Looking for a hot sauce that is full of flavor yet also gluten-free, low in sodium and sugar, and made with natural ingredients? Then Ghost Scream is a brand you should be looking into.
I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Matt Sisson, the chef who co-founded Ghost Scream with his wife Deandra. Find out more about the San Clemente-based company at www.GhostScream.com.
Where did the Ghost Scream name come from?
Matt Sisson: The name Ghost Scream emerged from a combination of a few things. A photo negative that I took of my face screaming many years before and the type of peppers that we use in the sauces. The pic looked intense and we thought that it would look cool on a bottle. We just love the flavor of the ghost peppers and its heat intensity, and so we blended the two together. BOOM!
When in the process did you decide to come up with a healthier hot sauce, as opposed to just making a hot sauce?
Great question. I definitely made these sauces with a commitment to quality. I have been a professional chef for a long time and one of my service staff was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. In his search for healthier alternatives, he could not find a hot sauce with low sodium and no sugar. Frustrated, he turned to me and asked if I could create a sauce that was spicy and met his dietary restrictions. Fresh ingredients allow our recipes to develop layers of flavor and balance without adding excess salt and sugar.
What was your gateway into spicier foods? Was it wings?
I grew up in San Antonio — a die-hard Spurs fan — and it was all about nachos, tacos and BBQ! We love it spicy in South Texas!
I saw your photo with Sean Evans from Hot Ones on Facebook. Pardon my ignorance, but has Ghost Scream made it onto an episode of Hot Ones yet?
I get that question all the time—the answer is no. But Sean is a fan and we are hoping that Ghost Scream makes the lineup real soon. Love that show!
Finally, Matt, any last words for the kids?
Follow your dreams. Dream BIG! Always get back up! Life isn’t fair. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it! Treat others like you want to be treated. Always remember that the road to someday leads to a town called nowhere. And of course, life’s too short to eat crappy hot sauce!
