FAIRFIELD, Ohio — Jungle Jim’s International Market is turning up the heat on its annual “Weekend of Fire” celebration: the largest fiery food show in the Midwest.
Attendees will have the chance to taste their way around 75 booths featuring hot sauces, barbecue sauces, salsas, marinades, mustards, jerky and peppers.
Spicy food fans can also test their taste buds during an array of eating contests featuring hot versions of lollipops, peanut butter and jelly, horseradish and wings. Visitors can also get their picture taken and applied to the label of a bottle of hot sauce for $5.
Admission is $7 for Saturday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Sunday, Aug. 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A new part of this year’s show is an Eat the Heat! Cooking with Hot Sauce Class offered by Jungle Jim’s Cooking School. Students will learn techniques for working with hot peppers and prepare dishes like Tropical Island Hot Sauce, Spicy Grilled Shiitakes with Ginger and Garlic, and Shrimp and Tasso with Five Pepper Jelly. Admission for the 2½-hour class is $50 per person, and includes beer and a ticket to the Weekend of Fire.
The event is held inside the Oscar Event Center adjacent to Jungle Jim’s store.