the Sid Sauce hot sauce company four flavors with more to come.

SID’S SAUCE RECIPE

UNCLE STAN’S FAMOUS SLOPPY JOES MADE WITH  THE APOCALYPSE

                        

Ingredients

2 pounds of ground beef

2  8 oz cans tomato sauce

1 8 oz can of tomato paste

2 cups BBQ sauce

1 cup ketchup

1 green pepper diced

1 yellow onion diced

STAN’S SECRET SPICES

• 2 TABLESPOONS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
• 2 TABLESPOONS OF YELLOW MUSTARD
• 2 TEASPOONS OF LIGHT BROWN SUGAR

We added two teaspoons of Sid’s Sauce The Apocalypse flavor to enhance the sloppy joe.

Directions:

Take the ground beef, diced onion and diced green pepper and place them in a 10 inch skillet over medium flame. Brown the meat, soften the onion and pepper and then drain.

Spray 3 to 4 quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

Place everything in the slow cooker and mix everything together with a good sized spoon.

Set the slow cooker on low and let it do its magic for 4-6 hours. Give it a good stir every two hours as all flavors mix together very nicely.

            TADAA! UNCLE STAN’S SLOPPY JOE MODIFIED

         

Then serve on buns with a pickle spear and some nice potato chips on the side.

UNCLE STAN IS AMAZED ABOUT HOW THE APOCALYPSE SID’S SAUCE TOOK HIS SLOPPY JOE TO NEWER HEIGHTS.

 

  SID’S SAUCE GOAL FOR 2017

        100 BOTTLES IN PEOPLE’S HOUSES

We have set a goal we can reach in our first year of business. We will strive for more so we can destroy our set number we have as a goal. Sid Sauce will appear at more shows this year. We are hopeful to be making our appearances at some farmer markets as well. Things are in the works for the future of the sauce as we expect to have something going with online ordering. We also will unveil some new hot sauces this year as well.

METEOR SUNSET IS COMING VERY SOON !!!!!

The Meteor Sunset in my opinion is the best one I have made. Lots of details to come soon to a theater near you. Right now we have 36 bottles either sold or donated in 2017. We have donated two bottles recently to our old stomping grounds, St. Germaine, where we had our one show. Two bottles will appear as raffle prizes at an International Dinner.. This event is tonight to help out the St. Germaine Women’s club.

  2ND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DINNER

ST.GERMAINE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OAK LAWN, il

5:00 TO 9:00

10 DOLLARS TO GET IN

CASH BAR

Which sauce so far leads the company in sales?

NAME OF SAUCE                          BOTTLES SOLD

THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY                   19

JOHNNY’S RED                                              11

APOCALYPSE                                                   6

36 TOTAL

WE NEED 64 MORE BOTTLES SOLD TO HIT OUR YEAR GOAL…..

WHAT DO YOU USE SID’S SAUCE ON?

 

Besides sniffing the sauce what do you people like to put hot sauce on?

OUR LATEST FEED BACK

From: KARIN

Spiced up my morning breakfast with some “the mango ate Your Baby” Sid Sauce! Scrambled eggs with black bean and corn salsa topped with goat cheese and Sid Sauce. DELISH !!! What a way to start the day.

Sounds like an awesome breakfast she put it on.

People ask all the time what do you put the Sid Sauce on. Everyone is different. Some put it on just about everything. Some use it to spice up their cooking. Some people put it on certain foods.

We have created the SID SAUCE LIST.

This is a list OF what people have used Sid Sauce on. If we hear new foods people have used it on, we will update our lists.

                    

JOHNNY’S RED	MANGO ATE YOUR BABY	APOCALYPSE
EGGS	EGGS	EGGS
PIZZA	PIZZA	PIZZA
MEXICAN CHIPS	MEXICAN CHIPS	MEXICAN CHIPS
CHILI	CHILI	CHILI
BLOODY MARYS	BLOODY MARYS	BLOODY MARYS
FRIED SPUDS	TACOS	TACOS
	FRIED SPUDS	FRIED SPUDS
	TOSTADAS	TOSTADAS

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SID’S SAUCE MASCOT IS DOING WHEN HE IS NOT WORKING THE SAUCE?

HE’S GETTING SAUCY WITH FRIENDS

 

Freak’n Hot Chili Pepper likes to hang with his homeys  at the local establishment.

SID, BARAGE SANTA, FREAK’N CHILI PEPPER, &FUZZY

HERE’S FUZZY GETTING HOT WITH FREAK’N HOT CHILI PEPPER

 

AT THE END OF THE NIGHT HE STILL FREAK’N SMILING

 

THE FIRST LAUNCH WAS A SUCCESS

The St. Germaine craft show was a success for Sid’s Sauce. We sold 15 bottles in six hours. We donated three bottles as well. We got a lot of cards out. People enjoyed the free tasting of the hot sauce on the Mexican chips that we had to offer. We had our celebrity spokesman on hand as well.

 

FREAK’N HOT CHILI PEPPER WAS THE HIT OF THE SHOW

HOT SAUCE BREAKDOWN

Out of the three sauces we had to offer The Mango ate your baby was the people’s choice

THE BOTTLES SOLD

JOHNNY RED                THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY           APOCALYPSE

4                                                      7                                                 4

Sid’s Sauce’s first customer, Phil Zack, was on hand as was another big fan of our product, Marty Serbins.

We gave a bottle to the show’s number one fan, Ryan the boy scout. He loved all three sauces as he sampled more than once. We were also grateful for his help as he helped carry things in and pack things away when the show was over.

         

We shared the table with Bob Chinnici, also known as South Side Bob. He was selling his wonderful art in print forms.

 

The Bird man picture I have ordered from Bob and I will put it behind my bar in the basement. He did well with his latex sales girl, Allison, who is always having a good time and is always in good spirits. She had lots of great ideas as well for the future events. As a group we had lots of new ideas for the art and the sauce as they were bouncing all over the St. Germaine’s Gymnasium. The art went well as future craft shows are on the horizon. Allison also runs the events at the grammar school and she helped us get a prime location in the gym that helped with sales as well.

Bob’s dad was on hand as well as he had some works of art for sale.

 

You might recognize him from the Red Roof Inn.

Here’s how the table was set up with the art and the sauce. That’s the Bourbonator behind the table as she was the Sid’s Sauce latex sales girl.

 

Sid Sauce would like to thank St. Germaine for having us and hopefully we will be a staple there for years to come. We also thank South Side Bob for the idea to do the table together. Plus Allison for getting the table in a great event she helped put together.

IT’S FINALLY HERE

APRIL FOOL’S DAY 2017

THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF SID SAUCE

ST. GERMAINE CRAFT SHOW

ADDRESS:

9735 South Kolin

OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS 60453

TIME: 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

 

JOHNNY RED/THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY/THE APOCALYPSE

THESE ARE THE THREE SAUCES WE HAVE TO OFFER

ONLY $5.00 A BOTTLE

WE ARE SHARING THE TABLE WITH A WONDERFUL NEW ARTIST ON THE SCENE

Bob Chinnici

HE WILL BE STOCKED WITH HIS OUT OF THIS WORLD PRINTS

SID SAUCE’S FIRST CUSTOMER

 

PHIL ZACK

IT’S COMING SOON

March 13, 2017 / Leave a comment / Edit

 

OUR NEWEST SAUCE

THE MANGO SLAYED YOUR FAMILY

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO & SCORPION PEPPERS
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MANGO/KIWI/LEMON JUICE

OUR HOTTEST SAUCE

ZOMBIE GUTS

PEPPERS USED: HABANERO & GHOST

OTHER INGREDIENTS:JAMAICAN SPICES/MANGO

THE GHOST OF EL SID PAST

PEPPERS USED:  JALAPENO, CHILI & GHOST
OTHER INGREDIENTS: GARLIC

STAFF SERGEANT MOON RACER

PEPPERS USED:  JALAPENO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: LIME & LEMON JUICE

METEORITE SCORCHED

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO & GHOST
OTHER INGREDIENTS: KIWI/PINEAPPLE/MANGO

EL-SID THE GREAT MATADOR

PEPPERS USED:  JALAPENO & CHILI
OTHER INGREDIENTS: GARLIC

ALL YEAR SAUCES

THE APOCALYPSE

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MANGO/GARLIC/JAMAICAN SPICES

THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MANGO/KIWI/LEMON JUICE

METEORITE SUNSET

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: KIWI/PINEAPPLE/MANGO

BLAZING SADDLE SORES

PEPPERS USED:  HABANERO
OTHER INGREDIENTS: PINEAPPLE/ONION/GARLIC

MAGGIE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

PEPPERS USED:  CAYENNE
OTHER INGREDIENTS: GARLIC/TOMATO

JOHNNY’S RED

PEPPERS USED:  CAYENNE
OTHER INGREDIENTS: VINEGAR/SALT/SUGAR

THE FUZZY ACHIOTE

PEPPERS USED:  CAYENNE/BELL
OTHER INGREDIENTS: ACHIOTE/GARLIC

ALL OUR SAUCES HAVE MORE INGREDIENTS THAN WHAT IS LISTED. WE LISTED THE MAIN ONES.

