It’s a full-circle moment for Jack and Nicki Moore, the couple behind Black Cap Hot Sauce. After founding their business during the pandemic and producing the first sauces in Watershed Kitchen + Bar – where Jack was the founding chef and Nicki was working in sales – they are planning to return to the space where it all began.
Jack left Watershed at the end of 2021 to focus on Black Cap and has been working out of a shared kitchen space in Mansfield since then. As the company grew into a full-time job for both Jack and Nicki, the constraints of a communal kitchen became apparent.
They said they sometimes had to wait 45 minutes or more to use the sink or other shared equipment. “What those little incubators are designed for is, exactly that, to incubate you from a startup phase to your next big step,” Jack said.
Watershed permanently closed its restaurant in November, which gave the two the opportunity to take that step. Black Cap’s production will move into a former cold-prep kitchen and office space in the back of the building.
“I’m the one who put that kitchen together back in the day,” Jack said, adding that the dining room will still be used for events and that the distillery is still active. “I want to be clear that I’m not reopening a restaurant,” he said.
Instead, it will be a chance for them to experiment and grow. “We’ve wanted to expand into other products or other flavors,” Jack said. “We can easily double our production of what we’re currently doing or add some products.”
And while their primary focus will be on Black Cap, Jack will be cooking a one-time dinner for Columbus Food Adventures’ Supper Club on March 11. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Jack and Nicki Moore, founders of Black Cap Hot Sauce
Local establishments receive recognition
The Refectory Restaurant, named a 2025 Best Restaurant in Columbus by Columbus Monthly, was rated the best French restaurant in Ohio by Tasting Table, a media company focused on food and drink.
And The Ohio Taproom was ranked as the No. 2 Best Beer Bar in the country in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. The same contest named Delaware’s Henmick Farm & Brewery as the nation’s No. 3 Best Beer Garden.
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This article originally appeared on Columbus Monthly: Jack and Nicki Moore move Black Cap Hot Sauce production to Watershed
Dining and Cooking