Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
California Is Getting Its First Hot Sauce Expo This Weekend
Plenty of peppers (via Facebook)
()
For those of us who splash, nay, pour hot sauce on nearly everything we eat, this weekend is going to test our devotion to and endurance for our favorite fiery condiment.
The first annual California Hot Sauce Expo is burning up in Long Beach on July 11th and 12th, and there's going to be 45 hot sauce makers—including many local ones—vying for your taste buds. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, hot sauce lovers and self-proclaimed aficionados will have a chance to sample as many of the smoky, peppery, sweet and spicy sauces that they can handle. In addition to tastings there will also be a variety of spicy eating challenges, including tacos, burritos, pizza, chicken wings, an intriguing ramen noodle challenge, and the Carolina Reaper pepper challenge (currently the Guinness World Record-title holder for hottest sauce).
Los Angeles will be well represented at the expo by a number of local hot sauce purveyors, including El Machete, Jabberwocky Foods, and Tabanero, who got their start selling from the back of a truck, as well as Hot Licks from Long Beach. Other hot sauce pros will be coming from far and wide, including South Carolina, Long Island, Washington, and even New Zealand.
The weekend-long event will also feature other competitions for attendees, including a salsa-making challenge, guacamole-making face-off, and a hot sauce-making battle. And because a cold beverage is always welcome after a fiercely hot tasting, there will also be margarita and bloody Mary mixdowns, as well as tons craft beer, including Golden Road and Angel City Brewery from L.A.
Support for LAist comes from
General admission is $10 in advance, $15 on the day. Or you could go with the craft beer package for $50, which includes drink tokens, a bottle of hot sauce and a t-shirt. And if you're a supreme hot sauce lord, there's the $100 VIP package with a special area for complimentary cocktails, food pairings and beer.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist