Simple Times Mixers… Simply Natural, Simply Flavorful, Simply Fun!
When the folks at Simple Times Mixers out of Columbus, Ohio approached me about reviewing their new Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita Mixer, I was excited at the chance to explore a new product and, as I always say, “play with your food”!
They sent 2 very cool glass, recyclable quart jars of their new Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita mixer, and immediately, Robbie (my better half that encourages me in all things fine and fiery) and I quickly took a taste! First impressions? The flavors were clean and well, simple. And being all natural with a juice base and limited ingredients, there’s no artificial aftertastes that makes you kind of smack your lips and wonder what tastes a little weird!
I found the mixer very pineapple forward, as expected, but with a nice lime citrus note with just a hint of jalapeno. It wasn’t overly sweet, so their use of the organic cane sugar was judicious. I found the jalapeno very subtle and not really spicy, but here’s the not so simple part; Robbie found it very jalapeno forward with a nice spice. And so did our professional sommelier son and our other very wine and spirits savvy son and daughter-in-law. They have VERY sophisticated palates, but they’re not the true heat loving chilehead I am. So it may be simple in ingredients , but the flavors spoke to them individually according to their taste buds and sensitivities!
Using their suggestion card included with the mixer, we made a mocktail, a cocktail, a sparkling and, to try something a bit different, used it as the base for a margarita cake! Yes, a cake! More on that in a minute.
Mocktail – All we had was sparkling mineral water on hand, and not club soda. It stayed true to flavor with a little touch of fizz from the water. It didn’t do a whole lot for me but, if you’re not a drinker, you’d still enjoy it given the quality and balance of ingredients.
Sparkling – We did 2 sparklings. The first was a 50/50 mix of Simple Times and a light, sparkling orange wine. The sparkling orange definitely added a nice, fun, fruity element, and the alcohol and bubbles definitely made it pop and balanced the flavors. With something like this, think pool or beachside, or a nice, summer picnic on the lake!
The second sparkling was 50/50 with an Italian Prosecco. The result was a crisp, refreshing, flavorful drink where we thought the glera grape used in the wine subdued the pineapple and brought out more of the lime and spicy jalapeno notes. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. This would be excellent as the starter for a taco Tuesday or fajita Friday!
Cocktail – Okay, here’s the main event, right? When you buy a margarita mixer, what are you usually making? A Margarita, duh! We chose a light, blanco style tequila and used a lightly salt rimmed glass and for a Texas twist, a Tajin (a Mexican, citrusy spice) rimmed glass. And Simple Times did not disappoint. The flavors blended beautifully and presented a balanced, nuanced margarita with a light spice and, with no artificial ingredients in the mixer, there was nothing but love in the glass.
The icing on the cake (pun definitely intended) was using the mixer in a light margarita cake that we took to a pot luck dinner. It added some fun tropical flavor with the pineapple, and the spice from the jalapeno was subtle and in the background. The citrusy lime note was enhanced by some fresh lime zest and juice that made the pineapple more of a “zingy”, support player! The cake got a thumbs up from the pot luck crowd, so winner winner Simple Times dinner! Robbie and I both said we would enjoy trying it as a marinade, sorbet, etc etc, but alas, we had already used most of it experimenting!
So there you have it! Bottom line: Simple Times Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita Mixer is a tasty, flavorful, versatile choice for much more than just a margarita! And for the chileheads out there, it may not be the spiciest thing you drink or eat with, but we all say it’s more about the flavor than the heat….right?! So go to simpletimesmixers.com , check out @simpletimesmixers on FaceBook or Instagram, order some for yourself, and tell them we sent you. Why? Because we all know, ladies and gentlemen, that It’s a Fiery World!
A Sauce Only a Mother Could Love! Just Kidding! Everyone Will Love Tia Lupita!
When Hector Saldivar asked about sending me his brand new sauce to try, I have to admit I was busy and told him I only had time for a cursory review on Facebook or Instagram. But I was honest with him and he sent it anyway. And as you might have concluded, the impression it made was enough that here I am with a full on review! The box came quickly with 2 bottles of sauce, some stickers, and a purple hair roller! “Well that’s all kinds of random”, I thought when looking at the roller. Then I looked closer at the Tia Lupita label, then back at the roller, back at the stickers, then at the roller, then back to the sauce, then to the…..okay, enough! Turns out Hector named his sauce after his momma, Tia Lupita. And Lupita always had a purple roller in her hair! What a loving memory of his mom, and what a lasting tribute. So….it made me curious to learn more…Score a point for marketing! Then I went to the website and my heart was touched at the Tia Lupita backstory. Turns out that everyone calls Hector’s mom Tia (Spanish for Aunt) Lupita! And she would give Hector her old school, Old Mexico hot sauce to remind him of home after he moved to the states. And fast forward to everyone begging Hector to make them that sauce! And fast forward to Hector’s entrepreneurial spirit, and just like that, Tia Lupita was born! Born from a mother’s love for her son! (Can you tell I’m writing this around Mother’s Day?)
