It’s time to enter your sauces into the 2024 edition of the YOW! Awards.
We have many judges that are willing to lay their lives on the line to help pick the 1st, 2nd, 3rd best sauces in 6 different categories this year.
Please send 2 bottles for each category entered. Fee is $30 + hst per category. The e-transfer can go to Info@HeatinguptheCapital.com
Categories are; Mild, Medium, Hot, Extreme, Condiment, and BBQ
The highest ranking sauce will win the Grand Champion “King of Sauces!”
We are doing a double-blind test and points will be given independently for taste, smell, texture, accurate heat rating and overall impression.
You do not need to be at the hot sauce expo to participate.
The Rules (Yup, here they are!)
1. Must be made in a commercial kitchen
2. Must be a Canadian product, made in Canada
3. Must be in Ottawa by June 15, 2024
Please send 2 bottles for each category entered to:
23 Pepperrall Cres, Ottawa, ON K2J 3W7
Be sure to include which sauce goes in which category
Congratulations to the 2023 YOW! Award Winners
2023’s Grand Champion ‘YOW! King of Sauces!’
Gold Metal Mustard – The Hub Sauce Co.
Sponsored by Berlin Packaging/Consolidated Bottle
Meet the Judges
Alex Gougeon
Alex always loved a good hot sauce as far as he can remember. He burst onto the scene at Heating Up The Capital 2 and began his League of Fire career Jan 1st, 2023 crushing and failing challenges. His challenges and charity videos can be found on youtube and tiktok showing he can tolerate extreme heat levels. Being a public servant Alex often brings some of his collection (mild to extreme) for colleagues to try. Always being supportive in the chili community Alex is just a big ol loveable teddybear who enjoys great tasting sauce with a way above average heat level.
Clint Stevenson
I’m a relative newcomer to the hot sauce scene, but have always been a fan of heat and how it pairs with and enhances flavours. It was only within the last couple years that I discovered the quality our local sauce makers are putting out into the market and I was blown away. As a BBQ enthusiast, pairing sauces with my dishes is a ritual. In fact, in some cases, I have paired the dish to the sauce. I have become quite skilled at determining how a sauce will taste when seared, simmered or smoked and will be putting those skills to good use to help highlight the best of the best.
Bob Goblin
Here’s Bob: a public servant, punk rocker, and weekend warrior hot sauce aficionado. As a creator of two best-selling, award-winning hot sauces, Bob is always on the lookout for more fiery flavours to enjoy and wreck havoc on his digestive system.
Greg Frank Marcus
Greg is a chili head who has worked his way up through a lot of amazing sauces including several extract sauces as well as some of the hottest non-extract sauces in existence. Reviewing many sauces for his channel Fire In The Hole! Greg has developed his ability to taste and appreciate many different kinds of sauces at many different heat levels, from the mildest of the mild to the hottest of the hot!
Dwight Brown
Having tasted his mom’s, grandmother’s and aunt’s Jamaican cooking, complete with the island’s spiciest of spices, Dwight has been a hot sauce enthusiast for many decades. His family’s background in the Jamaican patty industry makes him the ideal judge for hot sauces!
Jim Stevenson
I’ve been fortunate that my work has had me travel where BBQ and Sauces have been mainstays, 12+ years throughout the Southern States (2 years of NASCAR) and able to taste the many different varieties of sauces. International travel (China, Malaysia, Africa, Mexico, etc.) and experimenting with other sauces (Caribbean, etc.) has introduced me to other variations.
I use multiple different smokers and BBQ’s and previous Heating Up the Capital event purchases have provided many delicious sauces that are available locally.
While heat is good, the flavour must be GREAT to be a good sauce. Sweet, tart, fruity, peppery or acidic, I like them all.
Mickey Voodoo
My name is Mikey Voodoo. I was born in 1768. A time of boiled meat. I crave the Hellfires and the burning in my soul. I will not yield, I shall not be denied.
Michael Noguera
My name is Michael Noguera and I am very happy to be part of the “Heating Up The Capital” event in August. My family is from the Caribbean Island of Aruba and I really enjoy spicy food!
