Top Chef Suggestion: Yellow Pepper Paste

Recently I had the opportunity to poke my head in at the Top Chef Tour as it came through Kansas City. The idea? Past Top Chef contestants go head to head in cities across the country in a live Quick Fire Challenge. The twist? Each chef was able to bring a single special ingredient! Can you guess who brought this pepper paste along to the party?

Food Spotting and Bravo are taking Top Chefs across the country and visiting farmers markets and the like. This time the face-off was between Chef Hector Santiago and Nikki Cascone as they had a beef dish to prepare in just 15 minutes..

The afternoon was quite delightful and the smells inside that open-air tent were simply amazing, due in part to Hector's Yellow Pepper Paste from Tradiciones Andinas. It was sweet and spicy and did amazing things for the smell and taste of the food presented. Although we were unable to find anywhere that sells it online, it is from a major distributor here in the US, so look for it next time you're out shopping wherever you buy your ethnic goods!

• See if the Top Chef Tour is coming to a city near you
• See more photos from the Kansas City Santiago-Cascone face off

(Image: Sarah Rae Trover, Too-Hectic)

Comments (5)

Aji Aji Aji
beloved you are to me
all sensation
and a little bit of sear,
where would my gallina be
without your cooperation?

And amazon's too... I like this brand.

Delicious Aji Amarillo !!! it's great with some mayonaisse (for people who is not used to hot and spicy) as dip for chips !! Look for it at Latino stores... Yummy !!!!

oh meng, aji amarillo is the main ingredient of peruvian cuisine! papa la huancayna, ceviche, lomo saltado, etc., etc., my mom saves the seeds and plants a batch every spring. delicious.

In Peru my host made wonton wrappers stuffed with queso fresco slices, deep fried, then served with aji amarillo and mayonaisse as a dip.
We also had aji amarillo mixed with a paste of water and breadcrumbs to make it milder, served over potatoes, chicken, with hard boiled egg and black olives.

Found Aji Amarillo paste at Williams Sonoma and use it on chicken and fish!!