Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce

The famous Anchor Bar in Buffalo NY (birthplace of the original Buffalo style hot wings) has heeded the requests from customers asking for their blue cheese dipping sauce, and it is now finally available for you to enjoy at home! Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce is THE sauce you need for dipping hot wings (and celery and carrot sticks too) and enjoying an authentic Buffalo wing dining experience. Rich and creamy, with chunks of real blue cheese, and made in Buffalo NY using the Anchor Bar's own recipe, this bleu cheese dipping sauce perfectly complements the peppery heat and tang of Buffalo wings -- and will provide blissful relief if you're chowing down on "suicide wings" or other ultra-hot culinary creations. In fact, I can't imagine trying to eat hot wings made with Anchor Bar Suicidal Wing Sauce or DEFCON 1 Extreme Heat Wing Sauce without a side of Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese on hand. But when I'm not snacking on chicken wings, I still sometimes get the hankerin' for a zesty blue cheese dip for other snacks like potato chips, pretzels or raw veggies. At such times, Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Dipping Sauce satisfies my cravings, and I bet it'll hit the spot with you, too! Available now from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: We've now expanded our popular Hot Wings Gift Set to include a jar of Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce, in addition to the 4 tasty varieties of wing sauce in that gift set!

Olio & Spices Barbecue Fig Sauce

Big and bold, with a subtle smokiness, and delightfully sweetened by mediterranean red figs, Olio & Spices Barbecue Fig Sauce is an exotic and enchanting BBQ sauce from Israel that's sure to please young and old alike. The full-bodied texture is enhanced with little chunks of fresh figs, resulting in a rich barbecue sauce that will cling to your food and caramelize beautifully on the grill or in the oven. The peppery zip and touch of hickory smoke are the perfect counterpoint to the sweet fruit. This sauce, which is almost like pourable jam for your BBQ, pairs nicely with robust meats including ribs, roasts and game, and also with chicken, turkey and waterfowl. I like to baste with this sauce during the final 20 to 15 minutes of grilling or broiling, and it also works well when slow-cooking in the oven or in a crockpot.

Olio & Spices Fig Barbecue Sauce is more than a grilling and finishing sauce, however. I personally love it poured over a block of softened cream cheese as a simple but delicious appetizer to enjoy with crackers or pita chips. It also complements chicken liver pate, baked brie and other cheeses. And you can feel good while enjoying this gourmet treat: Like all Olio & Spices sauces, the Barbecue Fig Sauce is all-natural and Kosher Parev OU. If you're watching your sodium, you'll be pleased to know that one serving (1 Tbs) has only 44mg of sodium! Buy Olio & Spices Barbecue Fig Sauce at the Carolina Sauce Company online store.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Trinidad Extra Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce

If you enjoy fiery Caribbean hot sauces and you're looking for one that has something extra in the flavor department, then Trinidad Extra Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce is the hot sauce for you. The primary ingredient is habanero peppers, ensuring a seriously hot burn. But instead of the typical Caribbean hot sauce base of vinegar & carrots, Trinidad hot sauce has a much more satisfying flavor thanks to a variety of vegetables including onions, green peppers and celery, plus ginger, mustard, and special herbs and spices that are unique to Trinidad & Tobago. This superb hot sauce has won numerous national awards including Best Hot Pepper Sauce at the National Fiery Foods Show, and the honors are well-deserved. Use Trinidad Extra Hot Habanero Sauce as a table sauce to spice up any dish, or add it to marinades, chili, stews and other recipes. Of course, it's a great way to add flavor and fire to traditional Caribbean foods -- and the label has easy recipes for you to try in your kitchen. If you're counting carbs, you'll be pleased to know that this hot sauce has NO carbs at all. And it's pretty low in sodium, too, with only 70 mg per serving. Buy Trinidad Extra Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, where it's currently on sale!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce

Far East meets Middle East in this remarkably delicious teriyaki sauce from the inspired chef who created the Olio & Spices product line in his family restaurant in the Israeli countryside. Pomegranate juice is all the craze in health food circles, and Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce adds a healthy splash of this wonder juice to classic teriyaki sauce. The result is a taste-bud tantalazing, subtly-fruited and robustly-flavored marinade and grilling sauce that's ideal for roast beef, steaks, ribs, venison and other game meats, as well as roasted chicken, roasted vegetables, and stir-fry dishes. Unlike mass-produced grocery store teriyaki sauces that tend to be overly sweet and loaded with artificial ingredients, MSG and thickeners, Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki is all-natural and made with the finest mediterranean ingredients. I love playing with this sauce (and the other Olio & Spices products) in my kitchen, adding a splash to soups and stews for a flavor boost, using it as a dressing for steamed and chilled vegetables, and making mouthwatering marinated and grilled eggplant, summer squash, and roasted root vegetables.

Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce is imported from Israel, and is Kosher Parev OU. You can order it online from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce

Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce is a local favorite in Wilmington, NC, and is the creation of a hot dog vendor in that coastal town. This spicy, savory mustard is not your average, everyday yellow condiment that often gets slopped onto a hot dog or sandwich without much thought. No, this unique mustard starts off with a sophisticated dijon base, and then enhances it with smoky chipotle, zingy ginger, sweet pineapple and honey (but don't worry, this isn't a sweet mustard), and a dash of habanero pepper for a phenomenal flavor burst that will transform even a lowly hot dog into a culinary masterpiece. Well, ok, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.... but not much! Trolly Stop Hot Mustard is seriously flavorful and a sheer delight on all sorts of sausages, wursts, cold cuts, sandwiches, corn dogs, and anywhere else you use a regular mustard. The results are fabulous when you stir it into your favorite potato salad, or add it to your deviled eggs recipe. Previously virtually impossible to find other than at the Wilmington hot dog stand, you can now order Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company online store -- and it's currently on sale!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Bubba's Special Sauce

Bubba's Special Sauce is a salsa/hot sauce hybrid that's the sort of condiment you'd make at home if you had access to ripe, garden-fresh tomatoes and peppers, and the time to cook from scratch. The texture is closer to that of a spoonable smooth salsa rather than a thin, pourable hot sauce -- and Bubba's Special Sauce comes in a wide-mouth jar that's perfect for spooning out the sauce. There's no harsh vinegar edge like you find in ordinary grocery store hot sauces -- instead, the pleasant acidity comes from lemon juice. Cayenne peppers and dried habanero pepper powder supply the fiery heat that rates a medium-hot on my taste buds: fierce enough to deserve the name "hot sauce", but not so extreme so as to overpower the flavors of your food.

You can enjoy Bubba's Special Sauce straight from the jar with chips like you would a salsa, or spoon it onto burgers and egg dishes as a spicy alternative to ketchup. Similarly, you can dip french fries and onion rings in it, and use it as a condiment for all sorts of grilled and fried foods. Bubba's Special Sauce also serves as a convenient and spicy replacement for pureed or diced tomatoes in recipes for chili, stews, meatloaf and other ground meat dishes. In fact, as I type this post Greg is preparing a crockpot-full of his scrumptious venison chili in which he's substituted about half a jar of Bubba's Special Sauce for some of the tomatoes in his recipe. I can't wait to try the results tomorrow, after it cooks all night! You can find Bubba's Special Sauce in the Hot Sauce section of the Carolina Sauce Company online store.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

"Why Donate to Operation Sauce Drop?"

Operation Sauce Drop is a nonprofit program run by the Carolina Sauce Company to send free gift boxes of hot sauce and BBQ sauce to our troops serving abroad. To date, Operation Sauce Drop has shipped over 220 free gift boxes to our brave servicemen and women stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations far from home. Last week, Operation Sauce Drop received another donation from one of our regular supporters who has donated several times. I was curious to find out what motivated him to keep donating what he could, whenever he could, even during tough economic times. So, I asked him, "Why do you contribute to Operation Sauce Drop?" Here is his reply, which he has kindly allowed me to share with my readers:

"I guess what appeals to me about this program is that it isn't being run by some deep pockets corporation. Operation Sauce Drop is just one small family-run business trying to do the right thing for our troops. There are no "administrative fees" deducted from the donations. All the money goes directly to the troops. Judging by the responses from service personnel who have received a package, it is obvious that a few dollars goes a long way towards making a huge difference in their quality of life. It is amazing what a little taste of home can do for morale. Yes, money is tight right now-- but at least nobody is shooting at me! If I can help make even ONE serviceperson's day, it's worth the sacrifice of a few dollars."

--B.B., Sonoma CA

The average cost for us to purchase and ship a gift box of sauce for a service person is about $20. Because gift box requests have exceeded donations, we currently have a waiting list of troops who have signed up for a free box of hot sauce or barbecue sauce. If you would like to send a free gift box of sauce to our deployed troops, you can donate to Operation Sauce Drop using PayPal, by credit card, or even by mailing a check to the Carolina Sauce Company (details on the main Operation Sauce Drop page). The Carolina Sauce Company will MATCH your donation, so your dollars will go twice as far. You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, thanks to a generous product donation from the folks at Pepper Dog Salsa. And as always, please don't hesitate to contact us by email or phone if you have any questions, or would like more information on Operation Sauce Drop (you can also search this blog for many older posts about the program).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Closed on 10/22/08

The Carolina Sauce Company will be closed on Wednesday, October 22nd, as we meet with current and potential vendors who are sampling and displaying their products at the North Carolina State Fair this week. This is our chance to spend time with some of the manufacturers whose products we sell on the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and also an opportunity to research and taste new North Carolina products that we might want to add to our store next year, and to check out new food fads as well as possible non-edible North Carolina products to add to our store. Although our office and warehouse will be closed tomorrow and no one will be available to answer the phone or emails, you will still be able to place orders online. You can also leave us a message or an email, and we'll get back to you once we re-open for business. We'll be open for business as usual on Thursday, October 23rd. We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Final Week: Trick or Treat for Free Sauce!

