Meet the Chef Behind the Colorful, Uniquely-Flavored Hot Sauces That Are a Party in Your Mouth

Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel is a food writer, recipe developer, and editor. She is the author of four cookbooks, one of which was a #2 best-seller of 2017.
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published Mar 4, 2022
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Samantha Davis-Allonce of Hot N Saucy
Credit: Ari Skin

If you want to hear some strong opinions, ask a friend about their favorite hot sauce. Heatseekers tend to be passionate about the topic, and many I know are delighted when they find a new sauce that hits all of the right notes. That’s why I can’t wait to introduce all of my spice-loving friends to Hot N Saucy, a vegetable-based and vegan hot sauce company from chef Sam Davis-Allonce.

Just look at those flavors! The colorful lineup includes Garlic N Peperoncini (featured on Hot Ones), Beet N Fresno (which Davis-Allonce describes as similar to spicy ketchup), and their newest and hottest option, Collards N Ghost. “Our ingredients are what make our sauces stand out. They’re bright, they’re fun, and very unique,” says Davis-Allonce. They’re guaranteed to impress any hot sauce connoisseur.

Hot N Saucy was started by Davis-Allonce in 2020, with the chef dreaming up flavors and cooking up all of the sauces herself. The brand is now sold at retailers like Home Goods, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Amazon as well as their website. With thousands of bottles sold per month, Hot N Saucy has outsourced manufacturing and fulfillment, and plans to be in a grocery store near you very soon.

Davis-Allonce is an experienced entrepreneur and passionate about her company, which comes through in her sauce flavors, vibrant packaging, and marketing. When asked what advice she’d give other entrepreneurs, the chef, mom, and wife gets a bit philosophical. “Honestly, the first thing you have to do is believe you can do it,” she says, channeling a little Tony Robbins energy. “If I didn’t think that I could do it, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

While Davis-Allonce appreciates the attention put on Black-owned businesses during Black History Month, she hopes to see the outpouring of support extend to 365 days a year. “It’s very important to shop Black-owned and keep money flowing within Black communities because these businesses that have started two, three, four, five years ago, these are businesses that we plan to pass down to our children and keep in our families,” she says. “The dollar that you spend … not only supports the business but supports people that look like me, my children, our communities, our schools, and so much more.”