The one thing that really struck me was the passion of the pepper growers and sauce makers. They are dedicated, hard working with a great sense of humour. This year’s event is going to be awesome. Come out and enjoy the day with your family and friends…you won’t be disappointed!
Pat Renaud
Patrik is relatively new on the Hot Sauce scene but he’s been an avid lover of hot sauces for most of his adult life. He has really stepped-up his “game” in the last 10+ years and has accumulated an impressive collection of hot sauces. He regularly hosts wing nights where he showcases his collection, and takes the opportunity to teach his guests about the finer elements of hot sauces and helps them develop an appreciation for a wide variety of different hot sauce flavors. Patrik has been attending “Heating Up The Capital” since its inaugural year and always looks forward to trying out all the amazing locally made hot sauces!
Robin Dunbar
I’m a washed up skater that somehow found my way behind the wheel of a bus. Have loved all things stupid hot since I was a teen. Placed 3rd in the Heating Up The Capital last year to two insane competitors among the other brave souls to step up to the challenge. Was introduced to the community by Greg “Fire in the Hole” Marcus. Hot sauce aficionado, because who isn’t?
Ross Laugher
My name is Ross Laugher, born in Ottawa but of Jamaican descent. When I was young, I used to sing often, and instead of warming up my vocal cords by singing “Do, Re, Mi”, I would swallow a couple of tablespoons of Tabasco (it seriously works). Although I like to add some spice to foods, I do not prefer “hot for the sake of being hot” – I think flavour is also very important as it enhances food instead of overpowering it.
Rudy Katwaroo
Growing up in a West Indian family (Trinidadian to be specific) my parents had always used some kind of homemade hot sauce.
My love for heat didn’t start until my early teen years. From then on, I always loved the way how a good hot sauce can awaken dormant taste buds. Which then gives that same food an entirely different flavor experience. In my late teens to twenties, I used to challenge local pub cooks to make their wings as hot as they can. I’ve found that all they did was just mix Cayanne in with tobasco or Frank’s Red hot. That gave the wings bite, but the flavor was no good.
I’m glad to participate in judging these sauces because I know that there is a sense of pride with the makers when presenting their sauces to the world. I can respect that they will strike a nice balance of heat AND flavor. My butthole hates me…
Shannon Blaney
Some women have a shoe addiction, Shannon has a hot sauce addiction. She is an employee of Canada’s public service, and she has decades of foodie experience. Her heat resistant palate has tested over 100 hot sauces, giving her the ability to sift through quality sauce and identify championship worthy flavours. When dining out, she has been known to pack a hot sauce or two to elevate bland foods. As a judge she will score sauces as she handles everyday life: with unwavering honesty.
Sue Mack
Sue’s love for spicy food and hot sauces really started when she travelled for work and would go for Thai food quite regularly with a colleague. He always ordered it the hottest he could get and Sue was a chili or two lower, but one day they switched our order! Sue figured if she could survive that she needed to push her limits and start expanding her horizons. Then Sue got involved with an annual charity chili cook off and met several pepperheads, including Haico and it took off from there!! I was introduced to so many different kinds. Sue realized that hot sauce isn’t just about heat. And the fun thing with hot sauce is that it brings out everyone’s competitive nature!
Victor Hanna
Victor is a former hotel Chef Concierge that has spent most of his life involved in the food and beverage industry, working in both restaurants and hotels.
His palate is refined and sophisticated, and he enjoys a spicy meal once and a while. He hopes he can keep up with the other judges all the way to the Extreme Round.
William “Bill” Blaney
Meet William Blaney, Boston Bruins fan, talented guitar player and experienced foodie. Not only does William have a finely tuned ear for music, but also a palate refined to identify a top notch hot sauce. His ability to sift through flavours as easily as he strums a classic Van Halen tune means this public servant is ready to secure a spot at the judges’ table. He will not shy away from any flavour combination or spice level and he has mastered the use of frosty beverages to tame the heat. Most of the time he won’t even break a sweat. Whether he’s at the pub or by the pool William is always ready to take on an epic sauce.