CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

I am honoured and thrilled to announce that I have been invited as special guest to host the League Of Fire Americas Belt Match at the first ever WEST COAST HOT SAUCE EXPERIENCE at Broadway Pier, San Diego, California! 💕💕💕

This is the brainchild of Gregory Foster – Multiple Guinness World Record Holder and owner of Inferno Farms; it will be the FIRST EVER chilli festival of its kind in San Diego and is going to be HUGE! The event will last the whole weekend on the 18 and 19 June 2022.

Tickets are available here: westcoasthotsauceexperience.com/tickets

I will be there on both days hosting and mingling! I am super excited to see many friends there and also to meet lots of people in person for the first time. This festival will be chock-a-block with artisan hot sauce producers, great food and live music, as well as a great many fun and painful activities designed to entertain the whole family. All this in the beautiful setting of sun-shining San Diego!

An official LOF Americas Belt Match is coming to SAN DIEGO in June!

Yes, you read that right! This will be the 2nd official chilli-eating contest for the prestigious RED BIRD Title Belt! Seven brave LOF Heroes are set to chomp through some mega-hot peppers, but only ONE can win the BELT!

This event will be organised by the wonderful folks at Inferno Farms and you can buy their gourmet chilli products here: infernofarmshotsauce.com

Unfortunately Jared ‘Farmer J’ Smith has had to change his plans and will not be competing at the event.

But 7 will not become 6! A Brave Chilli-Head has stepped up to the plate!

Owner of Mojave Green Hot Sauce Co. and a San Diego local boy Chris ‘Pepper Bae’ Fisher will be chomping to the championship and battling the Bhutlahs to get to the BELT! 🤩

INTRODUCING THE CONTESTANTS FOR the 2nd LOF AMERICAS BELT MATCH IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ON 19 JUNE 2022.

I am very happy to talk about the competitors battling it out for the 2nd League Of Fire – Chilli Eating Champions Americas Title Belt Match.

There are 7 contestants from 3 states in America – 3 from California, 2 from Washington, and 2 from Texas.

• From California, we have Jif ‘The Fireman’ Giovanni, Eric ‘Midge’ Welbaum, and Chris ‘Pepper Bae’ Fisher.
• From Washington, we have Katie ‘Beyond Seattle Eats’ Prettyman and Ruthie ‘Reaper’ Booth.
• From Texas, we have Zachary ‘The Texas Hot Spot’ Goot and Jayson ‘Bat Pants’ Hairrell.

If I were to sit down and list all their achievements, this will be a very long blog so I will avoid in-depth details but suffice to say, there is a reason these contestants have been picked to compete for the Red Bird – the LOF Americas Title Belt!

I am blown away by their gumption to travel to San Diego to represent their states and participate in the 2nd Americas Title Match! The 1st Americas Title Match was held at Heating up the Capital Festival in Canada on 4 September 2021, and the Belt was won by Mike Jack. Mike graciously vacated the Belt for this Match to go ahead as he was unable to travel to this event to defend his title. Mike remains the undefeated LOF Americas Champion and will hopefully have another go in the future to try and become 2-times Champion.

I’m also deeply honoured to be hosting this in San Diego and I can’t wait to meet all these wonderful people in person, most for the first time as well as the organisers and the US chilli community members who will be present at the event. ❤❤❤🌶🏆😍🥇

I wanted to tell you all a little about each of the contestants in their own words – how they got into our weird and wonderful world of chilli and what it means to them to take part in the League Of Fire – Chilli Eating Champions Americas Title Belt Match happening at the West Coast Hot Sauce Experience in San Diego on the 19th of June.

FROM CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE JIF ‘THE FIREMAN’ GIOVANNI. 😍🥰😘

“Our whole family has always been into spicy!

My brother and I created a Facebook group almost 7 years ago for the love of spicy food.

We chronicled our spicy journey into pods, sauces, oils, and tinctures – which finally led to our discovery of challenges.

I got into the League of Fire early in its inception, seeing the challenges available, and the competitors who would later become my friends was amazing for me.

The pandemic allowed me to cultivate a lot of friendships which in turn led to a multitude of challenges. One of my favourite activities was helping contestants complete these challenges without making mistakes that would nullify their attempt.

I’ve been a big supporter of League of Fire and all its members, so for me competing on that stage for the League of Fire Americas Belt, against all my friends is an experience that I will cherish and never ever forget.

Thank you.”

FROM TEXAS, WE HAVE ZACHARY ‘THE TEXAS HOT SPOT’ GOOT. 😍🥰😘

“I’m from Texas in case anyone didn’t know… Lol!

And going to this competition is the literal epitome of my entire chilli-head journey!

It will be the first time I get to meet some of these amazing people who inspire me daily! I have a hard determination to go as far as I possibly can in this competition and I will definitely give it my all as I’m sure most of my competitors will be doing the same.

It’s amazing to me how someone such as myself, who started this as a hobby when Covid started, could be sharing a stage with such amazing people and icons of the chili community!

I was just out on a limb when I started The Texas Hot Spot, but now I realize the importance of my place in this community and I believe wholeheartedly that I’ve earned my spot at this table with my fellow competitors! Good luck to all! I love each and everyone of you!”

