I have been reading the reviews of Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire, here at the Hot Zone as well as on Facebook (you know who you are) and sorely wishing I could have been there for the festivities.

As you may or may not know these odd little trade/retail shows thrown to celebrate the eating of the heat and the wonderful makers who bring us these wonderful burning hot concoctions, are a great deal of fun. I defy any other industry to show as much fun and excitement (and sheer silliness, I might add) during their trade shows. If anyone were to take me up on the challenge, we might see the fun and silliness off the show floor, but nothing could or would compare to our beloved Hot Sauce festivals.

If you still haven’t attended one, I highly recommend it.

With that said, a lot of you don’t know that there is such a festival up here in the Great White North. It’ll be held in Toronto from September 4 through September 7. Toronto is a beautiful cosmopolitan city on the banks of Lake Ontario, a couple of hours drive from Detroit. I can’t fathom the reason why, but don’t expect to see the big American makers at this little hot sauce celebration, they never come. Needless to say, though, given the fact that it is currently the only Hot Sauce festival in Canada, it deserves a mention. I had opportunity to speak with the show’s new organizers, several times over as we approach the opening date for this festival, and they assure me that this year’s version will be bigger and better than all of the previous years’ combined. Sadly, though, he’s told me that none of the big name makers have signed up, again.

As unfortunate as that is, I’m looking forward to the show. Peppermaster and I do bang up business there, so it’s really sad that the big names never show up. This is especially true because, until recent years, all Canadians knew about peppers and hot sauce they learned from those makers. Canadian heat eaters would love to see Dave, CaJohn, Blair, Juan and Denzel and the rest of them show up, it’s not like their stuff isn’t sold in every hot sauce venue I’ve visited. I can’t really complain though, as the owner of a hot sauce company, myself, I rather like the lack of competition from the other big names. But this year, as I look at the lineup for vendors at the show, I am intrigued. Some of these makers are brilliant and the American contenders, if they aren’t coming to the show, ought to be paying attention; because the quality and care that goes into these products is impressive.

The list of makers who have signed up this year?

Jake Albert’s Specialty Food – www.jakealberts.com Jay, the owner, makes a delectable habanero pomegranate glaze that is to die for. This is their first appearance at Hot & Spicy.
Hot Mamas Food Inc – www.hotmamas.ca Hot Mama makes a habanero jelly that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. She samples her jellies on a cream cheese. The sampling alone is worth attending the festival!
Chetty’s Hot Sauce – www.chettyenterprises.com Chetty makes a standard hot sauce that will curl your hair, very nicey spicey.
Edna’s Pickles – www.ednaspickles.com A lovely Goan woman with a best-selling cookbook, she and her family make the best lime pickle I’ve ever tasted.
Peppermaster – www.peppermaster.com The Peppermaster, makes fresh pepper products with a slow fair trade philosophy focusing on the flavour that comes from the individual pepper.
Betty K Foods – www.bettykfoods.com
So Hot Sauce – www.sohotsauce.com Diane and her partner make some incredible products using fresh scotch bonnet peppers and a little pizazz. This is their first appearance at the Hot & Spicy, but they also exhibit at Toronto’s One of a Kind Show.
Susie’s Hot Sauce – www.susieshotsauce.com A beautiful Antiguan woman and her family put together this yummy pepper sauces. If you’re a fan of Matouk’s, you’ll love Susie’s.
Eadrey Food Company – www.eadreyfoods.ca I’m not familiar with Eadrey, this is the first time (to my knowledge) that they are exhibiting at hot and spicy, but being the huge jerk fan I am, I’m looking forward to trying theirs!
Island Spiced – www.islandspiced.com Another newcomer to the Hot & Spicy, I’ve heard some great things about Chef Carlton’s products and am looking forward to trying them as well.

Two other vendors who have listed for the show, but for whom I don’t have web addresses are Can-West Hot Sauce and The Joy of Harvest.

You’ll also find a restaurant tent at the festival where you can order all manner of hot and spicy ethnic foods, some good jerk chicken, some curry, a little Chinese, perhaps. There is also an international marketplace with choice little tidbits coming from all over. I have been known to purchase some beautiful cotton dresses, pashmina’s and even wonderful leather sandals at the market. There is even a corn roast tent run by a group of Jamaicans and that, in and of itself is worth making the trek down to Harbourfront, although, be prepared to sit on line for a while, sometimes it’s a good half hour wait to get an ear of corn.

They have some great music acts lined up, and there is a whole list of activities for young and old alike. Oh! And did I happen to mention, it’s an outdoor festival? Not to worry, if it rains, everything is under tents.

Click this link for more information on the festival from the Harbourfront Centre web site.

Perhaps we’ll see you there?