I’m a chef working in a hotel that serves around 800 guests daily. We used to offer whole dried chilies next to our fresh-baked pizzas, but I wanted to give guests a better spicy choice, something more flavorful and versatile. A few weeks ago, I started making a spicy, aromatic chili oil to offer alongside the pizzas. I didn’t expect much. I just wanted to give guests a decent spicy option.
Fast forward: this chili oil became wildly popular. Guests started asking for it even when pizza wasn’t on the menu. One night, our pizzaiolo didn’t show up, so no pizza—and no chili oil. Guests noticed. They asked. A lot. We had to rush it out to the buffet mid-service. That’s when I realized this product was way more popular than I initially anticipated.
Even our staff are hooked. Every night after service, when it’s time for dinner, they come to me asking for chili oil. Every. Single. Night.
Here are some shots from the kitchen:
1️⃣ The oil in a casserole, bubbling with aromatics and herbs
2️⃣ The chili flakes I made from dried chilies in the food processor
3️⃣ The chili oil before cooling and packaging—still warm, rich, and fragrant
4️⃣ The final product—our 5L plastic container of liquid fire
It’s spicy, fragrant, and apparently addictive. Never thought a side idea would become a signature. Anyone else have a sleeper hit like this in their kitchen?
by Noumides
21 Comments
We call it T-Star sauce.
It’s salt and pepper wings roasted until nearly crispy, then tossed in jerk spice, then roasted again for a minute or two to toast the spices and properly crisp the wings, then tossed in more jerk rub warmed and mixed with a bit of franks. (We don’t have hoodvents so we’re a fairly limited kitchen in a number of senses, I do my best Jeff).
There was a woman at the bar named T***** who would always order them done that way. She’s a regular bar star, so we literally just started calling them T-Star wings. It’s a whole option on the POS system and everything now.
We have a pretty good dry jerk rub to begin with, to the point that people from the Carribean have told me it’s nearly as good as home. Add in a little ~~vinegar~~ hot sauce for the Canadian palate and you’ve got magic on a plate.
What is this AI slop
I’ve never been into hard drugs but I’d shoot chili oil straight into my veins
Sounds awesome! I’d love a recipe if you’re willing to share, I’d like to try to make some in our kitchen on my down time.
Is that plastic container safe?
There’s something indescribably appealing about that last picture
Jesus dude. Stroke your shit a little harder…
Sounds amazing.
Fry me some eggs with that chili oil pls
So this is how you start the marketing campaign for your new sauce brand? 🙂
I bet that oil absolutely fucks. Well done chef
oooooh baby that stuff looks beautiful.
..I would like a taste please.
Just a taste.
Nobody else in that place can make pizzas? Who’s running this joint.
Chili oil over pizza has become crack to me
Recipe plz
salsa de semillas? looks good
Why not in a glass bottle?
please share the recipe!
Literally the story of how Lao Gan Ma started.
What kind of neutral oil do you use