Just a friendly reminder that there are only 5 days left in the Carolina Sauce Company free sauce giveaway! In the spirit of Halloween, we're giving out free sauce samples with every order that says "Trick or Treat" in the Comment section of the online order form (or to every customer who says "Trick or Treat" when ordering by phone). Every "trick or treat" order is guaranteed at least 1 free mini-sample of sauce, and some will receive full-size free bottles of sauce, as explained in the latest Carolina Sauce Company Newsletter. For your convenience, I've copied the details below:

Every order is guaranteed at least 1 free mini-sample, but the bigger your order, the more different free samples you'll get:

*Get 2 different free mini-samples for orders of over $20 in products
*Get 3 different free mini-samples for orders of over $30 in products
*Get 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $40 in products
*Get 1 full-size free sample AND 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $50 in products
*Get 2 full-size free samples AND 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $100 in products

(Note: If your order is a gift to be shipped to a different person, please specify if you want the gift recipient to receive the free sample(s), OR if you want us to email you a special coupon so that you can receive the free sample(s) the next time you place an order to be shipped to yourself)

Just remember to include the words "Trick or Treat" in the comment section of your online order, or say "trick or treat" when ordering by phone (919-286-1080). But don't delay: This special Halloween giveaway ends this Thursday, October 23rd!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: To help you get in the Halloween spirit, here's a collection of sauces guaranteed to scare the tastebuds off even the bravest tongues: our Scary Sauces Gift Set -- say "trick or treat" with your order from the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and you'll also get 3 free mini-samples just for ordering this gift set!

Venison with Roasted Vegetables and Citrus-Cranberry Sauce

If you're a hunter or have access to venison, you'll want to try this recipe that features fall flavors. It's so good, it's worth the time and effort (and it really doesn't take that long: 20 or 30 mins preptime, overnight to marinate, and just over an hour to cook). If you're cutting the zest off a fresh lemon and orange, make sure you use fruit that has not been coated in wax (scrub the fruit well under warm running water, then dry thoroughly before zesting).

Ingredients
Approx. 1 1/2 to 2 lbs venison tenderloin or backstrap, cut into 1 inch thick medallions
12 oz. small red potatoes, unpeeled & cut into quarters
2 red onions, cut into wedges
4 carrots, peeled, cut in half crosswise and then quartered lengthwise
4 Tbs Mama T's Olive Oil Vinaigrette
2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely shredded
Zest of 1 orange, cut into very fine strips
Juice of 1 orange
Zest of 1 lemon, cut into very fine strips
Juice of 1 lemon
4 Tbs whole-berry jellied cranberry sauce
6 Tbs port
salt & pepper
Parsley for garnish (optional)

Place the venison medallions, potatoes, onions and carrots in a resealable plastic bag, pour in Mama T's Olive Oil Vinaigrette, seal the bag and shake to coat all pieces. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 400F. Remove the venison from the plastic bag, then pour the marinade and vegetables into a roasting pan (save the marinating bag) and place the pan in oven. Return the venison medallions to the marinating bag, add a little more Mama T's Olive Oil Vinaigrette, reseal bag and return to refrigerator while vegetables are roasting. Roast for 1 hour until the vegetables are browned and fork-tender.

If using a fresh orange and lemon to zest and juice, go ahead and prepare them while the vegetables are roasting (use a very sharp knife to remove the zest from the fruit, making sure to avoid the white pith, and then cut the zest into very fine strips; then juice the lemon and orange). Place the juice and zest from the lemon and orange into a small saucepan and add the ginger, cranberry sauce and port. Stir to combine and bring to a boil on the stove, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly. Keep warm over low heat.

Preheat broiler or grill. Remove venison medallions from marinating bag (discard bag) and season to taste with salt & pepper. Broil or grill to desired doneness. Serve the venison with the citrus-cranberry sauce and roasted vegetables, and garnish with parsley if desired. Serves 4.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Shoogs' BBQ Sauce is Back!

Newsflash: After "going missing" for several months, Shoog's Authentic NC Barbeque Sauce is once again available, and you can get it now at the Carolina Sauce Company! This vinegar-based barbecue sauce is true to its name: tart, tangy and peppery, with just a touch of tomato to add a little more substance and tame a bit of the sharp edge from the vinegar. Ideal for pulled pork barbecue the way it's made in eastern North Carolina, Shoogs BBQ Sauce also makes a delicious marinade for chicken and meats, and you can splash it on your collards or mustard greens, or even on fried okra or hushpuppies for some vinegar tang. Heck, I know someone who splashes it on crisply fried fish! Shoog's BBQ Sauce will be delivered at our warehouse this coming Monday, and you can go ahead and order it now. We're going to do our best to keep it in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, but just in case something happens and it disappears on us again, be sure to order an extra bottle while you can!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Sa-Mokin Barbeque Sauce

A while back, I wrote about Greg's new & improved recipe for smoky baked beans and mentioned that he had used a new barbecue sauce under consideration for the Carolina Sauce Company online store. Well, that unnamed sauce passed all our requirements for new products with flying colors, and I'm pleased to announce that Sa-Mokin Barbeque Sauce is now available at the Carolina Sauce Company! Winner of top awards at state competitions and recently finishing 7th among dozens of commercial entries at the prestigious American Royal National Barbeque Championship in Kansas City, the Sa-mokin Barbeque Sauce we sell is the original championship recipe. The flavor is bold, rich and hearty, with palate-pleasing layers of sweetness, smokiness, tang and peppery spice. The consistency is thick, making it ideal for slathering on ribs (pork or beef) and other meat cuts for the grill. And yes, it also makes killer barbecue chicken, and even tastes good on grilled portobello mushrooms. In addition to being a delicious flavor booster for baked beans, we like to use Sa-Mokin Barbeque Sauce in meatloaf and hamburger recipes. This winner of a sauce is currently on sale, so you have no excuse not to try it today!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mama T's Mesquite Seasoning & Rub

