Brick & Barrel Hot Sauce Festival 2024

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Spicy food, camaraderie, and chaos—welcome to one of the most memorable nights I’ve had as a podcaster and an emcee. On December 7th 2024, Brick and Barrel transformed into a battleground of heat, flavor, and pure willpower for the annual hot sauce and taco-eating competition.

As someone who can handle a moderate amount of spice (read: I’m a white, Scottish guy ), I knew I was in for a wild ride. The event was electric from the start, with competitors, spectators, and a fair amount of adrenaline in the air.

A Fiery Welcome

The night kicked off with the hot sauce tasting competition—11 contenders, each vying for the title of spiciest, most original, and overall best. From tangy Hanoi Plum to the fearsome Vietnam Reaper, these sauces ranged from mild and flavorful to downright cruel.

I got brave (or foolish) and decided to try a few myself. Number one? Pleasant. Number three? A smoky punch that got me coughing. Number five? Let’s just say I had what can only be described as an out-of-body experience. It’s no wonder it took home the “Spiciest Sauce” award.

The Taco Showdown

Next up: the taco-eating competition. Five tacos, slathered in Mulligan’s spiciest hot sauce, awaited our brave contestants. Watching An Pham and Khung battle it out was equal parts hilarious and terrifying. An’s strategy was simple: eat and endure. And endure she did—taking home the crown in just over 13 minutes.

As the emcee, I was tasked with keeping the crowd hyped and the contestants motivated. But even I had to pause and admire their determination (while silently thanking the universe I wasn’t in their shoes).

A Hot Ones Homage

The night wasn’t over yet. Inspired by Hot Ones, I interviewed Chad Mitchell from Mixtape as he tackled some seriously spicy tacos. Chad was unfazed by the first few sauces but began to crack as the heat built up. It was a battle of wits and taste buds, and Chad delivered with humor and grit—sweaty forehead and all.

Lessons Learned

Here’s the thing about events like these—they’re not just about food or competition. They’re about community. Watching people laugh, cheer, and even cry (thank you, Vietnam Reaper) reminded me why I love Saigon. The city has a way of bringing people together, even if it’s over a shared love of heat-induced suffering.

It also gave me a newfound respect for spicy food. While I can’t say I’ll be ordering ghost pepper tacos anytime soon, I walked away with a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind each sauce.

A Night to Remember

Whether it was seeing An’s triumphant final bite, the crowd rallying around contestants, or me struggling to form sentences after just one taco, the night was unforgettable. It was everything I love about Saigon: vibrant, chaotic, and full of flavor.

A massive thank you to Brick and Barrel, the sauce creators, Tres Amigos, and everyone who came out. I’ll be back next year—hopefully as a spectator, not a taster.

Cheers,

Niall Mackay

149 thoughts on “Brick & Barrel Hot Sauce Festival 2024”

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