Chilli and garlic lovers – this one is for you! Stinky and Scorchy sell natural gourmet foods with a focus on all things chilli and garlic. Whether it’s hot sauces, jams, mayonnaises, oils or marinades, you’ll find a number of speciality, artisan products sold on Stinky and Scorchy. We had a chat with the founder, Kieran, about starting up the brand.
This producer spotlight is part of our series for the brands that will be highlighted at TheTaste.ie Producer’s Row with Taste of Dublin. These producers will be present during the festival, so make sure to come along and try them out. You can purchase tickets here, and learn more about the Producer’s Row here
Have you always had a great love of food?
I have always had a love of good food. My father was a keen gardener and a lovely fresh salad was always only a few metres from the back door with our own lettuce, beetroot, radishes and potatoes available.
Can you tell me about your own background in the food industry?
I have worked in the sales, marketing and distribution of quality and speciality foods for the last 39 years.
What inspired you to set up your business?
Earlier last year from our experience of the market and access to our suppliers, we set up an online garlic, chilli and olive store, offering all types of gourmet food products in those three categories.
Is this your first time taking part in Taste of Dublin?
We did Taste of Dublin last year and it was great.
Do you have anything special planned for your stand at Taste of Dublin?
This year we will be concentrated on our range of sweet heat Mahi sauces and our farm Produced garlic range.
Where do you source the ingredients used to make your products?
We do not source ingredients but carefully select products that fall into our niche.
Can you tell me about some of the benefits associated with your products?
Much of our range is suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and is also gluten free.
How important has social media been for you in spreading the word?
Social media, especially Instagram, has been priceless.
Where can people get your product (shops, restaurants?)
We sell mainly online but are available at some select gourmet stores and delis.
What, do you think, are some of the most interesting dishes that have been created with your product? Do you have any favourites?
I make a delicious Texas Chilli with large chunks of premium round steak flavoured and darkened with our Black Garlic Purée and fired up with Mahi Chipotle sweet heat sauce.
Are there any other small Irish food producers you admire?
I love the Little Milk Company in Waterford – they sell organic Irish cheeses.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced since going into business?
The biggest challenge is cashflow. We pay up front for all our products.
What do you feel is your biggest achievement to date with this business?
Biggest achievement has been getting returning customers and buying online.
Could you ever have imagined doing anything else with your life?
I will always work with food or drink!
What does the future hold for your business?
The plan is to consolidate the business with our online customers, and constantly introduce new and interesting lines, to share our wonderful range with more independent gourmet stores and to deliver our range across Europe in the near future.
Whether you want to learn chef skills from the best, shake your way through a cocktail masterclass, transport yourself to a tapas bar in sunny Spain or find a fellow food lover to feast with, there is plenty to see, do and devour at Taste of Dublin.
TheTaste.ie is now sponsoring the Producer’s Row at Taste of Dublin 2023. The producers featured this year are:
- Open Hive
- Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese
- Ellie’s Kitchen Home Edition
- Coconut & Moo Moo
- Stinky & Scorchy
- Nana’s Tea
- Dublin Hills Goats Cheese
- SuperOat