So, now for the quickie review – this sauce has instantly become one of my all time favorite Mexican style sauces! Holy Majolie is this stuff good! But I’m getting ahead of myself. If you’re super busy, then the review is over. Go forth and buy and enjoy! But if you want a little more detail, read on! 
The labeling is smart with a caricature of Hector’s mom on the label bearing her name, complete with signature roller. Nice graphics, easy to read, and the bottle is a short, 8oz squatty bottle, so plenty of product to enjoy in attractive packaging. Good descriptors on the side (non-GMO, Gluten Free, No Sugar, all natural, only 7 ingredients) and the website’s URL, www.tialupitahotsauce.com. The write-up on the label is fun, but a little long for a label and kinda hard to read with less than young eyes! I also enjoyed the hashtag lines, #makehotsaucegreatagain and #curlpower. Very catchy, but be careful making claims like “make hot sauce great again”! There’s lots of really great small batch, artisan hot sauces out there!
With only 7 ingredients, Tia Lupita tastes clean and authentic. Here’s the lucky 7: Red Chili Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Garlic, Salt, Black Pepper, Oregano, and Cumin. A simple list of ingredients but it provides a full depth of flavor. The type of peppers aren’t specified, but I asked and my suspicions were confirmed: Tia Lupita uses fully ripened jalapeno’s. The flavor, combined with the black pepper and toasted spices like cumin, reminds me of a nice, earthy Arbol Chile, and that’s a very good thing!
Now for the good part! This sauce just tastes old school Mexico! Deep, rich, earthy, full-bodied with a nice texture. It’s a smooth sauce, but not watery. In fact, it’s a thick sauce, with a consistency similar to ketchup. I enjoyed the thickness, as it didn’t run everywhere, stayed where I put it, and coated very nicely. I am very sodium conscious these days and the low sodium content allowed me to hit the shaker and dial in just how salty or not I wanted the sauce, which I thoroughly appreciated. Tia Lupita says it toasts its spices, and the earthy, smoky flavor profile was testimony to that, since they aren’t using a chipotle pepper. The black pepper shined through and makes a great statement, and the oregano and cumin paired really well and provided a nice brightness that screamed, “Viva Mexico”!!! Of course, I tried it on eggs, and it has become my current go to for that breakfast staple! I also used it on chicken, pork, and steak. It worked extremely well with all of the meats listed. Ironically, I haven’t made tacos yet, but I have no doubt it will be superb on any traditional Mexican/Hispanic food choice! And of course, let’s not forget pizza! This sauce will be stellar on a good pizza!!!! The thickness and the toasted spice blend with the garlic and oregano will add great value to a basic pizza sauce.
So given that this post will be released around Mother’s Day, it’s very appropriate to celebrate the awesomeness that is Tia Lupita, as Hector pays respect and homage to his mom, Lupita. She shared herself, her family treasures, and love for her son when she sent him sauce to remind him of home. What a sweet thought and visual image of family and the love that so often revolves around our kitchens and the food we eat! I can almost see Hector spending time with his mom talking about life, food, his messy room, childhood memories, etc. etc .etc. My Mother’s Day wish for everyone is that you all have a Lupita in your lives. A special someone-mother, aunt, friend, or whoever- who loves us enough to share and sacrifice their talents and treasures so that we can smile and be happy and experience a little taste of home and family through the culinary cue cards embedded in our hearts and brains! All while rockin’ a big ‘ol purple hair roller!
You can find Tia Lupita on the web at www.tialupitahotsauce.com and at a few lucky, select locations in and around Marin County, California! This is an outstanding hot sauce! One of the best new sauces I’ve tasted in a long time! So get your hot sauce on! Tell Hector I sent you! And tell your momma you love her! And thanks to Hector for allowing me to share a little bit of my world with you, because we all know, Ladies and Gentlemen, that It’s a Fiery World!
2017 NYC Hot Sauce Expo Screaming Mimi’s Announced
The Screaming Mi Mi Awards were announced this year at the 5th Annual NYC Hot Sauce Expo, held April 22 & 23 at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Mimi’s have beocome a coveted award, due in part to the limited categories and the world class caliber judges.
Congrats from It’s a Fiery World to all the winners!!!