Mama T's Mesquite Seasoning & Rub may be made on the North Carolina Outer Banks, but the flavor comes straight from the Old West! Made with natural mesquite flavoring, garlic and a secret blend of spices, this robust, smoky seasoning is ideal for rubbing on steaks, roasts, ribs and other hearty cuts of beef and pork. It's also wonderful for seasoning lamb, venison and even chicken. If you don't have a charcoal grill or a smoker but you crave real wood-fired flavor, or if the weather is too cold or nasty to cook outdoors, this seasoning will impart the fire-grilled flavors you desire. Mama T's Mesquite Flavored Seasoning & Rub comes in a generous, 68-serving bottle, making it a great bargain -- plus, it's currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Savory Zucchini Skillet

If your garden is still producing zucchini, or if you can get it from your local market, then here's an easy side dish that's full of robust flavor! The ingredient quantities are flexible, so adjust to your tastes -- and to the quantities you have on hand or the number of folks you want to feed. My mom (who's Cuban, like Mama T), used to make a very similar dish using her own blend of herbs and spices, many of which are also in Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning.

Ingredients
3 or 4 medium zucchini squash, sliced into 1/4" rounds
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bell pepper, sliced into thin rings or strips
1 can (14.5 oz ) chopped tomatoes, NOT drained
Olive oil, NOT extra-virgin
Optional: 1 fresh hot pepper (jalapeno or cayenne work well, you can de-seed if desired), minced
Optional: Splash of white wine
Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning

Pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet and heat to medium or medium-high (careful not to let it smoke). Saute onion, garlic and pepper (including hot pepper, if using) until onion is translucent. Add zucchini and continue to saute until zucchini begins to soften. Add tomatoes with liquid from can, a splash of white wine, and a healthy sprinkling of Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning, and stir to combine well. Continue to saute, allowing some of the liquid to evaporate and all the vegetables to soften and cook through. While it's cooking, give it a taste to check for balance, and add more Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning if desired. Serve hot as a side dish, or over cooked rice as a vegetarian main dish.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Announcing Castle Sauce - Buy It Now!!!

Newsflash: The "Mystery Sauce" is revealed! If you are one of the hundreds (if not thousands) of folks who have been missing their Boar & Castle Sauce, then this announcement is for you. Thomas Gourmet Foods has answered your prayers by carefully reproducing a classic sauce that's no longer available. The Carolina Sauce Company is pleased -- no, thrilled -- to announce the debut of Castle Sauce! Now pasteurized for shelf stability, Castle Sauce delivers the same delicious taste that so many people have enjoyed for half a century on their steaks, hamburgers, fries, chicken, roasts and meatloaf. Use Castle Sauce for seasoning, marinating, cooking, dipping, and slathering on your favorite sandwiches. As fans of the original know, the flavor is sophisticated enough for steaks, but also so food-friendly that kids love it too.

Castle Sauce will arrive this week at the Carolina Sauce Company, and we expect demand to be tremendous, which is why we are already accepting orders and letting you buy Castle Sauce now. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The fastest way to get your order in the queue is to order online, but you may also call us at 919-286-1080 to place an order. Please understand that we only have 1 phone line, and it'll transfer to our voicemail when we're already helping another customer by phone. So for fastest service, visit the Carolina Sauce Company secure website and order your Castle Sauce online now!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning & Rub

Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning & Rub reminds me of the savory herbs and spices my Mom uses when cooking some of her delicious Cuban recipes, especially roast chicken, pork chops, and sauteed vegetable side dishes. This comes as no surprise to me, because both my Mom and Mama T were born and raised in Cuba and are almost the same exact age. And both ladies sure can cook up some good food! Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning is an all-natural blend of oregano, parsley and several other herbs with garlic, onion, salt and other savory ingredients plus a bit of citrusy orange peel, producing a rich palette of flavors that complements chicken and other poultry, fish and seafood, pork, vegetables and salads. Use it as a rub and marinade seasoning, or sprinkle it generously on food while cooking. I whisk it into extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lime juice to make a quick and easy vinaigrette for tossed salads and steamed veggies like cauliflower or broccoli. Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning does not contain any chile peppers or red or black pepper, so there's no heat to burn more sensitive palates -- but even if you're a serious chilihead like I am, you won't be left missing the fire, because there's plenty of aromatic herbal flavor and pleasantly pungent garlic (without the bite of fresh garlic). There are no carbs, either, making it an ideal seasoning or dry rub for people on a low carb diet.

This versatile, North Carolina-made but Cuban-inspired all-purpose natural seasoning comes in a generous, 62-serving bottle (a serving is 1 teaspoon), so you really get your money's worth. And best of all, Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning & Rub is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Missing Boar & Castle Sauce

If you miss your Boar & Castle Sauce, you're not alone. Here is what faithful fans of this oldtime steak sauce are saying when they write to us requesting to be added to our Boar & Castle Sauce waiting list:

“We would love to notified if Boar and Castle sauce ever returns to the market. We spent many a date at the Boar and Castle restaurant when I was at UNC and my wife to be was at WC in the late '50s and early '60s. Great, great memories and a GREAT GREAT sauce.” --B. & L.E.

