Twice is nice at the @austinchronicle hot sauce festival 2011

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What a surprise to win first Place in the Individual, Special Category section of the Austin Chronicle's Hot Sauce Festival for the second year in a row! I am still in shock and very happy! With this win, my daughter, Mattie and I will now be in the "Hall of Flame" for folks who have placed 3 times or more in the competition over the years. We came up with the basic recipe for the Peach/Red Pepper Hot sauce in 2007 and received an honorable mention that year. This was the first time to ever receive any recognition after entering nearly every year since the beginning so we kept tweaking it. In 2008 we landed in 2nd place, 2009 not even a mention but 2010 and 2011, 1st place. Though Mattie is now in her second year away at college and unable to attend, she will always be on this Hot sauce entry as part of the original inspiration!

The judges this year included some of my favorite Chefs and Food writers, put together by Robb Walsh, founder and head judge and they really know their stuff! http://www.austinchronicle.com/food/2011-08-26/celebrity-judges/ I have to say though that the true heros of judging are the folks who plow through the hundreds of entries sorting the good, the bad and the horribly hot from the finalists to send to the celebrity panel. What an indescribable task...on more levels than I can imagine! And one person who needs to be recognised for sure is, Elizabeth Derczo, my friend and the lady who every year organizes and keeps this event rolling! If you have not already read about the event here is a link to my blog: http://thegoodlifeinaustintexas.com/post/2477315/pleasure-pain-at-the-austin-chronicle-hot-sauce-contest . This link is to a complete list of all the winners: http://www.austinchronicle.com/food/2011-09-02/21st-annual-austin-chronicle-hot-sauce-festival-winners/ Again, thanks to one and all for making this the hottest coolest event in Austin's summer!

I know that some people go on to found thrir own hot sauce companies but there is no way this hot sauce will ever be commercial. It is a fresh sauce and does not last more than three days plus the fact that we se only seasonal Texas peaches and other produce. Besides, I still actually like my job as a real estate broker here in Austin, Texas! I have no idea whether peaches will be in vogue as far as hot sauce goes in the future but I will continue to enter this fun competition in the future. I am already working on a hot sauce/salsa that contains watermelon and I will forever be trying to perfect my own red sauce! So, with that in mind, I will see you next year!

Tags » Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival Hot Sauces Russell Lewis Russell's Collage of Carnival Knowledge Russell's Kitchen The Good Life in Austin Texas Things to do in Austin Texas peach/red pepper hot sauce

29 August 2011
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Twice is nice at the @austinchronicle hot sauce festival 2011

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