Grand Champion Winner
CONGRATS To :
Dirty Dicks Hot Sauce
50 Case purchase from Peppers.com distribution
Hot Sauce featured in June subscription of Fuego Box
Full Page Ad in Chile Pepper Magazine
1 Year of Free banner advertising on the official Scott Roberts website: http://www.scottrobertsweb.com
Free 10 x 10 Booth at the 2018 NYC Hot Sauce Expo (or another High River presenting Expo)
A Big Time Congrats To All of the 2017 Winners!!
The panel of Judges that include celebrity chefs from CBS, FOX & Food Networks, writers from Bon Appetit Magazine, Rachael Ray Magazine, Food Network Magazine, Huffington Post, NYC Newspapers, NYC Food Bloggers, Sirius XM Radio, NYC Chefs and other industry professionals.
Screaming Mi Mi Winners
Asian Style
1st Place
BONMi NYC Kitchen
X BONfire
2nd Place
WUJU Hot Sauce
Extra Hot
3rd Place
Nam Prik
Nam Prik Chile Hot Sauce
Caribbean Style
1st Place
Burns & McCoy
Exitium
2nd Place
Demerara
Demerara Premium Hot Sauce
3rd Place
Lazy Soul
Lazy Soul Hot Sauce
Chipotle
1st Place
The Lucky Taco Imperio
Lucky Taco Chipotle Hot Sauce
2nd Place
Hoff & Pepper
Hoff’s Smoken Ghost
3rd Place
Jersey Barnfire
Smoked Ghost Taco
Fruit Based
1st Place
Eaglewingz
Pineapple Teriyaki
2nd Place
WUJU Hot Sauce
Original
3rd Place
Hell’s Kitchen Hot Sauce
Pepper Pastry
Fruit Based Hot
1st Place
Dirty Dicks
Dirty Dicks Hot Pepper Sauce
2nd Place
Caldo Sauce
Molton Melon Hot Sauce
3rd Place
Demerara Hot Sauce
Premium Hot Sauce
Habanero
1st Place
Yeak Inc.
Chruk
2nd Place
Towson Spices
Segen Sauce
3rd Place
World Famous Hot Sauce
LBI Love Potion Extra Garlic
Jalapeno
1st Place
Hellfire Hot Sauce
Gourmet Green
2nd Place
SoCal Hot Sauce
The Original Avocado SoCal Guac Sauce
3rd Place
Caldo Hot Sauce
Louisiana Style
1st Place
Hoff & Pepper
Hoff Sauce
2nd Place
Volcanic Peppers
Chocolate Lighting
3rd Place
Handsome Devils Co.
De Arbol
Pepper Blend Hot
1st Place
Lucky Dog Hot Sauce
Black Label
2nd Place
Kitchen Garden Farm
Ghost Pepper Sriracha
3rd Place
Purple Pam Hot Sauce
Kiss of Death
Pepper Blend Mild
1st Place
Jersey Barnfire
Garden State Green
2nd Place
Hellfire Hot Sauce
Gourmet Green
3rd Place
Jersey Barnfire
Black Garlic
Reaper Pepper
1st Place
Elijah’s Xtreme Gourmet Sauces
Reaper Sauce
2nd Place
Scotty O’ Hotty
Reaper de Muerte
3rd Place
Puckerbutt Pepper Company
Purgatory
XXX
1st Place
Grim Reaper Foods
The Raven Hot Sauce
2nd Place
Primo’s Peppers
Swampadelic Sauce
3rd Place
Cobra Chilli
Fever Chilli Paste
Chicken Wing
1st Place
Defcon Sauces
Defcon Condition #3
2nd Place
Culley’s Hot Sauce
Culley’s Buffalo Wing Sauce
3rd Place
Bonfatto’s Artisan Sauces
Fire In The Hole
Spicy BBQ
1st Place
Culley’s
Rib N Chik’N
2nd Place
Texas Rib Rangers
Hot BBQ Sauce
3rd Place
Texas Rib Rangers
TRR Spicy BBQ Sauce
Salsa
1st Place
Kitchen Garden Farm
Tomatillo Salsa
2nd Place
Salsa Del Diablo
Satan’s Tears
3rd Place
Cajun Tex Salsa
5 Pepper Extreme Hickory Smoked Salsa
Best Label Artwork
1st Place
Hoff & Pepper
Hoff’s Smoken Ghost Sauce
2nd Place
Clamlube Brand Hot Sauce
Sea Ghost
3rd Place
Lucky Dog
Year of The Dog
National Grand Champion
Dirty Dicks
Dirty Dicks Hot Pepper Sauce
Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce is out to Change the World and Burn it Up!
Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce – Original Red sports the image of creator Dexter Holland!
