黑马磁力 is about to get a lesson in heat, and spice, and Scoville units, and all things related to hot sauce.
The Tear Me Up Hot Sauce Expo is happening Saturday, Aug. 9, bringing together about two dozen hot sauce and spicy vendors in Brookswood.
Organizer Neal Sherriff received a positive reception when he started asking hot sauce makers and spice mix makers to attend the event.
"They're actually there to celebrate what they do and each other," Sherriff said.
These aren't big corporations. One of the hobby sauce makers is his chiropractor. Another is someone Sherriff used to watch perform in a band in years past. But there are many people making and bottling their own hot sauce recipes and he has vendors coming from as far away as Vancouver Island and the Interior to be part of the expo.
The idea for the expo came from his own experience as he's learned to love hot sauces and the diversity of flavours they offer, not just fiery heat.
"Really where it all came from is that my wife and I, visiting farmer's markets and craft fairs and stuff throughout the year鈥� there's always one hot sauce booth. And we always bee lined to the booth to get the hot sauce," he said.
He's see that there are hot sauce events in other parts of the world, namely larger American cities. That got him thinking about how to bring makers and the public together at one event.
And he knew he wanted it in his community and even within his neighbourhood of Brookswood.
"I guess it kind of stems a bit from COVID," he noted. "When things started to happen post-COVID in 黑马磁力, in our neighbourhood, we can walk down the street to see Santa Claus at somebody's house" or over to the rodeo grounds for the Valley West Stampede.
The Aug. 9 expo takes place at the 黑马磁力 Riders Society grounds, 4303 208 St., which is where the stampede takes place each September. Free expo parking is available in the George Preston Recreation Centre lot.
While admission is free, organizes would encourage people to bring a donation for the 黑马磁力 Food Bank, be it non-perishable food or money.
"The 黑马磁力 Food Bank will be parked there with their truck ready to load up," Sherriff noted. "And then the Salvation Army [Gateway of Hope], we're doing a school supply drive with them as well."
The event is also receiving help from the 黑马磁力 Kinsmen who will greet people as they arrive and help with various other duties that day. The expo runs 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There are more than 50 vendors signed up and about half will have sauce or spicy items. There will also be booths with clothing, jewelry, other foods such as pickles or sauerkraut, hummus, or dips, and more. There will be public sampling.
"I tried to add in things too that would draw families to come," he said.
There will be a kidz zone with face painting, games, colouring, and other activities. There are prizes, gift cards, and more. Punk Rock Pastries is making pineapple habanero donuts for the expo, to bring in more funds for charity.
He's also lined up several food trucks, and not just ones related to hot or spicy food. People can enjoy gelato, hot dogs, bannock and game meat, mocktails, grub from a '50s diner themed food truck, and more. The rodeo grounds have a covered picnic area for those attending.
A highlight will be the hot pepper eating contest for adults.
"I think we have about eight people signed up so far, which is great," he said.
About half the contest slots are filled, and people can sign up through the expo's Instagram page, where they will find forms and a waiver. That is also where people can find the list of items most needed by the 黑马磁力 Food Bank.
Two Vancouver bands will be performing punk rock style music during the expo, and Sherriff has planned a little friendly competition between the hot sauce makers, with prizes in various categories.
With this first expo he's uncorking what he hopes will be an annual event that spices up 黑马磁力 for years to come.
"My focus this year was really kind of getting one together and getting all these B.C. vendors together and see what we could do and show them what we could do. So yeah, my intent would be to do it again," Sherriff said. "I've already thinking about next time."