EVERYONE ASKS WHERE CAN I GET SID’S SAUCE?

Artist Bob Chinnici

OR THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY CAN GET THEIR NEXT FIX

                                                                                 

SPRING CRAFT FAIR

                                                                  PALOS HEIGHTS, IL

TODAY -APRIL 6TH

LOOK FOR SID SAUCE AT THE RED TAIL MARKET

If you live in the town of Mokena, Illinois or even close to the town, we have the Sauce there. We have four of our signature sauces stocked on the shelves.

BOGGED DOWN BY VAMPIRES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ?

OUR CATCH OF THE DAY IS MAGGIE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

Hot sauce with a nice heat and garlic flavor to spice up your food and keep those angry vampires away.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE, PICK UP ONE OF  STAFF SERGEANT MOON RACERS’ SOLDIERS THAT CAN PROVIDE YOU 24 HOUR SECURITY AROUND THE CLOCK

The green stuff, laced with Jalapenos and other flavors brings your breakfast eggs to another world with taste buds that go beyond what you could ever imagine. (Free Marines guy with every bottle)

Our sauces are located in the food section of the store. We have free samples set up with chips for you to try as well.

RED TAIL MARKET

19830 S. LAGRANGE

MOKENA, ILLINOIS, 60448

If you Can’t find the store call  (708) 995-7261 and they guide you in.

We also have Meteorite Sunset & Blazing Saddle Sores on the shelves at the Red Tail Market.

STOP IN AND STOCK UP THE FRIDGE

WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT SID’S SAUCE ON THE STREETS

WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT SID’S SAUCE ON THE STREETS.

THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY

JENNY FIELDS

Torn between Fuzzy Achiote and the Mango ate your Baby, the young mother/jack of all trades went with her taste buds. The Mango ate your Baby !! Lots of great dinners now will be enhanced with one of the top selling sauces in the Sid Sauce family. If you’re in the Chicago Ridge area and you smell something awesome in the air, just follow Freakin’ Hot pepper.  she took a liking to Jenny.

FUZZY ACHIOTE

JOHN BRENDICH

John Brendich loves the Fuzzy Achiote. At home he been putting it on most things like tacos and eggs and whatever else he has in the fridge to spice things up. At the local watering hole where John goes, he likes to splash some on his Mexican chips while he watches the game.

Staff Sergeant Moon Racer turns tacos into deliciousness.

99 BOTTLES OF SAUCE ON THE WALL

(THE HOTTEST SAUCE SALES OF 2019)

WHO’S BUYING WHICH SID’S SAUCE THE MOST IN 2019 ?

THE SAUCE RANKINGS

RANKING	SAUCE	BOTTLES SOLD
#1.	STAFF SERGEANT MOON RACER	5
#2.	MAGGIE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER	4
#2.	THE MANGO THAT SLAYED YOUR FAMILY	4
#3.	METEORITE SUNSET	2
#3.	THE MANGO ATE YOUR FAMILY	2
#3.	FUZZY ACHIOTE	2
#3.	JOHNNY RED	2
#3.	BLAZING SADDLE SORES	2
#3.	THE GHOST OF EL SID PAST	2
#4.	EL SID THE GREAT MATADOR	1
#5.	ZOMBIE GUTS	0
#5.	METEORITE SCORCHED	0
#5.	APOCALYPSE	0

SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

Some people might say I kind of went overboard with bringing so many hot sauces back from a trip from New Orleans. I will absolutely admit that indeed I did. I love the sauces I make. I have always liked the cool labels on hot sauce bottles. Plus the hot stuff inside always gets me fired up. Found this sauce with the gator on the bottle in a place called the Pepper Palace in the heart of New Orleans, even though I did tour the swamps. This sauce is Xtra-HOT!!! It’s called Gator Death Roll…

The only pepper in the Gator Death Roll is the almighty Habanero. Which I use in a number of my sauces. It has your regular salt and sugar along with vinegar which is the blood of most sauces. They have additional spices which give this sauce some very nice heat. You do not need much, as I dabbed it on few eggs over the last few weeks. It has the heat and it has some flavoring from the pepper and the additional spices. Without  Ghost peppers it definitely provides a radiant type of heat. I got the chili fired up with a few drops of the gator roll. Overall it is a great sauce for the collection. It’s the charcoal starter the grill needs.

At the Pepper Palace, I was like a kid in the candy store.

I even met some of the models who posed for the picture on the Gator Death Roll bottle. The gator who won the contest is in Hollywood, living the dream.

SHOW RECAP 12-1-18 THE RETURN TO SHEPARD

Sid’s sauce always like to return to their old stomping grounds. One of the places where it all started. One of the places where we built up nice customer base. Lots of familiar faces. Shepard is place everyone knows your names and we our glad we came. This second time in 2018 doing a show at Shepard. We did their spring show earlier in the year. This is the third time overall and our second winter slash Christmas vendor show we did at Shepard.

Alan B. Shepard High school is home of the Astros.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

RON MAHAY MLB PLAYER (RELIEF PITCHER) YEARS PLAYED (1995-1997-2010)  8 DIFFERENT TEAMS

DAVID KNOX  GUITARIST OF POP PUNK BAND  (REAL FRIENDS)

STEVEN LUKASIEWICZ  RETIRED NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (1996-2016)

OUR TABLE

This show, we had ten of our sauces on hand. We had the usual chips set out for anybody who wanted to try some sauce on this rainy cold Saturday could do so.

IT’S A BOY

The well known pepper through the hot sauce circuit is our own Freakin’ Hot Chili Pepper. Recently as you can see above, there’s happy news… it’s a boy. Little Freaky was on hand for his first show. The mum pepper was a crack pepper and should explain Little Freaky’s crazy look and those angry eyes. He was a good little lad and was on his best behavior, even if he is from the dark side of the ghost pepper in his genes.

SPEAKING OF FREAKIN’ HOT WHAT WAS HE EYEBALLING ?

He liked the Snowman sticks this vendor had to offer. He was able to get one. Freakin’ Hot Pepper was again the hit of the show for the company.

Thelma and Louise took an immediate liking to Freak’n Hot pepper. Both ladies had an action packed day ahead of them as they were just getting started with our CEO. Two awesome ladies that know how to have fun and we had a great conversation with them.

Overall we had a successful day at Shepard, as we always do. The weather outside was horrible. It started off slow, but it really picked up. We saw lots of people we knew from just doing past shows there. They enjoyed some new options and we have their old favorites on hand as well. Out of ten sauces we brought, nine of them had at least one bottle purchased. Our numbers of bottles of sauce keeps going up every time we visit. We will definitely be back at our old stomping grounds there again this Spring for another adventure and look forward to seeing all our favorite people.

 SHOW RECAP 11-16-18  ST. CHRISTINA

We invaded St. Christina grammar school on the South side of Chicago with our 12 different hot sauces. This was our first time attending St. Christina for a vendor fair. This was not our normal vendor fair we usually do. This fair was on a Friday night. It was only 4 hours. It was inside their gym with plenty of boozy drinks and beer with that feel of a South Side St Patrick’s Day parade. It had live music. Yes it is home of the Cardinals and this vendor fair had all the essential bells and whistles for a good time and having lots of fine people trying our sauce.

OUR TABLE

They did manage to pack a lot of vendors in a grammar school gym.

WHAT WAS FREAKIN’ HOT CHILI PEPPER EYEBALLING ?

Freakin’ hot Chili pepper you know was eye balling something for his crack pepper gal. We have no pictures of her at this time. She’s in rehab.

They had a bar set up with some more tables in a few rooms connected to the gym. The new bar in town on 111th street, the Firewater Saloon, was the genius who created masterpiece drinks. Had a very nice selection of beer as well. This vendor fair attracted mostly women. It was a crowd of people having a great time.  Even Freakin’ Hot, our CEO, was having a good time with a particular beautiful lady.

Thank God Freakin’ Hot Chili Pepper’s gal is in rehab. She would be jealous.

This was only a 4 hour show. And it was less than that due to a power outage of some kind. We sold 40 bottles which is a new record at any Craft or Vendor fairs we have ever done. Lots of people will be happy to see Sid’s Sauce in their stocking come Christmas Day. It great seeing old neighbors from the old neighborhood. Eleanor and Martin both on my list of all time best neighbors. It was great seeing many people try the sauce and liking it. We made many new friends there, as we try to do everywhere. It was great talking about hot sauce in general. Love knowing what people put the sauce on. Always some interesting tidbits. These shows give us some new ideas. Ideas to help improve the company going forward. Definitely will make St. Christina a main staple in our 2019 tour.

SHOW RECAP ST. GERMAINE

Our first ever show that we did was at St. Germaine grammar school in Oak Lawn. It’s home of the Trojans. We have a pretty good following established there as this was the second time of 2018 we have done a show in their gymnasium. In 2017 we were welcomed there with open arms. We met many people. Many people tried our sauces. The conversations about sauce and sauce accessories. Different peppers people liked. What level of heat the average Bear could stand. It helped us build the foundation of the company. Whenever we go back to St. Germaine we like them to get first crack at any new sauces we come with. On this day, I brought the heat Ricky…..

Before the zombies could pick the bodies clean, we were able to harvest some key parts to create our newest heat.

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO ZOMBIE GUTS

No zombies were hurt while we made this sauce. Actually no zombie guts were actually used. We believe they have laws they enforce on that kind of child’s play. Zombie Guts is brother of the Apocalypse sauce, one of our original six. It has the same ingredients except Ghost peppers were added to the mix. It has flavor but it packs a wallop of heat. Be ready to sweat to the oldies minus Richard Simmons. Zombie Guts’ debut was a hit.

Zombie Guts gives us twelve total sauces. It is our third sauce that has some type of ghost pepper inside. We had all twelve sauces to offer our Trojans from St.Germaine. Our table was set up the usual way. This go around, besides Mexican chips to dip into our sauces, we also provided flat pretzels that also went very well. Our Table was in the same location right when you walked through the gym doors. It was the usual set up.

As usual it was another great day at St. Germaine. All our numbers increase every time we come by for a visit. Sales went across the board with a few sauces selling out. The grand tally at the end of the day was 29 bottles. We had a lot return customers and we thank them. We love seeing familiar faces and they know what they like. It’s great making new friends with many others to make this trip another fun outing and another successful day for the company to continue growth.

WHAT WAS FREAK’N HOT PEPPER EYE BALLING?

He loved a few vendors. As you can see what he was looking at. He made some friends throughout the day.  After a long day at the gravel pit leaning against a table, he was ready to hit the local happy hour scene. Of course he was not buying as some of the profits had to go to his very expensive martinis. He does not stop at four either.

SHOW RECAP 10-20-18 OAK LAWN HIGH SCHOOL

The first thing I think of when I hear about Oak Lawn High school is the tornado that took place in that town and involved that school in 1967. April 21, 1967 a tornado blew down and took the whole school’s roof off. In its path it created lots of havoc. I was not alive at the time when this baby came in and destroyed parts of the suburb of Oak Lawn. It is local history. It is near where I live, so if you do not know, I’m glad to give you history lesson about my local area. I have a pipe. I have a beard unkept. I’m even wearing elbow patches on my corduroy jacket. Just call it South Side History 101 and I’m the professor.

FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM OAK LAWN HIGH SCHOOL

C.J KUPEC: NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER (1975-1978) Went to Michigan University

BENN JORDAN: COMPOSER/ Recording artist known as “The Flash Bulb.”

ROB MACKOWIAK: MLB BASEBALL PLAYER/ Played a few years with the White Sox

TIM PURPURA: GM HOUSTON ASTROS (2004-2007) He was there when the White Sox beat his Astros in 2005 in the World Series.

Oak Lawn High School home of the Spartans

This was our first appearance at Oak Lawn High School doing their craft show. Some of our sauces are seasonal at times, due to certain peppers. Or not enough of certain peppers grown that year. This is the first show we did where we had all 11 sauces we offer.

FREAKIN’ HOT PEPPER WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW – OUR CEO

As you can see many people took pictures with our CEO and the smile says it all, as he loves getting out and hanging with the locals.

Freakin’ hot pepper even had clowns to his left when you’re looking at the picture and jokers somewhere to the right.

We sold only 13 bottles that day. But we made a lot of contacts as we talked to many people. Some people gave their life story to us as if we ranked up their with the local bartenders for advice on any life situations. It was great talking about hot sauce in general and what peppers people like. I liked that we had a steady traffic flow of people sampling the sauce all day long. We got many great ideas from people that will help our business in the future. Great ways to improve the day to day operations.

GENERAL HIGH LIGHTS

WHAT WAS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF FREAKIN’ HOT PEPPER

Freakin’ hot pepper likes to buy all his pepperettes something nice for the upcoming holidays.

Overall we liked Oak Lawn High School. We will be back there next year at whatever shows they have to offer. We feel like we made some great friends there. We feel  like many people liked it. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there again next year.

SHOW RECAP JOLIET

This was the first ever show we’ve done outside selling our hot sauce. It was in Joliet, Illinois right across from Ingalls Park.

This was a benefit for the Joliet Hospice. It was a day and night affair to raise money for hospice. This show was right out of a Sons of Anarchy episode as it was a biker club running the show.

I can say this was a new experience. This was also a great time. Besides talking and selling our product to the locals, it was being outside. It was listening to some live music as they lined up a few rock bands all the way through and rocked it out all day and night.

Plus you got to drink beer. Eat BBQ. It was for a great cause. Plenty of cheese balls to go around. Plus they had the coolest car show in their parking lot with many awesome  classic cars.

Our table was set up under a tent in area with other vendors. We had chips and sauce in sample cups for people to try any one we had to offer.  We had some hand painted Sid Sauce wall pictures as well, to offer. As you can see, our CEO was on hand for this affair, the hottest pepper in the crate. The Sultan of Swing. Breath that can melt the paint off your car, the one and only Freakin’ Hot Pepper. He’s going to fire me after he reads this recap.

We had nine sauces to offer for the clubs and friends. It was the first show that we had Staff Sergeant Moonracer on hand. His army invaded the table as one of nine sauces to choose from.

Staff Sergeant Moonracer is our first green jalapeno sauce we have made. It a perfect sauce for Mexican food. People rave about it, as they like it on their eggs. Besides the Jalapeno flavor, it has hints of lime and lemon that gives this sauce a nice zest to it. We did a trial run earlier in the summer as the Staff Sergeant was a party favor for everyone who attended an anniversary party. Lots of great feedback came back to us. I was hoping more people would try some on it’s first debut at these shows or on the shelves. Sold a few bottles. Had people trying it. With nine sauces to choose from, it was all over the board equally, as no particular  sauce was tried more than others. We noticed every show is different as to which sauce is the most sold.

WHAT WAS THE FREAKIN’ HOT PEPPER EYEBALLING ?

Freakin’ Hot Chili Pepper was eyeballing some leather patches and some skull beads for his badass self. He might be asking Santa for a hog for Christmas. I told him, “You have no arms or feet to drive a hog.” He settled for a leather jacket and some cool tats on his pepper of angry fried green tomatoes.

Overall, the experience was awesome. The cause was great to be a part of, raising money for Hospice care is something very important and much needed. The show started off slow, but we were able to get in the double figures of bottles sold. We met some great people. We believe we have created another following of great people that love our sauce we make. I believe they have this show every year and you better believe we will be back for some rocking good times with guys that ride the hogs.

SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

In New Orleans, I found a treasure load of great hot sauces. They love the spice in these parts so I found myself using a hot sauce, on one of their main staples. Probably a Southern comfort main staple… red beans and rice with some spicy sausage.

The old bar/dive restaurant has been around the block for many decades. Besides selling shirts and their own brand on hats, they make their own hot sauce. The name of the joint is Buffa’s down in the ole French quarter. The bartender was immediately in my head as he placed their hot sauce in front of me, as if knowing I might dabble some on the food. I have had Red Rice and beans before, never with hot sauce. Out of the few choices, I went with the Buffa’s Mango.

The Buffa’s Mango had a nice little kick to it. Along with a nice flavor added to the meal. Little different then our Mango Ate Your Baby. It reminded me of our Blazing Saddle Sores by substituting the pineapple for mango. That could be a future sauce.

