Football season is back, which means the calendar is filling up with games, tailgates, watch parties, crowded kitchens, and plenty of reasons to eat something delicious.
Around here, we’re ready for all of it.
As the weather starts to cool down, football brings people together in one of our favorite ways: around food. Wings disappear by the dozen, chips somehow become dinner, nachos get piled higher than they probably should, and somebody always shows up with a new dip they insist everyone needs to try.
Of course, we think there’s one thing every game-day spread needs.
Hot sauce.
A great tailgate isn’t just about what you put on the grill. It’s about having options.
Some people want smoky heat. Others want something bright and tangy. Someone will always reach for the garlic-forward sauce, while that one person in the group is looking for the bottle with the biggest warning label.
That’s part of the fun.
Hot sauce gives everyone a chance to customize their plate, whether they’re dressing up a pile of wings, adding some heat to nachos, spicing up a burger, or putting a few drops into a dip.
Our advice for game day is simple: don’t bring just one bottle.
Bring a few.
Set them out and let your crew decide which one belongs on their plate. Just be prepared for someone to find a favorite and refuse to give it back.
Football food doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, some of the best game-day foods are the ones you can grab with one hand while keeping the other firmly planted on the remote.
Wings are an obvious choice, but they’re far from the only option. Nachos, chili, sliders, fries, pretzels, tacos, pizza, and chips and dip all give you plenty of opportunities to bring some heat to the table.
And if you’re hosting, don’t overthink it.
Put out a few different sauces. Give everyone plenty of snacks. Keep the drinks cold. Make sure nobody runs out of chips.
That’s a pretty solid game plan.
We may be a little biased, but football season is especially exciting when you’re rooting for the Ravens.
Baltimore fans don’t exactly need an excuse to get fired up on game day. The purple comes out, the food gets put on the table, and the trash talk begins before kickoff.
We’ll keep the rest of the NFL out of this.
Mostly.
Let’s just say that if your a Steelers fan, we’re sorry.
But rivalry aside, that’s one of the things we love about football season. Every fan base has its traditions, superstitions, favorite foods, and game-day rituals. Whether you’re watching from a stadium parking lot or your living room couch, there’s something about sharing a meal while watching your team play that makes the whole experience better.
And a little hot sauce never hurts.
We’ve got another reason to turn up the heat this football season.
Chickpotle is heading back to Hot Ones.
Our smoky, savory sauce made its debut on Season 30, and now it’s getting another turn on the Wings of Death. This time, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will be taking on the challenge with Sean Evans.
We’re pretty excited to see what happens when Chickpotle meets another athlete who is used to performing under pressure.
Chickpotle brings together chickpeas, ghost peppers, sumac, and smoke with warm Middle Eastern-inspired flavors. It’s got plenty of personality on its own, but watching someone experience it on Hot Ones is a whole different kind of fun.
Football season and Hot Ones in the same month?
We’ll take it.
Football isn’t the only thing keeping us busy this fall.
We’ll be hitting the road with bottles, samples, seasonings, and plenty of heat, making stops at some great events throughout the region.
First up is the Chile Pepper Festival in Bowers, Pennsylvania, September 11–12. It’s hard to imagine a festival that feels more appropriate for us. If you love peppers, hot sauce, and all things spicy, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Later in the month, we’ll be at the Mosaic Fall Festival in the Fairfax/Vienna, Virginia area, September 26–27, for a weekend of food, art, music, and community.
If you’re attending either event, come find us. We’d love to put some sauce in your hands, talk food, and help you find your new favorite.
Football season is really just the beginning.
The next few months are packed with tailgates, parties, festivals, holidays, and plenty of opportunities to gather around good food. And whether you’re feeding a whole crowd or just making something for yourself while you watch the game, there’s always room for a little more flavor.
So stock the fridge. Grab the chips. Pick your team.
And don’t forget the hot sauce.
We’ll see you at the next game, the next festival, or somewhere around the table.
Fair winds and fiery food,
The Black Eyed Spice Company Crew
Email us today to bring our award-winning sauces and rubs to your shelves.
