Last spring, Edible Long Island editor Betsy Davidson and Edible writer T.W. Barritt, stumbled upon a new hot sauce shop that had just opened on busy New York Avenue in Huntington Village. The article appeared in the 2015 high summer edition of Edible Long Island.
“I was literally open about a day when Betsy first walked in here,” says Some Like it Hot and Spicy owner, Lonny Root. “We’ve come a long way since then.”
I decided to revisit this interesting specialty store to find out how it’s grown.
Two of the most interesting new products is a spicy, all-natural peanut butter made in Manhattan, and a hot pepper infused honey made in Brooklyn.
Some Like it Hot and Spicy has increased its product line from 300 items to 600. Not only does the shop carry an enormous variety of domestic hot sauces, they also carry spicy mustards, marinades, steak sauces, salsas, jams and jellies, horseradish dips, spicy salts and spicy peanuts. New to the store, and perfect for winter, is spicy hot chocolate, which comes in two flavors: chipotle which is mild, and habanero which is hot. Two of the most interesting new products is a spicy, all-natural peanut butter made in Manhattan, and a hot pepper infused honey made in Brooklyn.
Lonny Root at Some Like It Hot and Spicy has a tasting bar.
Lonny Root tries to carry as many locally produced products as possible, and sells barbecue sauces made in Blue Point and in Port Washington, and a hot sauce made in Plainview. Other products such as grilling rubs and spices come from around the country.
A new hot sauce line called Hell’s Kitchen comes from New York City, and has quickly become a hot new item. Five different sauces feature Scotch bonnet, chipotle, jalapeno, habanero or a mixed pepper blend. All the sauces in the store range from very mild to very hot.
So how do you choose? Root has set up a tasting bar where he will dip little disposable wooden spoons into the sauce, starting with the mildest and working the way up the heat scale. I tried Lucky Dog’s Mild and Lightly-Smoked Pepper Sauce, Hell’s Kitchen Habanero Mango Sauce and Mr. Pepper’s Artisan Hot Sauce, and ended up going home with all three. Each sauce had its own level of heat and a unique flavor.
A Huntington resident, Root is a paper hangar by trade, and needed a change in his life.
Sauces from all over the country, and lots of local, fill the shelves.
“I’ve always been interested in food,” he says. “Whenever I traveled I’d always come home with cookbooks and sauces and different flavors from around the country. And I love spicy food. So I’ve been following the industry for a long time, and I thought it would be great to add some flavor, and spice things up a bit in Huntington. Business has really been fantastic. I just didn’t know what to expect.”
So if you’re looking to spice things up this winter, head on over to Some Like it Hot and Spicy. Pre-made or custom made gift baskets are also available.
Hours are Tuesday – Sunday from 11 am – 8 p.m.
