The Hottie Sauce from mega-star Megan Thee Stallion made its spicy debut at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations nationwide Tuesday, so we joined the lunchtime crowd at the restaurant on the San Jose/Saratoga border to give it a try.
Hottie, made with honey, cider vinegar, Aleppo pepper and Louisiana-made, cayenne-pepper-based Crystal hot sauce, “flaunts a sweet, yet bold flavor with a hint of spice, inspired by Megan’s sassy personality,” according to the Popeyes marketing folks.
But the prospect of a chicken sandwich drenched in who-knows-how-hot sauce was a little daunting. We opted instead for the new chicken nuggets so we could control the level of heat and switch to a tamer sauce if needed. And ordered a large thirst-quencher in case we had to reach for it right away. And a cup of cooling cole slaw.
Took our first taste and … didn’t reach for a drink.
Hmmm.
Dipped another nugget. This sauce, flecked with hot red pepper flakes, has a bite. But it’s not blistering. In fact, it’s tamer than the raunchy lyrics she sings.
Other customers agreed (well, not in those words).
Saratoga Chamber of Commerce president Chuck Page, of Farmers Insurance, called it a “great blend of sweet and hot.”
“My first thought was, ‘Wow, that’s sweet,’ and then the heat kicked in — not enough to cringe but the right amount to fire up my taste buds in a desire for more. I liked it!”
George and Nick Castro, cousins from Campbell and students at San Jose High School, stopped by for lunch with Nacho the chihuahua.
George had a look of surprise on his face after the first bite. “It’s not that spicy. I expected it to be hot,” he said. “It tastes like Sweet Heat” — one of Popeyes’ other dipping sauces — “only sweeter.”
Would he order it again? Yep.
According to Popeyes representatives, Hottie Sauce will be available for a limited time only. But with Megan The Stallion announcing that she is becoming a Popeyes franchisee, there may be long-term demand for her co-branded sauce. Source: www.mercurynews.com