OUR STORY

This all pretty much happened by accident.

I'm probably not supposed to admit something like that but it's the truth.

In 2009 I decided to enter one of the biggest regional chili cookoffs in the country, the DC101 Chili Cook-Off in Washington, DC. 2009 was the first year it was held at RFK Stadium and it drew the largest crowd in the event's history with 35,000 attendees. You can Wikipedia it.

For over 10 years I'd driven back and forth to work on Rte. 235 in southern Maryland listening to DC101 advertise its annual cookoff, so finally I figured I'd see what all the fuss was about. I mean, I liked to cook. Maybe I should see how my chili stacked up against all the rest. My first son also was a year old at the time, so this was mostly just a good excuse to get out of the house and have some adult fun for a weekend.

My brother drove down from Pittsburgh and two of my good buddies tagged along in the truck, and it was on. As it turned out I had the best chili in the world! Well, okay, at least the best chili in the entire Mid-Atlantic region. All I know is I beat Jim Parker, owner of Hard Times Cafe and recurring champion lord knows how many times, the first time I'd ever entered a chili cookoff.

I'm not trash-talking Jim Parker, by the way. When the emcee called my name in Charleston, WV later that year at the ICS World's Championship Chili Cookoff when I won People's Choice Chili, the only thing I remember seeing on my way down to the stage is Jim Parker standing and clapping for me. True story. He's first class.

Most of us want to get out from behind the desk. I still work a "day job" so this is my attempt at doing something I actually love. I'm not even close to being able to do it full time yet, but you gotta dream.

So that's how it all started. I bottled the chili mix that won the DC101 Chili Cook-Off and I've been trying to sling it ever since. In addition to some other products I've developed along the way.

I've never taken a business class in my life but as I like to say, there are three components that comprise any business: time, money and quality. I haven't yet been able to compete on time and money, but I'll win on quality every time. And if I could choose only one of the three, I'd take quality every time too.

I'd rather be broke and put out the best stuff you've ever put in your mouth than be loaded as a result of selling you crap.

Give me a second. I have to think about whether I actually believe that or not.

No, I do.

Money's nice but I want to earn it the old-fashioned way. By bringing products to market that you find so valuable that you'll want to make them part of your everyday life.

One of my goals is to prove that you can cook healthy food that tastes even better than the garbage we've all been conditioned for decades to accept as normal. As a result, our seasonings and sauces are designed specifically to be just as health-friendly as they are delicious. They aren't necessarily going to be the cheapest you'll find but they will be the best value.

Our products are made only with the finest ingredients and contain no artificial preservatives, dyes, additives or other chemicals that are so commonplace these days. Even where we've used salt or sugar there's just enough to ensure you'll be able to enhance your food's flavor without overdoing it.

And as part of our commitment to your taste buds and your health, we even offer THE PROGRAM. It's our forthcoming healthy lifestyle cookbook that will be available as a FREE download.

Thanks for taking the time to read up on our story. We hope to gain you as a loyal customer as we continue on our journey to create some of the best products money can buy.

Best Regards,
Trevor "T-Rev" Bothwell