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pepperfest
1 The Solutions takes the PepperFest stage. 2 Regan VanderGast with Oak City Hot Sauce Co.
Photography by LEAH BERRY
3 Mallory Davis and Sean Davis with their son, Collin Davis.
Spice enthusiasts gathered at The Plant Sept. 29, 2024, to experience the 17th annual PepperFest. The event began as a way to support Piedmont Biofarm’s plant breeding efforts and has since grown into a major Pittsboro tradition. This year, guests toured the pepper patch, savored pepper dishes, tasted entries in the chili cook-off and sampled hot sauces, spices, rubs, honeys and more from on-site vendors. Popular cover band The Solutions and Raleigh-based group The MixTapes provided live music. Attendees enjoyed an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how Flying Pepper Vodka is made at Fair Game Beverage Company and stopped by Kingston 99 Kitchen to sample its sweet and spicy esco sauce, which won first place in the Pepper Condiment Competition. Lilly Den Farm’s spicy pepper relish took second place. cm
4 Edwin Barnes enjoys a local beer outside Fair Game Beverage Company.
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C H AT H A M M AG A Z I N E
WINTER 2024-2025
5 Katie Trychel and Kristian Johns. 6 Michael Layton of The Spice Trade Outpost. 7 Jon Friedlein, Stacy McMillan, Rebekah Medley and Rodney Medley of Beehive Yourself. 5