10.31.2023

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Today’s Forecast

49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.

🔥 Yearn for the burn

Local hot sauces we can’t stop eating

A bottle of Secret Aardvark smoked hot sauce sits on a table top next to a plate of elote.

There are hot sauces out there for every palate, from exploding volcano to cozy embers. | Photo by Secret Aardvark Trading Co.

Portland loves hot sauce. The area is home to brands that have earned national acclaim and hidden gems that make outsiders green with envy, not to mention the annual expo. But what’s with this spicy love affair?

Perhaps we take some comfort in knowing that if things ever get too fiery, you can just step outside, look up, and open your mouth for a soothing swig of rain.

You can trace the heat of the city’s initial interest back to 2004 when Secret Aardvark Trading Co. first started popping up at farmers markets. Owner Stacy Moritz partly attributes the local growth in the space to a culinarily creative and well-traveled customer base — but that’s admittedly more of a hunch than anything factual.

“I really find that hot sauce is like a window to the world,” she added.

Asking Stacy to pick a favorite from her company’s sauces understandably was like asking her to pick a favorite child, but she did share several recipes — including a pumpkin curry made with a splash of the smoked reaper sauce.

Of course, she also commended other hot sauces crafted in the region, and it seemed rude not to add a dab or two of our own picks.

Why do we feel the need to put our pinkies out when pouring this?
|
Photo by Marshall’s Haute Sauce

Stacy’s picks:

The Funk of 40,000 Years — HAB Sauce
Serrano Ginger Lemongrass — Marshall’s Haute Sauce
Salsa Verde — Hot Mama Salsa

PDXtoday’s picks:

Habango Mild — Saucy Beast
Ol’ Recipe Cayenne Hot Sauce — Miss Delta
Chocolate Habanero Honey — HAB Sauce

Did our hot sauce selections make you gasp in agreement or piping mad at the ones we left out? Let us know your go-to by sending us an email.

Events

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Bethany Village’s Halloween Hunt 2023 | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Bethany Village Centre, 4720 NW Bethany Blvd., Portland | Free | Bring your little monsters for a fun afternoon of trick-or-treating, ghostly games, and a bounce house.
Trick or Treat with the Troll | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 4-8 p.m. | Nordic Northwest, 8800 SW Oleson Rd., Portland | Free | Say hello to Ole Bolle and search for sweets on the stoops of traditional stugas (Nordic cottages) in the woods at this family-friendly night.
Upon This Blasted Heath: A One-Hour “Macbeth” | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Director Park, 815 SW Park Ave., Portland | Free | Take in this immersive, outdoor Shakespearean adaptation of “frightening witches, bloody battles, and macabre madness.”

Wednesday, Nov. 1

Olio Nuovo Festival | Wednesday, Nov. 1-Thursday, Nov. 30 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Durant at Red Ridge Farms, 5510 NE Breyman Orchards Rd., Dayton | Free | Enjoy a tasting of freshly milled olive oil, take a tour, do some early holiday shopping, and more.

Thursday, Nov. 2

Open House at OES | Thursday, Nov. 2, Sunday, Nov. 5 | Times vary | Oregon Episcopal School, 6300 SW Nicol Rd., Portland | Free | You’re invited to explore the OES campus, chat with leaders, teachers, and students, and learn about their unique model of inquiry-based learning.*

Friday, Nov. 3

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies | Friday, Nov. 3 | 7 p.m. | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $13+ | We can bear-ly contain our excitement for the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament, which this game counts toward.

Saturday, Nov. 4

Peculiarium Presents: Brothers Jam, Bring Out Your Dead | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Pecularium Hangar 13, 2204 NW Thurman St., Portland | $15-$20 | Portland’s museum of the weird and wacky is looking to bring good vibes to the stage of its intimate music venue with tunes of the Grateful Dead, Phish, Talking Heads, and other groovy bands.

Sunday, Nov. 5

Portland Thorns vs. NY/NJ Gotham FC | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 4 p.m. | Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison St., Portland | $30+ | The season comes down to this — a semifinal matchup for a shot at the NWSL championship.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Community

Typically, as temperatures drop, natural gas bills go up, but that may not be the case this winter. NW Natural says its rates will fall by 8% during the “heating season,” thanks to lower wholesale prices last year and next. (Portland Business Journal)

Edu

Next fall, students at Portland State University will be able to take a new course designed to fight racism and increase diversity in early education. The program, Licensure in Elementary Education Program (LEEP), aims to encourage community engagement and empower graduates to disrupt injustice when they see it. (KOIN)

Holiday

Meet Frida, a 12-ft-tall skeleton in the Mount Tabor neighborhood who’s become a local celebrity. Last year, Koi Hernandez and her husband Steven started decorating their house for Día de los Muertos, complete with a community ofrenda and alebrijes, and the outpouring of joy has been remarkable. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Plan Ahead

Winter sports enthusiasts, the slope-shredding season is almost here. If you’re in need of some new gear, Snowvana is bringing industry vendors and big discounts to the Portland Expo Center this weekend. Twenty-two resorts will be on site, offering multi-mountain passes, plus there is a film festival. (Portland Tribune)

Environment

Seven of Oregon’s glaciers have disappeared according to a recent study led by a geology professor at PSU. Continued melting could potentially impact the water supply to orchards near Hood River. Interestingly, Mount St. Helens has the West’s only growing glacier, thanks to snow accumulation in its north-facing crater. (OPB)

Gallery

Something wicked this way floats... it’s a selection of the best photos from last weekend’s Witches on the Willamette, when hundreds of stand-up paddleboarders took to the water under a clear October sky, cloaks flapping in a light breeze. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Beauty

Looking for an unbelievably close shave? Try Meridian Trimmers, engineered to empower individuals of all genders to achieve flawless grooming. Get 15% off a one-time purchase with code “6AM.”*

Travel

💦 Quench your thirst and curiosity

Quench your thirst and curiosity at the natural spring on Highway 26

A water bottle gets filled up at a natural spring.

People often fill large containers, so a bit of patience may be required for your turn. | Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday

On a trip to the Oregon Coast, it’s common to see several cars pulled off on both sides of Highway 26 about 45 miles outside of Portland.

Have you ever wondered, “What’s with all the hubbub?” The answer to that question actually comes bubbling out of the ground — natural spring water. It’s refreshing, it’s free, and its minerality makes it popular with homebrewers and chefs alike.

These drinking fountains represent a bygone era, when road trips were slower and spots to stop for a drink (or to cool down a car’s radiator) were few and far between. Today, the pace has picked up, so be extra careful driving in the area.

Still not convinced it’s worth it? We’ll let this Google review sway you. “This water tastes like water. But not just regular water. It’s like a better than water type of water. Like if water could be better than itself, this would be that water.”

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

Happy Halloween to all you zombies and ghouls. I hope everyone has a fun night of trick-or-treating — it looks like the weather is going to cooperate. Whether you’re out walking house to house or in your car, please be vigilant and drive slow. Accidents involving kids tend to skyrocket during this holiday.

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