Buffa’s Mango consists of habanero peppers, mango pulp, lemon juice, carrot and pepper. Tomato paste to thicken. Overall I think this sauce is pretty good. It can be used for a variety of foods. It seems to have the perfect heat with the perfect flavor. I did notice a few establishments made their own hot sauce and you were able to buy it. I believe Buffa’s was charging a fiver for each bottle. Well worth it.

IN SEARCH OF THE BEST BLOODY MARY

In 2017, we started the search for the best Bloody Mary and we were able to hit three spots. In 2018, we will continue the search for Spock, but before that we will enjoy a Sunday Funday at one of our local watering holes called Jack Desmonds in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. Old Jacky boy is known for his Irish craft beers on tap. They do an awesome Irish breakfast as well. Let’s see what his staff is creating behind the bar for their Bloody Mary.

Jack Desmond’s Bloody Mary did not make me jump out of my seat. It was your basic Mary Jane. Not that there is anything wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld and George would say.

This Bloody’s garnish consisted of two olives and a lemon wedge. I did like the spice as I had a nice burn on my tongue while I waited for the Irish breakfast which they serve any time since the clock was ticking in the noon hours. Overall, it was ok. I only indulged in one though because it did not wow me. Went to beer after the great breakfast which was indeed delicious.

RANK	ESTABLISHMENT	YEAR	CITY AND STATE
1	55 South	2017	Franklin, Tennessee
2	Journeyman	2017	Three Oaks, Michigan
3	Black Oak	2017	Oak Lawn, Illinois
4	Jack Desmond’s	2018	Chicago Ridge, Illiniois

Right now Jack Desmonds is at the bottom In the search for the best Bloody Mary. Some establishments have weaknesses and thrive in other stuff. Jack Desmond’s Bloody Mary is probably in the local area better than lots of places. However we are in search of the best and we will not give up until we find the best. Every stone will be turned over until we find the breakfast of champions.

SPLITTING OF THE PEPPER

On April 7^th, we had two scheduled shows in one day. Both places we did last year. Both places were very successful for this small business trying to lift off the ground. With two shows, who was going to get custody of the company mascot, Freak’n Hot Pepper?

One idea was just to cut the pepper in half and each show has a half of a Freaking pepper. With laws out there, especially the stuffed animal act, it is against the law in this state to sacrifice a stuffed animal or any kind of stuffed vegetables etc…

Instead Freak’n hot pepper chose where he wanted to go and he went with the St. Germaine craft fair. He loved his time at the Shepard Christmas fair last year. But his main squeeze was in the Oak Lawn area.

Both shows had to go on even with our Geico spokesman, Freak’n Hot pepper, at one location. No worries we still had a variety of sauces at each show. We also unveiled two new ones added to the Sid Sauce family. Both sauces had some different style peppers in them as well.

METEORITE SCORCHED

If you liked Meteorite Sunset, then you will like Meteorite SCORCHED. Everything the same except we have added ghost peppers to the mix giving it a nice heat along with that same great taste.

INKY, PINKY, BLINKY AND CLYDE APPROVED

It has pineapple, kiwi, and mango with Habanero peppers. Plus the added ghost peppers give it an out of this world experience with your taste buds doing the twist.

EL-SID THE GREAT MATADOR

This sauce has a very nice flavor. This sauce consists of Jalapeno peppers along with chilis and some added spices. Plus garlic to keep out the blood thirsty vampires. This sauce is good for the regular stuff you put your hot sauce on. However it will go well with your exotic foods. Chinese, Indian and some of your other cuisines.

Both sauces did very well at both shows with a limited supply and are expected to be main staples in the Sid Sauce universe for years to come.

GERMAINE PARISH CRAFT SHOW

OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS

St. Germaine parish, home of the Trojans was our very first show ever. In the second year we loved to keep tradition alive so we had to attend this one the second year in a row. The first year it was great getting the name out there in the neighborhood. Plus getting great feedback on how the sauce tasted. We had some returning customers along with some new customers. Our bottle sales did increase there from our very first show we did one year ago.

HIGHLIGHTS

AS YOU CAN SEE FREAK’N RED HOT WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW

SHEPARD HIGH SCHOOL

PALOS HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS

Shepard high school home of the Astros was our second show we did right before Christmas. We did very well as many Sid Sauce bottles were purchased for stocking stuffers and people that love the sauce. Both schools we are looking to be main staples at. Both schools were doing their shows on the same day and we did not want to say no to either of them. The second time being at Shepard was another success. Even though we had less sales than the Christmas show. The success came from many repeat customers craving another bottle of sauce. It felt like a customer base, a foundation was being built. We did get some new customers that enjoyed some of our sauces and we are hoping will join our family and want our sauce for years to come.

HIGHLIGHTS

YOU CAN NOT WIN THEM ALL

You cannot please everyone. Everyone is different. Some people are the “can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen” type. Those are the people that they sniff the bottle and they will think it’s too hot for them. We are working on getting something really hot. Our Meteorite SCORCHED is our hottest sauce. But it’s not a burn the mouth dragon type with flames coming out. However some thought the Meteorite SCORCHED would be that way. This gentleman who was obviously a Vet with the hat on that had military pins on it. He told me “I eat habanero peppers like candy.”

He grows his own peppers in his own back yard and just pops them in his mouth like they are M&M’S. None of our sauces fazed him. We do find challenges like that. We are working on something for his taste and we are hopeful our paths will meet again.

 SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

Liquid Mistletoe has a few things to offer. Stroking some woman’s boobs, under the mistletoe. Where does that occur, Hugh Hefner’s mansion? This sauce you’re thinking was free with purchase of a porno beta movie. Perhaps. On the side of the bottle they have a Santa Claus. Got to put the fat man on the bottle somewhere when you are offering your green Christmas hot sauce. It looks like the Santa is watching what’s unfolding under the green weed hanging above the red headed slut. Instead of egg nog red headed slut shots.  I did get this green sauce as a gift over the holidays.

It’s a simple sauce with jalapeno peppers mixed with vinegar. It has a nice bite to it. I have tried it on the usual suspects of foods.  Eggs and tacos it added a nice flavor to them. Overall, Risqué Hot Sauce Company came up with nice sauce. Plus, it has a fun label. It’s a sauce that can spice up your Christmas fruit cake. If you already have a spicy red head coming over, then use the sauce on another holiday. Sid Sauce will be coming out with some green hot sauce in 2018. We already have been working on some recipes with jalapeno peppers in them. We just need to sign up a red head for the new advertising campaign.

SID SAUCE’S NEWEST RECIPE:

FIRE ALARM FRIED TATERS

Fried spuds is one of the best side dishes you can make. I’m Irish so I love my spuds. I love my spuds many ways. But fried spuds are like the French fries at home. It might be the poor man’s French fries. My Dad is why I do fried spuds. He loved to fry spuds up when we were kids. With a burger, dog or Sloppy Joe and many more dishes it makes sense. Spuds in my house as a kid came in many forms. So I’m thinking my dad wanted these spuds over the other his wife/my mother wanted, who came from the potato capital of the world, Idaho. If she reads this she will be kicking my ass or I should say arse all the way from Dublin to Donegal, Ireland. She would tell you the potato crop and the best come from the old country.

I will fry spuds normal with some salt in a frying pan. Well I started that way frying spuds. My mum is from Ireland and many of them like their food bland. I like some salt. But I love the spice so I will tell you how to spice up those taters in my personal favorite side recipe, my Fire Alarm Fried potatoes.

These are things you will need for this spicy adventure.

3 IDAHO POTATOES   You can use more than 3. Plus you can use any style of potato.  You can peel them or leave as is. Wash the spuds before putting them in play. Or you might get a potato famine and leave the state.

2 TABLE SPOONS OF VIRGIN OLIVE OIL (you can also use vegetable oil)

CHILI POWDER (Your choice)

SEAONING SALT (Your choice)

CRUSHED RED PEPPER (Your Choice)

SID’S SAUCE (Your Choice) The more the hotter.  THIS RECIPE I’M GOING WITH SID’S SAUCE (BLAZING SADDLE SORES)

TRAP JAW APPROVED

HERE’S MY PICTURE OF ALL THE INGREDIENTS

This batch I first peeled the spuds. Then I cut them in round slices all the way through.

Then I got my best frying pan out. Poured the two tablespoons, or more if you want, of oil in the pan. I put the flame on the oven top at half way. Number 5 on my oven out of ten. Let that oil heat up.

