Devil Duck’s Trip to Mecca, part 1

Thursday, February 28.

High Noon

This is the day I’ve been waiting an entire year for… An insider’s chance to observe the Fiery Foods Show. Last year, I agreed to help the crew at Defcon by storing a few pieces of their booth and to assist in setting up the “Lair of Doom” this time. However, upon my arrival, something was amiss. Things didn’t just seem to be right. So, I phoned The Creator (as he is called by his Acolytes) to inform him that I had indeed arrived at his booth. Hmmm… It seems his flight has been delayed and he and his crew of misguided misfits are going to be late.

2:30pm

After observing several companies start on their forays, and discussing the challenges this weekend would present, spirits were indeed high for the upcoming battle.

Upon the arrival of the Defcon crew, we found out what was wrong with the booth. No Pallet of Pain. It wasn’t on the loading dock. So The Createss (That’s Ms. Defcon to commoners) fired off a frenzy of phone calls that even the most mild mannered of us would succumb to her fury.

The Pallet of Pain is still 2 hours away. Off to the bar for some beers! (This becomes the theme of the weekend as you faithful readers will soon see.)

4:15pm

While we were waiting for the pallet to make an appearance (aka: sucking some suds), I got a chance to meet up with some old friends from shows past and talk shop. Everyone wanted to know if I, Devil Duck, had a booth this year. Unfortunately, the answer to that was a big, “No.” However, I did brew up some of my Nuclear Scurvy to hand out. No one was more gracious for my little sample than The Mississippi Sauce King himself. If you don’t know who MSK is, you’re not a chilehead. This man probably has the largest and most comprehensive hot sauce collection in the universe and is the coolest guy you’d ever want to meet. While we were in the bar, MSK was going from person to person updating his notebook with new products and releases that he doesn’t have logged. (On a side note, I shipped 5 large Priority Mail boxes full of sauce back to Mississippi for him.)

7:00pm

Sandia “Security” is kicking us out of the ballroom. It seems we have set up everything we could this evening. It’s time to call it a day. Mrs. Devil Duck and I are going to have to be up early to get a good start on our mission. Since most of the day will be dedicated to vendors only, we’ll have a really good shot at finding the company to be featured… Because there can be only one.

(To be continued)