Meet Cole Moulton | Founder | Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cole Moulton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cole, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When we started the North Texas Hot Sauce Festival last year, our primary aim was to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked, smaller batch hot sauce artisans scattered throughout Texas. These artisans, brimming with creativity and dedication, rarely find themselves competing on equal footing with industry giants at sprawling “spicy food” extravaganzas that periodically descend upon our region. The hefty participation fees associated with these mainstream festivals often serve as insurmountable barriers, leaving many of these talented makers sidelined.

What’s more, while these events market themselves as “Hot Sauce” festivals, the reality often strays far from the label. Attendees are greeted not only by hot sauce vendors but also by a hodgepodge of other culinary offerings ranging from salsas and BBQ sauces to assorted snacks like chips and nuts. It’s a cacophony that dilutes the essence of what truly defines a hot sauce festival, particularly within the rich tapestry of Texan culinary craftsmanship.

Yet, nestled within the heart of Texas lies an abundance of locally-crafted, locally-sourced hot sauces—each a testament to the state’s culinary diversity and ingenuity. These sauces, crafted with passion and precision, deserve recognition on a grander stage. Thus, our mission was clear: to provide a platform exclusively dedicated to these artisanal treasures, proudly proclaiming “ONLY HOT SAUCE, ONLY FROM TEXAS.”

Through our dedication to this cause, we’ve forged partnerships with exceptional Texas-based companies who share our vision of celebrating local talent. Moreover, we’ve transformed our festival into more than just a showcase of spicy delights; it’s become a beacon of community engagement and philanthropy. Each year, we channel our collective passion into fundraising efforts, with proceeds benefiting a diverse array of charitable causes. Raffles, auctions, and other collaborative initiatives not only raise vital funds but also foster a sense of unity and purpose within the hot sauce community.

In essence, the North Texas Hot Sauce Festival transcends its role as a mere culinary event. It serves as a testament to the power of grassroots advocacy, a celebration of Texas’s vibrant culinary heritage, and a beacon of hope for aspiring artisans across the state. Together, we’ve cultivated a community bound by a shared love for fiery flavors and a commitment to making a meaningful difference, one bottle of hot sauce at a time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At the North Texas Hot Sauce Festival, we’re proud to be the only hot sauce festival that focuses solely on Hot Sauces. We’re excited that we get to bring these small batch makers throughout the community to the spotlight and allow them to showcase their creative and unique sauces.

This whole festival started with an idea between myself, Chad and Devin from Freaky Ferments, and friend and hot sauce afficionado, Oliver Loving, talking at an event one day in August. Chad and Devin had just gotten done with a market and came to grab a drink and hangout with Oliver at the market I was working. I brought up the fact that I wanted to the local Dallas/Ft. Worth companies together and throw a little hot sauce shindig. Right away, everyone was on board. Like me, it stewed in their minds for a few days, and we just dove head first into the planning of it. We had a location ready in a day or two, we knew we had the local DFW companies on board to be there, and then it kind of blew up. We just started hitting up every Hot Sauce maker we knew or could find throughout Texas. We found amazing sponsors like Melinda’s Hot Sauces, Rambler Sparkling Water, and Brutal Beerworks and were able to partner with Foundation 45 to help raise money and awareness for their mission to support the mental health of creatives throughout DFW.

The toughest obstacle we had to overcome was time. We planned out the whole festival last year within a 2 month time period. The location we partnered with for the festival, Brutal Beerworks, had been looking for an event to do in October of last year besides their annual Oktoberfest, and since they donated the space, we jumped at the opportunity. So in two months, we wrangled 30 hot sauce companies from all over Texas together, food trucks, live tattooing and screen-printing, as well as sponsorships/partners. We had to overcome any challenges that got in the way by pooling our resources and just knocking it out. It was insane and a lot of work, but the event went off without a hitch and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Biggest lesson we learned along the way, have more restrooms!!!!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m sure that everyone on the team over here would agree. One of the best things you can do to showcase and highlight the diversity of the DFW Metroplex would be to hit up any local market/pop-up you can. You get a real sense of the community at these markets and often they are in great areas throughout North Texas that are surrounded by bars, restaurants, breweries, and other local businesses. So, whether you wander around down in Deep Ellum or Lower Greenville, head to the Dallas Farmers Market, or to any other community market, you’ve got the best local food, awesome people, and can find the best the DFW has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, we’d probably all agree on this end that the hot sauce community is the reason we do what we do. So we’d dedicate this shoutout to all other hot sauce companies.

In the midst of North Texas’s barbecue and salsa dominance, the hot sauce community stands out as a close-knit and rare breed. Despite our small numbers, we’re bound by a shared passion for fiery flavors and a commitment to supporting one another.

In this tight-knit circle, knowledge flows freely. We exchange tips, supplier details, and brainstorm new ideas with ease. What sets us apart is our spirit of collaboration—despite being competitors, we often join forces to create hot sauces together that are truly unique.

In our world, competition takes a backseat to camaraderie. We’re a community that celebrates each other’s successes and supports one another through challenges. Together, we’re proving that unity and creativity can overcome any obstacle and have a ton of fun in the process.

Website: https://ntxhotsaucefest.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ntxhotsaucefest

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ntxhotsaucefest