“I wanted to be put on the list to be notified if they start making Boar & Castle Sauce again. I live in Wilmington, NC and they don’t have it here so I have my mom to send it to me from Greensboro now she is having a hard time finding it and now I know why. My grandson loves it and he asked for more and now I will have to tell him the bad news.” --T.P., Wilmington NC

“Please! Notify me if this awesome sauce ever becomes available again. I've been a fan since the late 60's when I went to college at UNCG, right down the street from the Boar & Castle itself. I was so distraught when the sauce became unavailable after I finished my last bottle that I washed it out and saved the bottle just for the memories!” --D.K.

“Please add me to your email list for any updates on the status of Boar and Castle sauce. We are so sad that we can't get it anymore. My parents grew up in Greensboro and they have fond memories of hanging out at the original restaurant when they were teens in the late 50's. I do remember them taking us to eat at the drive-in when I was a kid and I do remember when it was torn down. Everytime we eat the sauce, it's just like a trip back in time. Thanks for spreading the word to get the sauce back.” --L.L.

“Unfortunately, I got to your web site too late!!!!! I was a student at UNC-G in the 60's and had my share of buttered steak sandwiches and castle sauce with fries.....yum! Please let me know if it becomes available again - we bought it until several years ago when it seemed to disappear - frantic searches of all local grocery stores has yielded none!” --M.A.S., Hillsborough NC

If you'd like to be added to our Boar & Castle waiting list in order to be notified if the sauce returns, simply drop us an email at "salesATcarolinasauceDOTcom", or give us a call at 919-286-1080. Feel free to share your Boar & Castle memories when you email us, or leave it as a comment to this blog. And stay tuned to this blog, because I might have a special announcement in the VERY near future!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Mystery Sauce: Could It Be Back???

Out of the blue, I had a very interesting phone call a few weeks ago about a sorely-missed product and the possibility of its return. Soon afterwards, I received my promised sample of sauce, to taste and evaluate. The sample bore no label and did not come with a list of ingredients -- this allowed me to taste the sauce without any preconceptions from an ingredient list. I photographed the bottle before opening it, and the photo appears on the left. I did notice that the color and consistency of the sauce in the bottle sure did look familiar, reminding me of an old favorite....

I opened the bottle, and like the "trained professional" that I am, I first sniffed it (mmmmmmm, sure does smell familiar!), and then I poured some onto a spoon (yep, that's the right consistency). Finally, the all-important taste test: A slurp from the spoon to get the "straight" flavor (yummmmmmm!), and then a bite of a burger slathered with the mystery sauce....... I closed my eyes and smiled with satisfaction, and thought, "it's been a long time, baby!" The familiar flavor brought back memories, with its mustard-tomato base and a rich, subtle tang that just begged, "pour me on a steak!"

Could it really be? Could this be the return of an old friend? Might this be what so many North Carolinians have been waiting to experience again? If you miss Boar & Castle Sauce, then stay tuned to this blog for more information in the VERY near future!!!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

P.S.: If you're not already on our Boar & Castle waiting list and would like to be added, please email us at "salesATcarolinasauceDOTcom" or call us at 919-286-1080.

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: Free Sauce with Every Order!

Two Weeks Only – Free Sauce with Every Order!
No tricks - just treats, to help you celebrate this Halloweeen! Simply place an order with the Carolina Sauce Company in any amount, now through October 23rd, and enter the words "Trick or Treat" in the comment section, and we'll send you a free mini-sample of sauce! Every order is guaranteed at least 1 free mini-sample, but the bigger your order, the more different free samples you'll get:

*Get 2 different free mini-samples for orders of over $20 in products
*Get 3 different free mini-samples for orders of over $30 in products
*Get 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $40 in products
*Get 1 full-size free sample AND 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $50 in products
*Get 2 full-size free samples AND 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $100 in products
(Note: If your order is a gift to be shipped to a different person, please specify if you want the gift recipient to receive the free sample(s), OR if you want us to email you a special coupon so that you can receive the free sample(s) the next time you place an order to be shipped to yourself)

Just remember to include the words "Trick or Treat" in the comment section of your online order (or say "trick or treat" when ordering by phone) between now and October 23rd. If you don't say "Trick or Treat", we won't know to send your free sauce, so don't forget! And don't delay - this special lasts TWO WEEKS ONLY, and ends on October 23rd. To help you get in the Halloween spirit, here's a collection of sauces guaranteed to scare the tastebuds off even the bravest tongues: our Scary Sauces Gift Set -- say "trick or treat" with your order, and you'll also get 3 free mini-samples just for ordering this gift set!

Check Out Our Newest Products!
We've been busy adding another batch of tasty new sauces and seasonings at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. Plus, just in time for hunting season, we've created a special Hunter's Gift Set featuring sauces and seasonings that are perfect for venison, dove, quail, rabbit, boar and other game. Here are all the new products we've added since our last newsletter:

Hot Sauces
*Louisiana Swamp Scum: Perfect for Halloween, this creepy, dark green hot sauce really does look like swamp scum - but its mysteriously smoky and subtly sweet flavor and mild-medium heat are terrific on anything that could use some zestiness!

