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Tommy Stitt knows his way around a kitchen, having been a chef since 2006 and working in the kitchens of a number of popular South Florida restaurants including Clutch Burger, Smith & Wollensky, and Ziggie & Mad Dog’s.
Middle Finger Hot Sauce is his entrepreneurial venture into the competitive world of commercial food production. Since launching the brand in 2022 in the Florida Keys, Middle Finger Hot Sauce has consistently been lauded in national competitions for its taste and quality. In June, six Middle Finger Hot Sauce products were finalists in the Hot Sauce World Championships held in California. Of those six sauces, one received first place and two others came in second place.
Of 565 companies competing in the event, known as Old Boney Mountain Hot Summer Night, Middle Finger Hot Sauce was recognized as the ninth Best Small Batch Hot Sauce Company in the world.
“We are a seven-time finalist in the world championships, with one world champion in the Verde category and two second place finishers in the Mexican-Inspired and Cuban categories,” Stitt said. “Our delicious concoctions made from locally grown fruits, hot peppers and sometimes even locally brewed beer are changing the way people think about heat.”
The idea of creating a small batch artisan hot sauce company began as a hobby. Stitt was renowned among family members and friends for his Mango Ghost Pepper Sauce and they asked him to make more. He took the plunge and immersed himself in learning large-scale food production, FDA guidelines, food safety and packaging. Much useful information came directly from competitors — successful hot sauce manufacturers that he met at events across the country.
Currently, Stitt is working on an interactive Mexican cookbook that teaches the layperson and the professional cook how to make elevated and authentic Mexican cuisine in their own kitchens. Links to videos displaying certain cooking techniques, such as making your own tortillas and salsas, are integrated into the cookbook, as well as a playlist of regional Mexican music to get you inspired to take on the culinary challenges.
“Middle Finger Hot Sauce is about using the freshest local ingredients to create a sauce experience that enhances your culinary experience,” Stitt explained. “We use guava, passion fruit, pineapple and more to make fruit-forward sauces that accentuate all types of food. Currently, we have pivoted slightly to serve local breweries by creating hot sauces with their beer offerings as ingredients.”
For more information and to place an order, visit Middlefingerhotsauce.com.
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