After it heats up my estimation for these spuds to work is about 25 minutes. That’s flipping them in between.

When everything is heated up we are ready to roll.

Then let them sizzle in the pan for five minutes. Then flip them to get the other side for five minutes. You will start to see them browning on each side. You can flip then in-between the five minutes if you want. But the first ten is all about browning them and getting them softer.

After ten minutes I shake on the chili powder on one side of the spuds. You can put spices on in any order. I always wait last for the Sid’s Sauce. After five minutes you flip the spuds. Now I shake on the crushed red pepper. I shake on the stuff on each potato side as I get everything evenly. Then I let that cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Next I do the same thing this time with the seasoning salt. Shake it on the one side of the spuds and let it sizzle in the pan for like 2-3 minutes. Now you should be able to stab the spuds with a fork with ease. Most of the oil has been absorbed from the spuds and the sizzle. I lower the over top half way. This is where I put my hot sauce on. Now you have to watch carefully so you don’t get hot sizzling oil coming back and hitting your arms when you’re shaking the sauce evenly over one side of the spuds. When the hot sauce hits the pans it starts a nice chain reaction like gasoline on a fire. These spuds get a nice blaze. After it calms down, give them another flip and let cook another 2-3 minutes or so. Then you are done and you have one of the tastiest side dishes of all time to go with whatever meal you have planned. It makes a nice spicy fried spud that’ll make your taste buds dance.

RECOMMENDATION FOR MORE FLAVOR TO POUR ON TOP WHEN READY TO EAT:

Ketchup, BBQ sauce, Malt Vinegar

THE SEARCH FOR THE BEST BLOODY MARY

The third and final bloody Mary I indulged in for the 2017 year was in Franklin, Tennessee. We only were able to get three bloodies in last year. However we started the Search for the Best Bloody very late in the year. This being the third of the year, we can say third time is the charm. The restaurant slash bar called 55 South gets my vote for the best Bloody of the year.

On Sundays at 55 South you can create your own bloody as they have an area where you can build your own with all the fix ins. Usually on Sundays, bars will go the extra mile to enhance their Bloody Mary. Some places on weekdays use a much scaled down version of a bloody. On this Sunday I went with the experts and had the bartender create me their masterpiece instead of assembling one of my own. I have been to 55 South before. On this recent trip I have been there a few times. The food, the atmosphere, and the drinks are well worth going to visit this place more than once on the same trip.

I was impressed with spice right off the bat. My guess it seems like a homemade Bloody Mary mix. I can tell they use a top shelf vodka giving this baby some flavor as well as a nice kick. It had the rim of the glass plastered with salt. Two olives. Then two wedges – one lemon one lime. All together this Bloody did its job from being out the night before. Plus it was very tasty and it made me want to have another one after the first one. It ends the year on a high note as well. All three Bloody Mary’s were very fantastic.  We are looking forward to finding more bloodies in 2018 to continue our search for the best bloody.

RANK	RESTAURANT/BAR
1	55 SOUTH
2	JOURNEYMEN
3	BLACK OAK

SALUTE TO OTHER SAUCES

At times we might not have access to Sid’s Sauce. Sometimes sticky situations come upon us and we have to turn to desperate measures as those eggs in that diner need a little spicing up. However, your Sid’s Sauce is in your safe at home with all your important family documents. Plus the briefcase of drug money you found on the bus. Let’s not forget the diamonds you spoil your wife with as well in that safe.   Before I made hot sauce, I always liked many different sauces that were on the market. Loved all the cool different bottles. Love the crazy art on them as well. If they taste as great as some of these bottles look, it’s a win win. I have to give credit to other sauces out there in the market that have done a great job for me in a pinch. Or even just seeing a cool label.

I was on vacation and I was having breakfast at this place called 55 South in Franklin Tennessee. I have been here before. I love their breakfast tacos.

Yes they taste as good as they look. Even those fried spuds were awesome. This place offered three kinds of hot sauce in their caddy. I went with the Mexican hot sauce since they are tacos I was dealing with at the time.

Valentina Salsa Picante hot sauce turned these great tacos into something out of this world. It was like Haley’s comet seeing that in the sky, but only this comet was the salsa style sauce on the tacos which packed a very nice heat. I even had some sweat beading on my forehead. It was that delightful.

THE SHOWS MUST GO ON IN 18

Sid’s Sauce was able to do two craft shows in 2017. Both were very successful. The first being St. Germaine in Oak Lawn while the second was in Palos Heights at Shepard High School right before Christmas. Both were very successful in their own ways. Both helped get the product out there. In 2018 we are seeking to have our product at many more craft shows throughout the Chicagoland area. Both shows we did in 2017 provided the company with a lot of feedback to help our sauce grow. The St. Germaine show was done in the beginning of the year and that one gave us our first experience. While the Shepard one was our most recent success, using tricks we learned from the first show.

The Shepard show we had more sauces available then we had in our first show. We had seven choices    compared to the three we had at Germaine. We launched two new ones at the Shepard craft show. Both of them sold out. Maggie Vampire Slayer and the Fuzzy Achiote were extremely popular. We sold 15 bottles at Germaine while selling 37 bottles at Shepard high school. Both Craft shows we will come back and do in 2018, if they have them again. We know we will do Shepard’s spring craft show coming up in a few months. We tested the waters in 2017 by dipping our sauce in the shallow end of the pool. In 2018, we will be diving off the high dive some pools had back in the day. We will be doing cannonball commitment to more craft shows in 2018.

SOME OF OUR HIGH LIGHTS IN OUR RECENT SHEPARD SHOW RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

THIS IS WHAT OUR FREAKIN HOT PEPPER WAS LOOKING AT!!!!

BRING THE HEAT

Some feedback we had at the Shepard craft fair was people were interested in some really hot stuff. We do have hot stuff presently but some people were wondering about ghost pepper hot.

We are working on a hot sauce with ghost peppers in it. We will have it appear at some point in 2018.

MILD TASTING FOR LITTLE ENGLISH LADIES.

During the last show an English lady wanted to try our mildest sauce we had. We told her all of them have some heat. However she still insisted on trying the mildest one we had in our opinion. First thing, she put way too much of the sauce on the chip. We told her a drop or two. But she said she’d be ok. We had no tea to put out the fire in her mouth. She walked away with her mouth sizzling. She was ok. I guess the big red hot chili pepper in front of the table did not send any red flags in her head that this is too much sauce on one chip. We need to carry some more beverages to put out fires that spark certain people’s tastebuds.

 

SEARCH FOR THE BEST BLOODY MARY

Our second submitted Bloody Mary of the year took us to the Black Oak.

This is the first Bloody Mary from Illinois. This Bloody Mary is pretty much basic. Vodka with a Bloody Mary mix. They had a wedge of lime and a lemon wedge on the rim of the glass. Better order food with this bloody because it does not offer any eats with the treat. They did not give you any vodka options. It was a tasty bloody. It had to be a pretty common mix that is popular. It had a little kick to it. My guess… Zing Zang. The vodka that was mixed in it made this a pretty good beverage to start the morning off. Nothing on the cheap side. Overall I like it.  But it’s something I could throw together at home.

RANK	PLACE	TYPE OF PLACE	CITY	STATE
1.	JOURNEYMEN	DISTILLERY	THREE OAKS	MICHIGAN
2.	THE BLACK OAK	BAR	OAK LAWN	ILLINOIS

By far Journeymen is still number one on the Search for the best bloody. They made their own vodka. They had more stuff in the Bloody Mary.  The bloody part was homemade with tomato juice and spices.  Most of all they had a better spice.

TWO NEW SIDDYS JOIN THE FAMILY

Sid’s Sauce now has seven different sauces. Before the show in Palos Heights at Shepard High School, the stork brought two new additions in Sid’s World… Excellent!!! You can say one’s a girl sauce and one’s a guy’s sauce by the names.

SID SAUCE introduces you to: The Fuzzy Achiote (The sixth sauce)

SID SAUCE introduces you to the: MAGGIE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (The seventh sauce)

Both these sauces are made from Cayenne peppers. The bad part about it is they are not around all year. Both are named after two people I know. Maggie comes from my Godchild while Fuzzy is a nick name for a great friend of mine.

The Fuzzy Achiote is a red sauce like Johnny’s Red but thicker. The main ingredient in the Fuzzy achiote is achiote, a Mexican spice which really gives this hot sauce a nice flavor. It’s a mild flavor. It also has bell peppers in it as well. Everything is well balanced – some bite but a very nice flavor. Like these two below.

