Searching for the Spiciest Hot Sauce in NYC | 2026 NYC Hot Sauce Expo (Day 1)

Day 1 of the 2026 NYC Hot Sauce Expo was ABSOLUTE CHAOS! 🌶️🗽 I’m back on the floor for the first day of the legendary NYC Hot Sauce Expo, curated by Steve Seabury of High River Sauces and Hot Sauce Havoc. The energy this year was electric, especially with the Screaming Mi Mi Awards on the line and the legendary Extreme Heat Challenges pushing people to their absolute limits on stage. This video is all about the makers, the heat, and the community. I spent the day walking the floor, tasting the latest small-batch drops, and catching up with friends of the podcast and familiar faces from across the expo circuit. It’s a masterclass in spicy culture, from the technical craft of the awards to the pure madness of the stage events. In this episode: 🔥 The Vendor Floor: Tasting my way through the 2026 lineup. 🏆 The Screaming Mi Mi’s: Checking out the best of the best in the industry. 🤢 Extreme Heat: Watching the fallout from the stage challenges. 🎙️ Podcast Reunion: Catching up with makers we’ve featured on Fire & Flavor. Massive shoutout to Steve and the High River crew for another incredible setup. The hot sauce community is stronger than ever. Shout out to all of the amazing vendors at the show. Without all of you, this community wouldn't exist. Which stage challenge is your favorite to watch? Let me know in the comments! IG 📸: @NYCHotSauceExpo @HotSauceHavoc @HighRiverSauces Web 🌐: https://nychotsauceexpo.com ---- Follow on IG 📸: fire.and.flavor 🔥 If you love hot sauce then subscribe & turn up the heat! 🔥 Available on all major streaming platforms! 🎧 #hotsauce #spicy #foodie #hotsaucelover