FROM WASHINGTON, WE HAVE KATIE ‘BEYOND SEATTLE EATS’ PRETTYMAN. 😍🥰😘

“Growing up with a mother who made Shining Noodle Soup that burned my chin as the noodles hit it, and living next to neighbors who made Green Chile Stew that would burn your taste buds off, really shaped me and my love for food and spice! Food became a “dare” for me.

In 2018, I threw my hat into the competitive-eating world and months later ended up on the world stage at the Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Contest. While pursuing this foodie challenge, I learned that many competitive eaters tried spicy challenges, but didn’t really like them. I quickly learned that I love them!

3 years later and I have fallen in love with the chilli-head community. The products and challenges brighten my day, and the people are absolutely superb. I’ve never felt so “seen” as I do being a part of The League of Fire.”

FROM WASHINGTON, WE HAVE RUTHIE ‘REAPER’ BOOTH. 😍🥰😘

“Hello Chilli-heads! My name is Ruth Booth & I live in my Hometown of Olympia, WA!

I’ve always enjoyed spicy foods, but Never EVER did I think it would be at this level! In 10/2020 I had lived in Cushing, OK. & I started a Small Home Based Business, “Ruthie’s Canning Company” where I made Bread, Jams, & Salsa for the community.

I also enjoyed gardening & even planted jalapenos…Lol! My 🔥Sauce choices were common household brands such as Cholula, Valentino, & Tabasco. All of this still remains the same except the choices have been cranked up on the ‘Ol SHU Thermometer!

On 2/7/2020, my friend Chris_CAPSAICIN_Stinton thought it would be Cool for us to do some 🔥 Challenges together! This lead to creating “The Heat Source”  We endured MANY Super 🔥 Challenges & even though we parted to do our own ventures it opened up my love for all things Spicy Even More!

In 11/2020, Guns and Reapers was born! I’ve now obtained close to 400 Sauces of Some Absolutely Amazing Sauces Crafted by Some Absolutely Amazing People! My Brother from Another Mother, Vic Clinco, has made me a 🔥 Sauce influencer for CaJohns/Hot Shots Distributing! (How Cool is That?!)

I’ve partaken in 18 LOF Challenges putting me at #58 in the LOF 🌎 Rankings & Coming Soon I’m honored to say I’ll have my very own Ruthie_REAPER_Booth LOF Collector’s Card!!

Now on 19th June, I get the Absolute Pleasure of Meeting & Competing with some Simply Wonderful Chilli-Heads whom I Value, Respect, Look Up To, & Love Very Much! Idk if I’ll win, but I’ll give it my 💯% Best Efforts!

More than Anything Else, I couldn’t pass up this Amazing Invitation! I’m Beyond Thankful! Meeting ALL of You will create a Memory I’ll carry in my heart FOREVER!! Much ❤ & Luck to Everyone!!!

“KEEP IT HOT!!” 🔥 🔥 🔥”

FROM CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE ERIC ‘MIDGE’ WELBAUM. 😍🥰😘

“Eric Midge Welbaum here from Sacramento, California.

Being able to be on that stage to compete with some of my closest friends and top chilli-heads means the world to me.

I never thought I would do something like this and it will be my biggest challenge so far but I will give it my best to make everyone proud.

I have always loved spicy things but never over the top spicy until about 2 years ago when I joined a group of like minded chilli-heads called The Pod People and since then I have been big time into going above and beyond with the burn.

I’m very proud of what we all do in the community and consider a lot of members to be my family.

I make my own hot sauces “Creature Sauce Co” that many say are their favorite sauces and that makes me very proud of myself.

The End.”

FROM TEXAS, WE HAVE JASON ‘BATPANTS’ HAIRRELL. 😍🥰😘

“I’m Jayson Hairrell and I reside in the great state of Texas. My introduction to the chili world began with my brother and I daring each other to try his home grown super hot peppers.

Later, the pandemic brought my wife and I the gift of starting our own garden, where I found growing tomatoes and cucumbers were just too boring. Weaponized fruit became my passion immediately.

I later found myself following many fantastic groups on social media that introduced me to like-minded people, and the League of Fire.

Being part of an official League of Fire event is something I still cannot fathom, and to picture myself among many of the idols I thought were untouchable is an achievement I never thought I’d reach.

Each and every competitor that will be on that stage has shown they are the ultimate heat eaters, the driven, the fire-breathing beasts of the community, and I’m proud to say I am one of them.”

FROM CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE CHRIS ‘PEPPER BAE’ FISHER. 😍🥰😘

“I’m from California, originally from San Diego. I’ve always had a taste for hot, ever since I was a little kid I’ve been that guy who can take any kind of heat!

I lost my job during COVID and decided if I couldn’t find a job in town then I needed to start one, so I started my hot sauce company Mojave Green Hot Sauce right after I found this beautiful community that has given me lifelong friendships. 

On the 19th, I get to sit down and compete with some truly amazing human beings and on top of it burn in the process. What better way to spend an afternoon?

I may be a late addition but don’t think that means you can count Pepper Bae out; the only way I’m leaving that table without the League of Fire Americas Belt is if my body gives up on me!

The kid from Lemon Grove is taking that Belt home!”

And there you have the 7 contestants for the 2nd LOF Americas Title Belt Match!

If you’re local, come on down to Broadway Pier in San Diego and cheer for the great competitors! I’m so looking forward to sharing the stage with these Americas Belt Match warriors! ❤️

If you can’t get here, the LOF will attempt a live-stream on their YouTube channel! ❤️