This is Fuzzy having his way with Freakin Hot pepper. Fuzzy is the one who gave me the Fuzzy Freaking hot pepper. These are two fuzzies getting a little too close for comfort in an outside garage bar. Freakin hot pepper went through a rough patch and was being taking advantage of. But he is feeling much better these days as he’s been dating other fuzzy peppers from other business mascots and keeping it in the same species. Meanwhile my Friend did find someone. He got married to a girl who goes by the name Fuzzina. Two happy clams.

The Fuzzy Achiote is good to put on the standard things hot sauce is used for. Your eggs, pizza, tacos and many other things. However I think the Fuzzy Achiote can do wonders to Asian food. Mix in with meats with rice and veggies. Lots of stews. Even a variety of chicken recipes with rice and veggies. So far I have really gotten a great response from this sauce. I think it will become one of the popular sauces when we mass produce a lot more than the small amount we did this year.

Maggie the Vampire Slayer is a brownish color similar to the Apocalypse. Maggie the Vampire Slayer’s main ingredient is garlic besides the pepper mix in each bottle. Garlic rids vampires. If I made an Apocalypse as I was thinking Zombie apocalypse, I need something to deal with vampires so I cover both fronts. I will say I love all my sauces. But this one I have to say is one of my top ones. Besides Garlic it has some other spices mixed in which will give it that garlic boost. If you like garlic you will love Maggie the Vampire Slayer. This sauce is great with the standard hot sauce foods. However for Italian foods this sauce says, “Mama Mia!” Great in Spaghetti sauces. I put some on some homemade tomato bread I made just jazz things up and it gave it a delightful taste. On garlic bread it will explode your pores with garlic, but I have not got to that level yet. I’ll wait for a weekend when I’m alone so no one has to run for the hills. Another thing is just on regular taco chips. Put a few drops on a chip and I compare it to regular potato chips with French onion dip.

I named this the Maggie Vampire Slayer for many reasons. The garlic I was thinking vampires. Garlic slays vampires. I was doing the show at my Goddaughter’s school. Threw her name on there. Plus she plays basketball and is very good at it. She slays her opponents as she controls the ball and scores with ease. So why can’t she slay vampires as well?

SHEPARD WINTER ARTS/CRAFTS SHOW

Sid Sauce will be at the show tomorrow, fully stocked with our delicious hot sauce.

Alan B. Shepard High School – 13049 S. Ridgeland Avenue in Palos Heights

IN SEARCH FOR THE BEST BLOODY MARY

In one of the Star Trek movies, they had one they dedicated to their main man, Spock. In search of Spock they called it. I really don’t care about Spock. However I do care about Bloody Mary’s. Especially during football season. I call it bloody Sunday. Blood on the gridiron. Blood in the drinks. After a few hours you might spill some blood with those people that hate. Too old to spill blood so might have to take in a few bloodies to avoid a bloody Sunday. I like that peaceful easy feeling with the team winning, of course.

You might think the best Bloody has to have Sid’s Sauce in it. Well my friend you are bloody right. I know the best bloodies have the good stuff in them. However I’m not a bartender nor do I play one on TV. Yes I can bring the heat but lots of people have their own creation which to them is a great Bloody Mary. When I’m at home I will use my sauce on my own creation. When I’m out just don’t rat me out if you see me take a bottle from my coat pocket. Many different things can make a bloody incredible. Hot sauce is just one part. Vodka is the oil of the Bloody Mary. However moonshine is like wow. Like Forest Gump would say, “that’s all I got to say about that.”

Whiskey and even bourbon can make a Bloody Mary delicious. Besides the booze you need something that will turn it red. What kind of mix are you using? Or are we using tomato juice or some will say V8? Plus you have other spices. Plus what kind of food are you putting in the glass? Used to be a celery stick. But now you can get whole meal out it. I have lots of questions as you may as well. In this search we will get through it together.

I will submit the ones I try. I will give you the place. I will tell you what I think of it. I try to describe what’s in it. Sometimes they have the bar recipe written down for you on the menu, However sometimes you’ve just got to use your spidey senses. Then when we have more than one, I will compare which one is better. We will rank them. We will find the best damn Spock there is. While we search we enjoy what the world has to offer when it comes down to one of my and one of your favorite drinks… the BLOODY MARY.

FIRST BLOODY TESTED AND APPROVED

Journeymen Distillery

It’s in a small town called Three Oaks, Michigan. This is the same town the Christmas Movie Prancer was filmed.

Journeymen does not serve beer. It sounds sacrilegious, doesn’t it? Well it is a distillery so I knew that coming in. I knew I would not see any sports since no televisions are present. It’s all about the well drinks and they do have great food.

LET’S BE RAMBO AND DRAW FIRST BLOOD

Journeymen makes their own vodka. They call it Red Arrow Vodka and it is Russian approved. Journeymen’s Bloody Mary to me is vodka mixed with tomato juice and spices. They did not have a meal inside the pint glass. They had a hot pepper with an olive and a hunk of summer sausage. If you order food from the menu, the portions will fill you up. It was not that spicy. Overall it tasted great. It had a nice blend of spices in it. The vodka is very good. It went down smooth. I actually ordered a second one for the road. Officer it’s only V8. He would be the guy to say it’s tomato juice. You say Tomato I say tommmato.

This is the first one under our belt. We will be looking for more as the Holidays get closer. I usually love having a bloody with the fat man that comes down my chimney. Then I fall asleep and the bastard takes all my gifts.  Those Bloodies can pack a punch. Next time the big guy will get a knuckle sandwich with his bloody that he can fill his glass from his nose and see how he likes it.

The Very Latest at Red Tail Market

SID’S SAUCE RECIPE

One of my favorite meals to make is chili. It’s not hard to make. You can make it an all-day event by adding to the big pot simmering on top of the stove as your taste buds salivate. As the smell of the chili wafts through the house, it makes your tummy rumble as you wait patiently until you can dig into a bowl of greatness. Plus you have many different ways you can make a personalized chili designed for your own taste buds. I have many chili recipes I have made over the years with many different meats, veggies, beans, etc. Lots of time combining meats which makes a tastier meal. I love adding a bottle of beer to the mix which can complete change the dynamic of your chili. What kind of beer? It all depends. Love the October Fests and the stouts. Sometimes just an old domestic beer from Milwaukee will do great stuff as well.

JOHNNY’S MARDI GRAS CHILI

THE LIST OF INGREDIENTS

1 1B Ground Turkey

1 package of smoked sausage

2 cans of 14 ounce beef broth

1 12oz bottle Samuel Adams October fest beers

1 15 ounce can of Chili beans

1 15 ounce can of Italian Stewed tomatoes (undrained)

1 15 ounce can of Kidney Beans (rinsed and drained

3 tablespoons of flour to thicken

MY SPICES

1 Teaspoon Oregano leaves

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

3 Table spoons of Mexican Chili powder

1 table spoon of brown sugar

2 tea spoons of JOHNNY’S RED SID SAUCE

The first thing I do is open a beer for myself and a beer for the Chili. I believe in the one for me, one for you method. In your favorite big pot, dump the beer in along with the two cans of beef broth, the chili beans and the Italian stewed tomatoes. I give everything a quick stir. I get the oven going and put the flame on simmer.

I then open the can of kidney beans, dump them in a strainer, rinse them and then add them into the chili. Then mix them in with a big spoon.

Next I cut up the smoked sausage. You can dice them or cut them in chunks, you can make the call on that. I then open up the ground turkey, put the meat in a pan, and brown the meat. Then I drain it even though it’s not much to drain.  I throw it into the pot and mix everything again. Then In another frying pan I warm up the smoked sausage. Even though it’s cooked, I still like to brown it a tad more. Then after 5 minutes I will throw the smoked sausage in the pot. That simmers for two hours.

Then I come back and add all the spices. I add the flour to help thicken it up. It’s not thick chili. The flour will bring it together a little more. You could also had a small can of tomato paste to thicken it up more.

Let it simmer all day long. Then around dinner time or game time, you’re on your sixth beer and it’s time to indulge in a nice big bowl of delightfulness.

Egg noodles is an idea to pour it over to make it a more filling meal. I like a spoonful of sour cream and some Mexican cheese on top. I crumbled Mexican chips on top of it instead of oyster crackers. Cilantro is a nice touch as well.

GUESS WHO HAS INVADED THE RED TAIL MARKET

YOU GOT IT THE ONE AND ONLY SID SAUCE, OH JOHNNY THAT’S HOT!

