IN GOOD TASTE
vcreporter.com
Feeling the heat in Newbury Park by Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer
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nshaffer@timespublications.com
or the third year in a row, Old Boney Mountain Hot Sauce Company and Rotary Club of Newbury Park will present the Old Boney Mountain Hot Summer Night Festival — although, following the current trend, this year’s rendition will be virtual. The festival will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook Live on Saturday, July 11, 4-6 p.m. The “hot” in Hot Summer Night AD comes courtesy of PROOF the international hot sauce competition, which fea’s Market Ad Executive: Warren Barrett tures capsicum-laden (805) 648-2244 concoctions f over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, “Final from alland across the Proof”. globe. AsIf in preter the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approvalvious on the 1st aproof, offjudges years, panel check of local VED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. taste them all, bestowing awards upon theISSUE: best entries. But for 2020, 6/11/20 FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP safety protocols are in order. “Hot sauce judging usually occurs in one evening, but this year we’re spreading the six competitive divisions over six days so judges can taste sauces and still practice social distancing,” explains event co-chair Jeff Losey, founder of Old Boney Mountain Hot Sauce Company. The juried panel is made up 9-12 people in the culinary industry: chefs, restaurateurs, hot sauce makect p address is correct p expiration date is correct p spelling is correct ers, etc., most from Ventura County and the Conejo Valley. This year’s ADLINE FOR AD CHANGES IS 12:00 NOON THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO THAT panel ISSUES includes RELEASE. Chef Eric Kopelow, vice president and corporate the production department of Times Media Group, is the copyrighted property of Times Media Group. Any executivethe chefexpress of Universal Studios nt of advertising in any of Times Media Group’s publications is prohibited without consent of Hollywood; author and chef Cristina FerTake Out ny applicable fees. rare and former L.A. Dodgers pitchp OK to run Delivery Date: ______________________________ er Scott Erickson. Judges will be uracy and is Catering p OK to run selecting winners in mild, medium, __________________________ of reproduction. with correction Signature: Limited in hot and extra-hot categories, plus room dining two new categories added for 2020: Call to place your order! fruit-based and barbecue sauce.
T he F reshesT G reek & M ediTerrane an C uisine
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— July 2, 2020
Over 200 hot sauce entries were submitted for this year’s Old Boney Mountain International Hot Sauce Competition. (Photo submitted)
event co-chair and producer. “We have over 200 sauces submitted this year.” Entries have come from England, Australia, South America, Mexico and Canada, as well as 20 U.S. states. Local brands taking up the gauntlet include Char Man (Ojai), Hillgrillies BBQ (Santa Paula), Red Hot Foods (Santa Paula) and Santa Paula Salsa Co. Pre-judging is already underway to narrow the field to 18 sauces, which will be available to the public for tasting (and People’s Choice voting) on Sunday, July 5, 3-6 p.m. at Holdren’s Steaks and Seafood in Newbury Park. No reservations are necessary and it’s free, as is the live-streamed festival on July 11 — although a $5 donation is required to vote for best hot sauce bottle label and be entered for prize drawings. “We’ll monitor safe distance and health protocols, of course,” McBride adds. A Festival Tasting Box is also available for purchase from the festival website (hotsummernight.festivalsetup. com). It costs $50 and includes hot sauce samTom Rumbaugh, a judge in the 2019 Old Boney ples, snacks, local craft Mountain International Hot Sauce Competition. beers, spirits, discount (Photo submitted) coupons and more. “During the show on the 11th, “There are hot sauces that have been sent from around the world,” we’ll talk to the makers of those says Mary-Catherine McBride, local brews (Enegren, Institution
Ale, Five Threads and Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.),” McBride says. Past hot sauce winners will also discuss their products and culinary secrets. “The Festival Box is something that allows people watching at home to taste along. That makes you part of it. It’s helping to defray some costs and raise funds, too.” McBride notes that Hot Summer Night is, first and foremost, a fundraiser. “The concept first came about two years ago after the Thomas Fire . . . Hot sauce resonates with fire, and we wanted to support our fire fighters and first responders.” Net proceeds benefit Rotary charities, first responders and the Grossman Burn Foundation, based in Calabasas, which supports treatment, care and support for burn survivors and their families. The virtual event will also offer live music and other entertainment, making this spicy soiree a multi-sensory experience — all for the sake of a good cause. Even over the Internet, Old Boney Mountain will be the hottest spot in town this month. Old Boney Mountain Hot Summer Night takes place on Saturday, July 11, 4-6 p.m. The public hot sauce tasting will be on Sunday, July 5, 3-6 p.m. at Holdren’s Steaks and Seafood, 1714-A Newbury Road, Newbury Park. For registration and more information, call 805-701-7248, email obmhsn@gmail.com or visit oldboneymtnhotsummernight.com.