When you first pick up a bottle of Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce, you see a fun image of a sombrero and sunglass wearing, very white (thus the Gringo part of the name, I assume), blonde, pistol packing, bandolier draped character carefully guarding the contents. What you may not know is that is the image of Gringo Bandito founder Dexter Holland, front man for the punk rock group The Offspring! What you may also not know is that Dexter developed and founded his sauce company in 2004 because it would “be cool” to have a hot sauce, and because people who are into hot sauce are passionate! Before taking the first taste, I already like this guy! Luckily, I also liked his sauces!
There are three main sauces in the Gringo Bandito lineup- the original red sauce that features habaneros, jalapenos, and red Japanese chile peppers (more on this later), and two offspring sauces – a green sauce with habs, serranos and “more” peppers, and a Super Hot sauce with scorpion and jolokia (ghost) peppers. According to their website, there are limited release private reserve sauces that appear annually and a taco seasoning coming out in 2017. The original red sauce is a nice, smooth blend of the habs, jalapenos and the darker, earthier, “chile arbolish” Japanese chile, which is actually a native of Mexico’s Jalisco region. The Japanese Chile is a well known player in Asian dishes, especially Szechuan! How’s that for cultural diversity! With a nice front end playful heat, the red sauce makes very good use of black pepper and spices to enhance the earthiness and complexity of this signature sauce. I’d say it has a low to medium heat and does justice to eggs, pizza, tacos, fish, chicken, black beans, and I’m sure lots and lots of other things. Given the complexity of flavors, it’s almost like Dexter used the recipe for some sort of doctoral research in Molecular Biology!
Next up is the green sauce, which pairs a mid palate pop of habanero pepper with the bright, citrusy front end annum style heat of the Serrano’s, and, according to the label, adds in the mysterious “more” peppers. What peppers are those? I really couldn’t discern any specific type, so we’ll just let more be less. And while this sauce has a light green appearance that isn’t the most appealing to me, it takes off on a mojo-induced, solo green sauce flight around the world, landing right in the center of my flavor runway! I loved this sauce!!! So much I could see myself getting on a private jet, flying to the Isle of Man, skydive down, and telling the first person I see that I give Gringo Bandito’s Green Sauce my Fiery World stamp of approval!!!!!
Gringo Bandito founder and punk rock band Offspring front man, Dexter Holland
The last entry in this Rock trio of sauces is the “ridiculously rambunctious” (straight from the label) Super Hot! Made with Scorpion and Jolokia, or Ghost, peppers, each known for big hits of heat and flavor, I have to say I was genuinely surprised, as I was fully expecting some super charged, tubular, “nitro” induced blast of heat! However, the Super Hot came across my tongue in a wave of balanced flavor, heat, and spice! It was almost like I had just experienced the Housewives of Orange County- richly flavored, plenty spicy and wildly playful, but still grounded in suburbia!
All in all, of the two traditionally styled hot sauces, I have to give the valedictorian award to the original red sauce! I liked them both, but I especially liked the way Dexter used the blend of the earthy Japanese chile with the habanero, jalapeno, black pepper, and other spices. Don’t get me wrong-the Super Hot was also very good, and it had plenty of good heat that made you pay close attention to the ride. I compare it like this-You’re expecting that knock you off your surfboard big wave of heat, and instead it gives a fun, tricked out skateboard ride through the streets of Orange County! But the green sauce, pukey color aside, was a solid home run for me! I really, really liked it and I’m super picky when it comes to green, verde style sauces.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk a little about labeling, since that’s what draws people to a product on a store shelf. According to some random internet sources, Dexter’s choice of label art was a way to pay a bit of homage to a staple of the Mexican sauce world, Tapatio, which displays a similar image, albeit not the very blonde, Dutch looking white guy with punked blonde hair! Gringo Bandito sports a smart, clean, visually appealing label, each flavor with it’s own label color, making it easy to spot on a store shelf. And the witty banter they placed in the contents and nutrition info certainly brought a smile and soft chuckle to this fiery food aficionado. Now found nationwide in several thousand grocery stores, and online at www.gringobandito.com, Dexter Holland’s labor of passion and love is doing quite well for itself.
The Gringo Bandito trio of sauces adorning my egg white omelet! So so good!
So there you have it! A punk rock inspired, three piece band of sauces – each instrument with a unique sound – kind of like a Gibson and an Ibanez, but when connected with a Marshall stack, they come together as a finely tuned symphony of flavor, spice, and heat. El Sabor Gringo Bandito is highly recommended by this blogger and reviewer , and I’m sure it will bring a smile to any hot sauce loving family of Offspring! And never, ever forget, ladies and gentlemen – It’s a Fiery World!
It's a Fiery World 