IF YOU CAN’T WAIT. IF YOU ARE RUNNING LOW. HEAD TO MOKENA. SID SAUCE HAS LANDED ON THE SHELVES AT THE RED TAIL MARKET. WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR AWHILE GHOULING AND GHOSTING IT UP FOR THE FALL AND HALLOWEEN SEASON.

NOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU SPICE UP THAT TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING. WE HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT FLAVORS TO SPICE UP THAT WHITE CASTLE STUFFING.  PLUS WE HAVE GIFT BASKETS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU KNOCK PEOPLE OFF THAT CHRISTMAS LIST.

RED TAIL MARKET

19830 S.LAGRANGE ROAD,

MOKENA, ILLINOIS, 60448

MAKE SURE YOU GET SOME BEFORE COBRA TAKES IT ALL

SAUCED LEGS

This recipe is for BBQ chicken legs done in the oven. However I made some modifications to really get these legs sauced. I’m talking smashed. First thing I do is put aluminum foil down on a cooking sheet. Then I place all my legs on the aluminum foil. I usually put down a spicy seasoning on all the legs. Today I did sprinkle some of the legs with the spicy seasoning. However I want some of these legs saucy so I pulled out the bourbon spices. My spice tray consisted of regular spicy seasoning, bourbon smoked Chili powder, bourbon smoked citrus pepper, and a bourbon smoked paprika.

First, sprinkle the spices on all the legs. You can put it down any way you want. I did each leg lightly as I did each leg on the plate. I used one spice for a few legs, then I switched and used another spice on a few more, and then did another on the remaining legs.

Then I waited ten minutes and flipped each leg over on the cooking tray. I did the other side the same way I did the first side and used the same spices on the same leg as I sprinkled them all lightly.

Then I waited another ten minutes and it was time to get down and spicy. You can pick whatever Sid Sauce and whatever spice you want to lather each leg with. For the ones I seasoned with the bourbon chili powder, I went with a smoky bbq sauce. I pour the bbq sauce into a small bowl. Then took a brush and lathered the sauce on the one side heavy. I also used a regular bbq sauce on a few of the legs I just used spicy seasoning on. Did the same thing and poured the sauce into a small bowl. Then lathered those babies too on one side.

With the hot sauce it was easier. No bowls. For some of the spicy seasoning l used the Apocalypse Sid Sauce on them. I shook the bottle and opened the cap. Then shook a few drops on the one side of the leg. Then I lathered the sauce in with the brush to get them nice and spicy.

I used Johnny’s Red Sid Sauce on the spicy legs with the bourbon smoked paprika. Did the same thing, shook a few drops lathered it in with the brush until the whole side was covered?

Then I used the Mango Ate your Baby on the bourbon smoked citrus pepper spiced legs. Did the same thing shook the sauce on to the leg and lathered it in on the brush.

Then I waited 15 minutes and turned all the legs over. I then did the same thing to the other side with the same sauces.

Then I heated up the oven at 350 degrees. Waited until it got nice and hot and put the whole tray of legs in the oven for 45 minutes.

WHAT KIND OF HOT SAUCE HAS UGLY PUMPKIN BEEN SUCKING DOWN?

MAYBE THE OTHER BRAND TURNED HIM THIS WAY!

MEANWHILE, THE OTHER PUMPKINS ARE ENJOYING BLAZING SADDLE SORES.

THE NEW SHERIFF IN THE SID SAUCE WORLD!! SADDLE UP!

EVEN THE MUMMIES ARE SPEECHLESS.

FINALLY ON THE SHELVES…

Did you know…….
That Sid Sauce now comes in 5 flavors?
That we offer home delivery to your door?
Any recipe that calls for peppers, can be made better with Sid Sauce?
Sid Sauce can be purchased at the fabulous Redtail Market in Mokena?

THE GODFATHER OF THE DEAD

If there was ever a zombie apocalypse, people would have to make sure they had Sid’s Sauce apocalypse in their survival bag. I have always been a big fan of zombie movies and the graphic novels of The Walking Dead, along with the series on AMC. I named one of my sauces the Apocalypse for a few reasons. First, for the love of the zombie apocalypse. Two, it sounds like a cool name.  Third, it brings the heat. Plus, Apocalypse Now, the Vietnam War movie was filled with explosions. I guess you can say a zombie apocalypse is filled with explosions and blood gushing all over. My Sid’s Sauce, the Apocalypse, has a brown coloring that resembles zombie blood.George Romero, the Godfather of the dead, is the one that got me interested in zombie movies. I remember watching the black and white version of the Night of the Living Dead, when I was younger, on VHS. It was George Romero’s first classic in 1968. I watched it in the early 80’s and it was scary good. The imagination was running wild, seeing the dead rise up and kill the living. Not just kill them, but eat their organs as blood dripped from their cold dead lips.

In the present I love the show, The Walking Dead. I started watching the show and moved on to the graphic novels and the books as well. Back in the day, my favorite (and still is) Romero movie was Dawn of the Dead, which came out in 1978. I remember the SWAT team trying to clear the building when they opened a door to see a zombie lurch out. The SWAT guy blasted it with a shot gun and the bullet ripped off the zombie’s head as blood spattered. Then they got a ragtag group together that got away from danger and fled to a mall where they held up. They cleared it and had plenty of supplies as they were living pretty good, some would say the high life, in a zombie apocalypse. Then as always, more obstacles came upon them as a biker gang broke through the mall walls. The rag tag group even made their own wall with semi-truck trailers which the gang was able to get by. Then zombies followed the bikers and chaos brewed.

George Romero recently died of lung cancer. He was born, February 4^th in 1940 and died at 77. He was married 3 times. His son, Cameron, followed in his dad’s footsteps as he too is in the horror business. He obviously has big shoes to fill as George has an incredible legacy. He was and American-Canadian film maker who did it all. He was editor, writer, director and probably even a gopher at one point.

His list of credits and what he did to scare us is amazing. He was the one that created the show, Tales from the Darkside. I watched that staying up late on Sunday nights, a school night, to watch at 10 PM on WGN. He helped bring some of Stephen King’s books to life like The Dark Half and Creep Show. Other zombie movies which I loved were Day of the Dead and Land of the Dead. He did the 1973 The Crazies, which later was remade. I imagine he inspired the creators of the Walking Dead as well, as they have done totally awesome in their series.

I’m sure I have missed many other great things George Romero did. I hope my Sid’s Sauce Apocalypse will help a band of survivors get past the hordes and hordes of the dead. Sometimes you think you’re actually in the apocalypse in rush hour every day after work. Remember your Sid Sauce because when the shit really hits the fan, you will be glad to have it. ALSO DON’T LET THE ZOMBIE EAT YOUR APOCALYPSE SID SAUCE BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT JUST LIKE YOU.

100 BOTTLES OF SID SAUCE ON THE WALL

This is the pursuit for 100 bottles of Sid Sauce in your household, in 2017.Bottles Sold or Donated:53Magic #:100To Go:47FLAVOR POWER RANKINGS 2017

RANK	NAME OF SAUCE	BOTTLES SOLD
1	MANGO ATE YOUR BABY	24
2	JOHNNY’S RED	14
3	APOCALYPSE	9
4	METEORITE SUNSET	3
4	BLAZING SADDLE SOURS	3

 

SID SAUCE RECIPE

BLOODY MARY

I’m not a bartender. I do not play a bartender on TV. I know people have thousands of different ways to make a good Bloody Mary which is always interesting to taste or hear about how much or what goes in one. That’s why bars have build your own Bloody Marys with lots of options. On Sunday fun day I always love a good Bloody Mary to get the day kicked off. I usually look inside the fridge and look to what’s in there that I could place in my bloody Mary. I have many likes on what I like to put in a bloody Mary. I don’t want to over do it though in toppings. However I do love a spicy Bloody.  To achieve my goal I picked a few things out of the fridge. To get the spice I went with the newest Sid Sauce in the family the Meteorite Sunset.

It is not my best but I was pretty impressed on how it turned out.

Here’s how I achieved my bloody for Sunday Funday.

INGREDIENTS

OBVIOUSLY ICE (filled the glass)

Grey Goose Vodka (four second pour but I did five)

Worcester Sauce bourbon aged ( 3 drops)

Olives ( I did not have a tooth pick or sword so I put a straw through two)

I went with one queen olive stuffed with pimento and one stuffed with jalapeno

1 celery stick

1 pickle spear

SID’S SAUCE Meteorite Sunset

Walkers Southern Bloody Mary Mix Spicy

The secret to a perfect Bloody Mary is pouring the vodka first. Make sure to give it a vigorous stir after you pour the Bloody Mary mix in. Don’t fill it too high or you’ll have a flood on your hands when you add your tasty toppings.

