Now that all of us were recovering from the Weekend of Fire, it was time for CaJohn’s annual open house. I really do enjoy this part of the trip.

I arrived around 9:45 AM (first one there) so I went into shipping and talked with Mark as he labeled a last minute order before the festivities started. People slowly started to show up around 10:30 and we all enjoyed some coffee and donuts.

Scott Roberts is dangerous unless he gets his morning coffee…which was quickly handed to him right after this picture.


Chillin in CaJohn’s main office.

So that’s why Dragon’s breath fire…

Sue Hard was kind enough to give us a tour while CaJohn was busy attending business in the main office. I got to see everything I saw last year with some new additions.

If I ever need pepper mash I know where to go.

I didn’t even know they made banners for the Scovies.

After the tour was finished it was time to eat lunch which was again provided to us by CaJohn’s wonderfully talented chefs. We all got to sample the new version of Jolokia Sausages along with a few other dishes. Sitting as the food settled everyone talked of events to come (FMK in particular).

We all enjoyed the wonderful lunch that was provided to us by CaJohn’s cooks.

Big Show (left) and Scott Roberts (right) sign the wall.

After a quick updating of the wall of signatures, we were off to see an exclusive sneak peak at CaJohn’s new location!!! The following is the first pictures available of the interior building before it’s remodel.

That’s a big place.

Going into the front.

Oops!

As CaJohn gave us the tour, he pointed out walls that were going to be knocked down and/or created, where his trophy room will be, the future kitchen, and most importantly…his office. To say this place is big would be understating the fact. It’s MASSIVE!

CaJohn shows us his best military march.

Have I mentioned this place is huge?

Future site of Passow’s Brewery?

The tour closed up and everyone headed back to CaJohn’s old building (can we officially call it that now?). I made a slight detour to hit up Elevator Brewery in downtown Columbus. Every year this brewery seems to escape me and I was determined to visit and sample every one of their beers this time.

Despite the rumors, this beautiful brewery is not going anywhere any time soon. Of interest was their IPA and Hefe but overall I was a little disappointed. All beer-ed up, I returned to the factory just in enough time to join the caravan to dinner. Where were we going? Why, to the second best Mexican restraint I’ve ever been to of course! Fiesta Jalisco!!!!!

We all dinned on the best they had to offer and sampled copious amounts of CaJohn’s newest sauce, Maelstrom Extreme. Part way through the meal, the hostess brought out our usual order of Chiles fritos (aka chiles diablos fitos, aka Jalapeno Gators). One plate was placed in-between CaJohn and I, and the showdown began. He picked up one, bit into it and said “Mild”. I did the same. Before we knew it we were 3 Jalapenos into the plate and playing Russian Roulette with the peppers. The second to last one was the hot one and caught us slightly off guard with a creeping heat.

Everyone said their last goodbyes and I started the two hour drive home. Full, burning, and slightly off kilter, I had found myself quite satisfied with a wonderful set of memories and a car full of reviews waiting to happen. 56 products, three t-shirts, and a truck sign was my final count from the weekend. Hope everyone enjoyed my review of all the events, I can’t wait until next year’s!

That’s a lot to review….

Finally, I get my face on one of CaJohn’s hot sauces.