About us
Our Story
It feels like my journey to this point began decades ago. Firstly, being born into an Air Force family meant constant relocation, exposing me to diverse cultures and cuisines. Secondly, growing up in an Italian household, food was at the heart of everything. Both my grandparents were talented chefs, and my mom, along with her three sisters, cooked with immense passion. For me, cooking was a journey of discovery, especially since I found out I'm of Scotch/Irish descent through adoption.
Cooking nurtured my creativity. Crafting a dish and witnessing the joy it brought was truly addictive. This love for creativity extended into various aspects of my life—learning drums, forming a rock band, pursuing photography, writing for a motorcycle magazine, working as a civil servant, and even dabbling as a sous chef in retirement. The common thread? Bringing joy to others.
My culinary adventures led me to explore diverse cuisines, from appetizers to desserts, and one day, a YouTube segment on hot sauce sparked a new passion. I immersed myself in learning about hot peppers and spices, joining a group of chili enthusiasts who shared their knowledge weekly. A friendship blossomed with the group's leader, a pepper grower, and after much research, I settled on two peppers from his nursery, Seriously Hot Peppers: the Brain Strain and the Death Spiral.
Experimenting with various pepper blends and ingredients, I faced numerous failures until one day, a breakthrough. Recipe number 4 emerged as the clear winner, balancing flavor with just the right amount of heat. With feedback from dedicated taste testers, I refined the recipe, leading to Moose Joose Hot Sauce.
Named after my moniker from my civil service and motorcycle club days, Moose Joose garnered rave reviews from initial tastings, prompting requests for more. However, the real challenge lay in navigating the complexities of starting a small-batch business—dealing with red tape and startup costs. But here we are. I hope you relish Moose Joose Hot Sauce as much as I enjoyed creating it. Keep the heat alive!