SID’S SAUCE HAS A NEW SAUCE OUT !!!!

THE UNVEILING

METEORITE SUNSET HAS LANDED IN THE SID SAUCE FAMILY!!!!

This sauce has the same ingredients as The Mango Ate Your Baby. Except Meteorite Sunset has pineapple in it. Yes, three fruits:  mango, kiwi and now pineapple which gives you a blast of flavor. Instead of the orange habanero peppers that are used in the Mango that Ate Your Baby and the Apocalypse, I put in red habanero peppers.  They give it some heat with a blast of fruitiness which makes it a very exciting sauce. I recommend the usual foods you put the sauce on and beyond. The color of sauce is an orangeish reddish color that looks like the meteor hit the sun as the colors would create a breath taking sunset. This will give the Sid Sauce hot sauce company four flavors with more to come.

SID’S SAUCE RECIPE

UNCLE STAN’S FAMOUS SLOPPY JOES MADE WITH  THE APOCALYPSE

                        

Ingredients

2 pounds of ground beef

2  8 oz cans tomato sauce

1 8 oz can of tomato paste

2 cups BBQ sauce

1 cup ketchup

1 green pepper diced

1 yellow onion diced

STAN’S SECRET SPICES

• 2 TABLESPOONS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
• 2 TABLESPOONS OF YELLOW MUSTARD
• 2 TEASPOONS OF LIGHT BROWN SUGAR

We added two teaspoons of Sid’s Sauce The Apocalypse flavor to enhance the sloppy joe.

Directions:

Take the ground beef, diced onion and diced green pepper and place them in a 10 inch skillet over medium flame. Brown the meat, soften the onion and pepper and then drain.

Spray 3 to 4 quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

Place everything in the slow cooker and mix everything together with a good sized spoon.

Set the slow cooker on low and let it do its magic for 4-6 hours. Give it a good stir every two hours as all flavors mix together very nicely.

            TADAA! UNCLE STAN’S SLOPPY JOE MODIFIED

         

Then serve on buns with a pickle spear and some nice potato chips on the side.

UNCLE STAN IS AMAZED ABOUT HOW THE APOCALYPSE SID’S SAUCE TOOK HIS SLOPPY JOE TO NEWER HEIGHTS.

 

 

  SID’S SAUCE GOAL FOR 2017

        100 BOTTLES IN PEOPLE’S HOUSES

We have set a goal we can reach in our first year of business. We will strive for more so we can destroy our set number we have as a goal. Sid Sauce will appear at more shows this year. We are hopeful to be making our appearances at some farmer markets as well. Things are in the works for the future of the sauce as we expect to have something going with online ordering. We also will unveil some new hot sauces this year as well.

METEOR SUNSET IS COMING VERY SOON !!!!!

The Meteor Sunset in my opinion is the best one I have made. Lots of details to come soon to a theater near you. Right now we have 36 bottles either sold or donated in 2017. We have donated two bottles recently to our old stomping grounds, St. Germaine, where we had our one show. Two bottles will appear as raffle prizes at an International Dinner.. This event is tonight to help out the St. Germaine Women’s club.

  2ND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DINNER

ST.GERMAINE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OAK LAWN, il

5:00 TO 9:00

10 DOLLARS TO GET IN

CASH BAR

Which sauce so far leads the company in sales?

NAME OF SAUCE                          BOTTLES SOLD

THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY                   19

JOHNNY’S RED                                              11

APOCALYPSE                                                   6

36 TOTAL

WE NEED 64 MORE BOTTLES SOLD TO HIT OUR YEAR GOAL…..

 

 

WHAT DO YOU USE SID’S SAUCE ON?

 

Besides sniffing the sauce what do you people like to put hot sauce on?

OUR LATEST FEED BACK

From: KARIN

Spiced up my morning breakfast with some “the mango ate Your Baby” Sid Sauce! Scrambled eggs with black bean and corn salsa topped with goat cheese and Sid Sauce. DELISH !!! What a way to start the day.

Sounds like an awesome breakfast she put it on.

People ask all the time what do you put the Sid Sauce on. Everyone is different. Some put it on just about everything. Some use it to spice up their cooking. Some people put it on certain foods.

We have created the SID SAUCE LIST.

This is a list OF what people have used Sid Sauce on. If we hear new foods people have used it on, we will update our lists.

                    

JOHNNY’S RED	MANGO ATE YOUR BABY	APOCALYPSE
EGGS	EGGS	EGGS
PIZZA	PIZZA	PIZZA
MEXICAN CHIPS	MEXICAN CHIPS	MEXICAN CHIPS
CHILI	CHILI	CHILI
BLOODY MARYS	BLOODY MARYS	BLOODY MARYS
FRIED SPUDS	TACOS	TACOS
	FRIED SPUDS	FRIED SPUDS
	TOSTADAS	TOSTADAS

 

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SID’S SAUCE MASCOT IS DOING WHEN HE IS NOT WORKING THE SAUCE?

HE’S GETTING SAUCY WITH FRIENDS

 

Freak’n Hot Chili Pepper likes to hang with his homeys  at the local establishment.

SID, BARAGE SANTA, FREAK’N CHILI PEPPER, &FUZZY

HERE’S FUZZY GETTING HOT WITH FREAK’N HOT CHILI PEPPER

 

AT THE END OF THE NIGHT HE STILL FREAK’N SMILING

 

 

 

THE FIRST LAUNCH WAS A SUCCESS

The St. Germaine craft show was a success for Sid’s Sauce. We sold 15 bottles in six hours. We donated three bottles as well. We got a lot of cards out. People enjoyed the free tasting of the hot sauce on the Mexican chips that we had to offer. We had our celebrity spokesman on hand as well.

 

FREAK’N HOT CHILI PEPPER WAS THE HIT OF THE SHOW

HOT SAUCE BREAKDOWN

Out of the three sauces we had to offer The Mango ate your baby was the people’s choice

THE BOTTLES SOLD

JOHNNY RED                THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY           APOCALYPSE

4                                                      7                                                 4

Sid’s Sauce’s first customer, Phil Zack, was on hand as was another big fan of our product, Marty Serbins.

We gave a bottle to the show’s number one fan, Ryan the boy scout. He loved all three sauces as he sampled more than once. We were also grateful for his help as he helped carry things in and pack things away when the show was over.

       

We shared the table with Bob Chinnici, also known as South Side Bob. He was selling his wonderful art in print forms.

The Bird man picture I have ordered from Bob and I will put it behind my bar in the basement. He did well with his latex sales girl, Allison, who is always having a good time and is always in good spirits. She had lots of great ideas as well for the future events. As a group we had lots of new ideas for the art and the sauce as they were bouncing all over the St. Germaine’s Gymnasium. The art went well as future craft shows are on the horizon. Allison also runs the events at the grammar school and she helped us get a prime location in the gym that helped with sales as well.

Bob’s dad was on hand as well as he had some works of art for sale.

 

You might recognize him from the Red Roof Inn.

Here’s how the table was set up with the art and the sauce. That’s the Bourbonator behind the table as she was the Sid’s Sauce latex sales girl.

Sid Sauce would like to thank St. Germaine for having us and hopefully we will be a staple there for years to come. We also thank South Side Bob for the idea to do the table together. Plus Allison for getting the table in a great event she helped put together.

 

IT’S FINALLY HERE

APRIL FOOL’S DAY 2017

THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF SID SAUCE

ST. GERMAINE CRAFT SHOW

ADDRESS:

9735 South Kolin

OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS 60453

TIME: 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

 

JOHNNY RED/THE MANGO ATE YOUR BABY/THE APOCALYPSE

THESE ARE THE THREE SAUCES WE HAVE TO OFFER

ONLY $5.00 A BOTTLE

WE ARE SHARING THE TABLE WITH A WONDERFUL NEW ARTIST ON THE SCENE

Bob Chinnici

HE WILL BE STOCKED WITH HIS OUT OF THIS WORLD PRINTS

 

SID SAUCE’S FIRST CUSTOMER

 

PHIL ZACK

IT’S COMING SOON

March 13, 2017 / Leave a comment / Edit

LOOK AT THIS YAHOO

March 19, 2017 / Edit

NO SHENANIGANS WHEN IT COMES TO SID’S SAUCE

March 4, 2017 / Leave a comment / Edit