Fresno Fire

The one that disappears fastest.

Fresnos roasted by hand until the skins blister, then built out with a tangy, bright finish. Smoky and approachable, hot enough to matter, never hot enough to take over the plate. If you only buy one, buy this one.

Heat: 2 of 4

The story

Fresno Fire is named for my oldest, my daughter. She's the one who works with everyone at the table and never needs to be the center of attention. Smart, funny, steady, the one you lean on.

The sauce came out the same way. It's not the loudest bottle in the lineup. It's just the one that empties first.

Tasting notes

Roasted red pepper and char up front, then vinegar brightness, then a slow, even heat that fades instead of climbing. Thick enough to cling to a glaze, thin enough to pour.

What to make with it

• Whole roasted carrots. Toss, roast hard, finish with more. The dish that explains the whole brand.
• Roasted veggie skewers with a Fresno glaze. Brush it on in the last four minutes.
• Compound-butter ribeye. A spoonful worked into softened butter, melted over the rest.
• Pizza base. A thin layer under the cheese instead of red sauce.

What's in the bottle

• 5 oz glass bottle
• Peppers roasted by hand, in small batches, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
• No fillers, no artificial anything, no oil, no thickeners
• Shelf-stable, made in the USA

Ingredients: Roasted Fresno Peppers, Roasted Red Peppers, Vinegar, Roasted Garlic, Honey, Water, Salt, Citric Acid

Not a condiment

These are built to cook with, not just to pour on. Roast with it, glaze with it, stir it into something on the stove, finish a plate with it. If the bottle only ever makes it to the table, you're using about a third of it.

Shipping and storage

Ships from Bucks County, PA.

Shelf-stable unopened. Refrigerate after opening. Some separation is normal in a sauce with nothing holding it together. Shake it.

Small print

Small batch means small batch. Color and thickness shift a little from run to run depending on the peppers. That's the trade for roasting them by hand.