BBQ & Cooking Sauces
*Dem Bonz BBQ Sauce: Made in North Carolina and featuring a pleasantly sweet, slightly tangy and gently spicy tomato & vinegar base, this rich and tasty sauce will stick to your ribs and anything else you grill, plus it's fabulous in baked beans, meatloaf, and more -- and it's ON SALE!
*Olio & Spices Red Wine Onion Sauce: Made in Israel, this gem of a gourmet cooking sauce combines onions with young cabernet, black pepper and brown sugar for a thick, condiment-like sauce that is sweet and savory, caramelizes beautifully on chicken & meats, and pairs nicely with cheese & crackers as an appetizer. It's all natural and Kosher Parev OU, too!

Rubs & Seasonings
*Mama T's Mesquite Seasoning, bringing real western flavor to your steaks, roasts, chicken and more, and it's ON SALE!
*Mama T's Tropical Island Seasoning: Inspired by the flavors of Cuban cuisine, this savory blend of herbs and spices is wonderful on chicken, seafood, pork and veggies, and it's ON SALE!
*Smokin' Cole's Original BBQ Dry Rub, created by a Grand Champion Pitmaster, this sweet and salty rub will give you succulent ribs with bold and zesty flavor
*Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning, from the heart of Cajun country, this peppery spice blend is salt-free but flavor-full!

Wing Sauces
*DEFCON Wing Sauces: Winners of multiple awards including several Golden Chiles and Scovies, these rich, peppery sauces are made with real cream and aged cayennes, and take Buffalo style wings to a whole new level. DEFCON sauces come in Mild, Medium and Extreme Heat.
*Tony's Birdland Wing Sauces, from Tony's Birdland Restaurant & Pizzeria in Rochester NY, are sweet and tangy sauces that make delicious wings, plus they're great for stir-fry dishes, as dipping sauces, for glazing chicken and ribs, and more. They come in Mild, Hot, and Sweet & Sour

Buy Salsa, & Our Troops Get Free Sauce!
Thanks to the generosity of the makers of Pepper Dog Salsa, you can now shop to support Operation Sauce Drop! Every time you buy a jar of Pepper Dog Mild Salsa or Pepper Dog Salsa Verde from the Carolina Sauce Company, the ENTIRE product price will go towards Operation Sauce Drop, our non-profit project to send FREE gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed abroad. We've shipped 219 free gift boxes to date, and the troops really appreciate the gift boxes, as you can see from our feedback page. You can also donate to Operation Sauce Drop and Carolina Sauce Company will match 100% of ALL donations received. As of this writing, we have a waiting list of 50 servicemen and women who have signed up for a free gift box (some have been waiting for months), so any and all donations or purchases of Pepper Dog Salsa will immediately help us send more free sauce to our troops. And here's another Halloween treat for you: From now until October 23rd, if you say "trick or treat" with your donation, it will count towards your product purchase amount to qualify you for free sauce samples! If you merely donate during these two weeks without making a product purchase, simply say "Trick or Treat" in the comment section of your donation, and we'll send you a special coupon to collect your free sample(s) of sauce the next time you order products from us.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Skillet Cabbage

Here's a hearty side dish that's especially satisfying this time of year as the weather starts getting cooler. You control the heat level by which hot sauce you use, and how much of it you add. You should use an uncomplicated vinegar-pepper hot sauce such as the ones I've suggested, to enhance rather than overwhelm the flavors in this dish.

Ingredients
4 cups shredded cabbage
2 slices of bacon
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup shredded carrots
1 thinly sliced onion
2 tomatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Several dashes of a vinegar hot sauce: For a mildly spicy dish, I recommend Texas Pete Hot Sauce; for a Medium heat I recommend Durn Good Hot Sauce; and for a Hot heat I recommend Blues Habanero Reserve Hot Sauce
Salt to taste (optional)

Fry the bacon in a large skillet (cast iron is ideal for this recipe) until crispy. Remove bacon from skillet (leave the bacon grease in the skillet), and place the bacon on paper towels to cool. Add all the remaining ingredients, EXCEPT the tomatoes, to the skillet and cook on medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to turn golden and the cabbage has softened. While that's cooking, crumble the cooled bacon and set aside. Remove the skillet from heat, stir in the tomatoes and crumbled bacon, and serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8 as a side dish.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

September's Best Selling Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, & More

I've finally finished tallying the product category numbers for September and updated the top ten best-selling sauces lists at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. Here are quick links to each product category list, as well as a notable product or two for each category.

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: Hard-core hot sauce addicts were shopping in droves in September, because the original Dave's Insanity Sauce and the ridiculously hot Dave's Ultimate Insanity Sauce both made the list -- and the original Insanity Sauce is currently on sale!

*Best-Selling Barbecue Sauces: A classic vinegar & pepper sauce from eastern NC, Scott's Barbecue Sauce, came in at #5 -- not bad for a sauce that's been around for about 100 years!

*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings saw a fifth-place finish by the creamy, festively spicy (and intentionally misspelled) Wahoo Willie's Carribean Ranch Dressing -- get it while you can, as it's no longer being made and only limited quantities are available!

*Best-Selling Rubs & Seasonings: Three different flavors of Char Crust Seasonings made the list, coming in at #7 (Char Crust Roasted Garlic Peppercorn Seasoning), #8 (Char-Crust Original Hickory), and #9 (Char Crust Roto Roast), respectively

*Best-Selling Salsas & Relish: Both flavors of the old-world style Capone Family Secret Giardiniera remained on this top ten list, with the Hot Giardiniera stepping in to the #1 spot held by the Mild giardiniera last month. And the fruity, summery Peppers Peach & Vidalia Onion Salsa broke in to the list at #5.

