Sizzles: Naturally Namibian

Some women can do it all. They look amazing, they have great careers and then they go home and cook something that people would pay good money for after swapping their own dodgy dinner efforts for something more store bought and less health hazard. Enter Afra Schimming-Chase. Financial planner, foodie and now proud producer of Sizzles Hot Sauce.

Combining her African and Caribbean roots to produce a secret sauce recipe packed with the “the finest chillis the season has to offer”, Sizzles is a bit of a dream come true for the mother and maven who, like most people living their best lives, finds solace in the eating, drinking, cooking truism of “I just like food!” And that’s why she decided to bottle and sell what she enjoys.

An ardent food fan but not interested in the all day affair that is running a restaurant, Afra manages a modest but enthusiastic operation that produces green and red hot sauce once a week “for the discerning hot chilli lover”.

“I love food and I love cooking but I’ve always been fearful of starting a restaurant,” says Afra. “With Sizzles, I can express my love of food without it draining me or exhausting my passion.”

Keeping operations and production small, the boutique hot sauce comes in red and green variations made of habanero and cayenne chilli pepper in the red sauce and Thai and jalapeno chili peppers in the green.

While heat may vary depending on the calibre of chillies available from local farms, Afra recommends using Sizzles sparingly as is or adding a little mayonnaise to the sauce for a tangy dip.

Of course the cooking combinations are endless and Afra suggests adding some of the green sauce to chicken, fish and fresh vegetable dishes and using the red sauce to add some lekker to lamb.

Though it may not yet be the brand Beyoncé has in her bag, Sizzles made its debut at last month’s Windhoek City Market to rave reviews extolling its use of naturally Namibian produce sent soaring in a mix fresh chillies, spices, vinegar, garlic, onions, lemon and a cup of creativity. Which, in the green jar, may include a splash of white rum from the Dominican Republic.

A little naughty and not for the faint-hearted, Afra cautions first time Sizzles samplers inclined to ladle large lumps of the stuff over everything and sundry with some frank words of warning: “Go in slowly, my friends, it’s very hot in there!”

Sizzles is available at Nomad African Spa, Joy of Food, Wine Bar, Flaunt as well as from the producer and retails for N$150 a jar. Email sizzles@chaseflavours.com for more.

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