*Best-Selling Jerks & Curry featured the award-winning Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce at #8 (and it also came in at #5 on the list of best-selling wing sauces, AND it's on sale, too!)

*Best-Selling Mustards saw the return of the hot and sweet Bone Suckin' Mustard to the list, finishing at #3

*Best-Selling Wing Sauces: The buttery, mildly spicy but wicked-good Scorned Woman Wicked Wing Sauce finished in 4th place

*Best-Selling North Carolina Products featured a rare first-place finish by a hot sauce (as opposed to a barbecue sauce), the recently arrived, peppery-hot Durn Good Hot Sauce

*Best-Selling Snacks: The tangy, NC barbecue-flavored Carolina BBQ Peanuts came in at #7

*Best-Selling Gift Sets: Folks must be getting ready for Halloween early this year, because our Scary Sauces Gift Set made the list with a very impressive 4th place finish!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning

Who ever said that a seasoning must have salt to be flavorful? Or that you can't make Cajun food without a hefty dose of sodium? If you've always thought that you can't live without salt, or that there aren't any tasty salt-free seasonings out there, you're about to be proven wrong by Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning, one of the newest products to arrive at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. Made in Cajun country and packing a serious flavor punch, Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning is made with a secret blend of black pepper, garlic and other spices that is so tasty you'll forget it's salt-free. The heat level is only mildly spicy, which means it's great for the whole family. Use this seasoning blend in all your Cajun and creole recipes, and in anything else where you want to add zesty, savory flavor without adding sodium or too much peppery heat. In my kitchen at home, Louisiana Bayou Blend is one of the handful of all-purpose seasonings that I reach for regularly to spice up meat, chicken, seafood, veggies, and even salad. Regardless of whether your dietary needs require you to use low sodium or no sodium products, Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning is sure to please palates of all ages and sensitivities. Order it today from the Carolina Sauce Company!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Smokin' Cole's Original BBQ Dry Rub

Smokin' Cole's Original BBQ Rub is a sweet & savory blend of salt, dried chilies and other spices for a seasoning that works wonders with ribs, pork butt, brisket, and anything else you want to grill. The sweetness comes from evaporated cane juice, and the result is a mouthwatering caramelized crust that seals in the meat's juices and enhances the savory flavors. This award-winning dry rub is made by the same folks who brought us Smokin' Cole's Original Barbecue Sauce, and the heat level of both is a pleasantly spicy medium but on the milder side of medium (as opposed to the hotter side), making them crowd-pleasers by striking the perfect balance of flavor with a peppery kick.

In addition to using Smokin' Cole's BBQ Dry Rub the obvious way (on ribs and other meats), we've also enjoyed it as a seasoning for roast chicken, sauteed potatoes & onions, steamed or microwaved vegetables, and even on popcorn. In fact, when I'm in the mood for a fat-free but flavorful tossed salad, I forego dressing and instead liberally sprinkle Smokin' Cole's BBQ Dry Rub on my salad and then squeeze half a lemon or lime over the whole thing and toss. The sweet-salty-spicy-citrusy flavors satisfy my palate without adding the calories and fat that ordinary salad dressing would. Of course, Greg thinks I'm weird for doing this, but we both agree that Smokin' Cole's Dry Rub really shines when used as intended, to season ribs and other hearty fare before smoking, grilling, broiling or roasting.

You can get both the Smokin' Cole's BBQ Sauce and the Dry Rub at the Carolina Sauce Company - and you'll get a free award-winning recipe when you order either product!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Additional Boar & Castle Stories

Here are a few more memories from loyal Boar & Castle Sauce fans who miss their favorite condiment, and are longing for its return:

“HELP !!!!!!!!! As a teenager in the 60's, the Boar & Castle in Greensboro was a great place to eat, cruise, see & be seen. The food was great - mostly because of the sauce. For the past 18 years, I've lived in CT. I had my family send me three things- Duke's mayonnaise, Luisianne tea, and Boar & Castle sauce. Last month we were packing to move to Wilmington and I gave my last 4 bottles to my best friend who had fallen in love with the stuff. Little did I know I should have saved it! We got to Wilmington and I couldn't find it, so I called my family in High Point. They couldn't find it either! I found your site and learned the terrible truth - I WANT MY BOAR & CASTLE SAUCE !!!! I'll give up a lot of things, but this is not one of them!! Please keep me posted - hopefully someone will see the demand and produce the best steak, hamburger, fries, or whatever you want to put it on sauce ever made. I've traveled the entire US and never found anything close.” --J.L.

“I grew up in Greensboro & my parents used to take me & my brother to the Boar and Castle when we were growing up in the 70s. I'd been buying B&C sauce for years at local (Chapel Hill) grocers, and was concerned when I stopped seeing it. Please do let me know if it becomes available again. Seeing that it's discontinued makes for a sad day for me.” --T.H.

“While living in Greensboro, NC, our family used to freqent the Boar & Castle Drive-In. We would love to be able to buy their sauce. Please advise when & where it will be available.” --G.C., Georgetown TX

“I was born in 1954 in Greensboro, NC and grew up on Castle Burgers & Fries. I can remember going there with my older sister and enjoying the food, especially the fries dipped in Boar & Castle sauce. When I turned 16 and starting driving - The Boar and Castle was a great place to go and hang out with your friends and meet new friends. Boar and Castle sauce has always been an item in my home - ever since it was put in grocery stores for sale. My husband and I moved to Carolina Beach, NC in 1995 - and have been unable to find it here locally. I use to stock up on it when I visited family in Greensboro. Now I can't find it at all. This is really sad - because it was a sauce you could put on anything - even use it for dip on chips. It would be a shame to let this product disappear." --N.B., Carolina Beach, NC

Don't despair: I've heard more rumors recently that something may be in the works that will make Boar & Castle Sauce fans very happy! If you'd like to be notified if Boar & Castle Sauce becomes available again, or if you have a Boar & Castle story you'd like to share, please email us at sales-AT-carolinasauce-DOT-com (without the dashes), or call us at 919-286-1080. And keep coming back to this blog to read more stories, and to make sure you don't miss any special announcements!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

September's Top Ten Best-Selling Sauces

The following is the list of the top ten best-selling sauces and other zesty products at the Carolina Sauce Company online store during the month of September 2008:

1. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce, a spicy hot pepper sauce from Jamaica that's frequently our best-selling hot sauce

2. Durn Good Hot Sauce, a perky, all-purpose pepper sauce from North Carolina that's "durn good" on just about everything!

3. Buderim Ginger Bears, a zippy gummy candy from Australia that's made with real ginger

4. Matouk's Flambeau Hot Sauce, a super-hot scotch bonnet pepper sauce from Trinidad & Tobago that's flavorful as well as intensely fiery

5. Capsicana Zing Sauce, a regular on our Top Ten list, Zing is a sweet & spicy table sauce from North Carolina -- and it comes with recipes!

6. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce, made with aged scotch bonnet peppers, papaya, and other tropical ingredients in a thick, rich base

7. Jim's Own Hot BBQ Sauce, tangy with a touch of sweetness, this spicy-hot Piedmont NC style barbeque sauce is fabulous on pulled pork, ribs, and chicken (comes with recipes!)

8. Melinda's XXXX Reserve Hot Sauce, made with specially selected fiery-hot red habaneros in a traditional Caribbean vinegar & carrot base

9. Matouk's Calypso Hot Sauce, a festive and fiery tropical hot sauce from Trinidad & Tobago

10. Jim's Own Homestyle BBQ Sauce, winner of many People's Choice awards in North Carolina, this tangy-sweet Piedmont style barbecue sauce is delicious on pulled pork, ribs and chicken (comes with recipes!)

We'll soon be updating the specific product category lists of Best Sellers at the Carolina Sauce Company, and posting the highlights here, so stay tuned for more!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Nando's Grinds: All Gone, For Good

Newsflash: It's official: all 3 flavors of Nando's Peri-Peri Grinds are now completely sold out at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and they're gone for good as the manufacturer discontinued production. It's the sad end of an era, because these zesty, full-flavored spice blends were not only delicious but versatile and easy to use. The flavors ranged from the citrusy, mildly peppery Lemon & Herb Peri Peri Grinder to the fiery but flavor-packed Hot Peri Peri Grinder, with the savory and spicy Medium Peri Peri Grinder in the middle of the heat scale. What made the Nando's Grinders particularly convenient was their handy spice-grinding lid: Flip open the cap and twist, and you could custom-grind the whole spices and coarse sea salt onto your food or into your recipes. Alternatively, screw off the entire top and you could add whole spices and coarse sea salt directly into whatever recipe you were making. All three flavors of the Nando's Peri Peri Grinds sold very well, so we were quite surprised to learn earlier this year that the manufacturer was no longer going to make them. They will be sorely missed.

But don't worry, there are still plenty of other flavorful seasonings and dry rubs for you to try at the Carolina Sauce Company, including two brand-new arrivals: The salt-free Cajun seasoning called Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning, and the award-winning, sweet & salty Smokin' Cole's Original BBQ Dry Rub & Seasoning. And if you're looking for a slightly sweet, moderately spicy seasoning with a hint of citrus, then Southern Twang Dry Rub is sure to satisfy. For Nando's fans, we still have all flavors of Nando's Marinades, Nando's Cooking Sauces, and Nando's Peri Peri Hot Sauces in stock. Finally, we are in the process of adding a few more new products to our online store, including two new flavors of Mama T's Seasonings & Dry Rubs (in addition to the Seafood Seasoned Salt and the Ranch Seasoning which we introduced earlier this year), so stay tuned for more new product announcements and reviews, coming soon!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Saw's Sauce: New & Improved!

Newsflash: Saw's Sauce, the zesty marinade and BBQ sauce created by Chef Mike Wilson of "Cooking Light" Magazine's test kitchen, recently debuted its new and improved recipe in a tall and svelte new bottle shape. The result of many late nights spent with buddies around the backyard BBQ pit, Saw's Sauce is a savory, zippy blend of tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, peppers and spices -- and now it's all-natural as well as even better tasting! Use Saw's Sauce as a marinade, grilling & barbecue sauce, and dipping sauce for pork, chicken, veggies and even oysters and other seafood whenever you want to add tangy, slightly sweet and peppery spicy flavor. You can get the new and improved, all-natural Saw's Sauce, as well as other delicious barbeque & grilling sauces, from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria