Quotes & Anecdotes

Here are some of this things others are saying about Dave's (And some of the things people are saying TO us!)

  • “Dave’s condiments & salsas are legendary.” The Washington Post
  • “The Hottest culinary experience known to man” The New York Times
  • “….the legendary, Dave Hirschkop, the granddaddy of ultra hot sauces” The Wall Street Journal
  • “Wow, tasty, whew….I couldn’t speak…..I didn’t think anything could be that hot…...enjoyed root canals more….It’s really good…..he’s not so crazy after all….blazed a trail….DG is a little different…..his company started the extra hot trend…..one of the most popular hot sauce companies in the country…..maybe he is insane….its very good….it’s just right….I would rec. this highly…..that’s good….flat out stinging.” The Food Network
  • “(Chile Today pretzels) they are delish”, Rachel Ray on Rachel Ray Show
  • Dirk Firman put Insanity Sauce on his steak to keep his cat, Tiger, away. He videotaped his cat eating it and then looking into the camera and going meow.
  • Thurman Miller III used Insanity Sauce to get the bats out of his attic
  • Krysta Sutterfield and Lady Shandra- put a few drops on a sponge and use it as a grill cleaner.
  • “Dave Hirschkop is known as an innovator…..adjustable hot sauce is a revolution in product design…..Hirschkop became infamous for his Dave's Insanity Hot Sauce” Businessweek (Online)
  • An Insanity user put the sauce on his terrarium to keep his bird from bothering his turtle. The bird started to make its first trip over to the terrarium. Upon pecking the Insanity Sauce, the bird jumped back to its cage and yelled “asshole”.
  • “favorite cheese condiments are Purple Basil Jelly and Golden Raspberry Jam” The Early Show (Dana Cowin from Food & Wine Magazine was appearing)
  • “The food world is blessed with perfect pairings – Palette Fine Food’s Peppered Black Mission Fig Preserve teamed with unctuous gorgonzola. …the creaminess of Italian blue an ideal foil for the Preserve’s rich sweetness and peppery aftertaste.” Food & Drink Magazine
  • Family Circle Editors’ Choice (Gourmet Salts) – Family Circle Magazine
  • “Dave – you’re a genius (regarding adjustable hot sauce) The Wave Magazine
  • Fishermen put Insanity on bait and catch cod with it, per Dawn’s Italian Restaurant
  • A consumer reported that Insanity Sauce makes a great stove cleaner, but a painful hand lotion.
  • A priest in California gave a sermon on absolute truth. In his sermon he said “Insanity Sauce is hot” as an example of truth.
  • “Dave’s Gourmet Adjustable Heat Hot Sauce…Cool” Time Magazine
  • “Top Ten list covering “Innovations of the Year”” BBC News
  • “who started the Superhot category of sauces” Fiery-foods.com
  • “…the most legendary hot sauce guru.” Sunset Magazine
  • “Dave’s condiments & salsas are legendary in the world of things piquant” The Washington Post
  • “this one is really nice (Hurtin Habanero & Honey Mustard)” Sara Moulton, Good Morning America
  • “An absolutely addictive snack” (the olives) “You can’t beat this heat” Vegetarian Times
  • “Adjustable Heat Hot Sauce amazed just about everyone” Sacramento Bee
  • “Dave’s could well put hair on your chest and tears in your eyes” The Boston Globe
  • “Boy this stuff is hot” Bryant Gumbel, Today Show
  • “The Hottest Hot Sauce on the Market” Scott Simon – National Public Radio
  • “The hottest chili sauces are known as ‘the untouchables’ making Dave Hirschkop, inventor of Dave’s Ultimate Insanity Hot Sauce, the Don” GQ (Gentleman’s Quarterly)
  • “Dave’s Insanity strips wax floors” “Dave’s Ultimate Insanity….is regarded by aficionadaos the world’s hottest usable condiment” GQ (Gentleman’s Quarterly)
  • “Hirschkop, a smart articulate man” “Hirschkop was the pioneer of Ultra Hot Sauce” “Since Hirschkop invented the industry (super hot sauce).” “Patti Labelle carries a bottle with her (Ultimate Insanity) GQ Gentleman’s Quarterly
  • “actually quite funny…full of interesting chile facts and lore…. a must have for all the chileheads out there and those who want to be” The Gourmet Retailer
  • “A fiery & tasty grill sauce” Food & Wine Magazine
  • “I took a plate put a piece of cheese in the middle and made a circle with Daves Insanity Sauce. The rest is history…….I enjoyed the movie and my wings in peace and he’s (the mouse) restin in peace. I have a whole new meaning for the ring of fire” Mark
  • “super hot hot sauce” MTV
  • “Palette Fine Foods Preserves For Cheese make an easy and flavorful addition to a cheese board and go with a wide selection of cheeses, grapes and wine for an easy and festive appetizer.” - Fancy Food Magazine
  • “….the guy who started it all. ….yielded a whole new category of hot. ….ushered in a whole new era for hot sauce.” The Albuquerque Journal
  • “new product and packaging from Dave’s Gourmet is exciting. …makes this product stand out. This product (adjustable)…. particularly appealing.” Package Design Magazine
  • Terry Carpenter & Glenn Jerman of Derita Small Engine Co. in Charlotte put Insanity on Sugar Pops cereal to catch carp for competitions
  • “This ruddy-red salsa with a roasted flavor pleases the fire eaters”(temporary insanity) Eating Well Magazine
  • “no fan of spicy food can afford to be without Dave’s Adjustable Heat Hot Sauce or the new Hot Sauce and Garden Spray” San Diego Union Tribune
  • “a collector’s item” Eating Well Magazine
  • “changed me forever….Hot sauce connoisseurs know Dave’s…..approach Dave’s with humility and respect….my brain screamed in ecstasy” Fiery Foods & BBQ Magazine
  • (Jump original) “a lip smacking blend of habanero peppers, papaya, honey, mustard, ginger and spices.” - The Kansas City Star
  • “I find myself in a surprising love affair. Your Ultimate Insanity Sauce has filled the emptiness of my meals and the loneliness of my taste buds. Thank you . You wonderful, wonderful man.” Imee
  • “there’s hot…and then there’s HOT!” Home Business Journal
  • “Insanity Sauce made a believer of me” Home Business Journal
  • “Dave is about fun” Home Business Journal
  • “you can really impress her with the Insanity Asylum” Home Business Journal
  • “who could ignore a zany guy in a straight jacket selling Insanity Sauce” Home Business Journal
  • “America’s hottest bachelor” Home Business Journal
  • “ingenious young man (Dave)” Home Business Journal
  • “marketing expertise and business acumen” Home Business Journal
  • “I’ve had a bout of bronchitis, but it came to an abrupt halt…subsequent to tasting your tongue burner!” - Julian Smith
  • “put in my contact…accidentally touched it with the finger the sauce was on….so hot and stinging so bad that my eye wouldn’t open I had to pry my eye and rip out my contact and sit there for an hour in pain. Thanks for the ass-kickin” Justin
  • “It improves the flavor of whatever I’m eating” Patti Labelle
  • “Love your stuff, Dave! It’s on our show rider!” Arlo Guthrie
  • “Daves Insanity Sauce cleans up tired old belt buckles like new!” Dave Delany
  • “I was having a problem with squirrels in the attic so I put some of the Insanity Sauce in a yard sprayer with some more vinegar and glycerin and sprayed in the vents. Additionally, I was having problems with wasps and bees so I sprayed underneath the overhang. It’s been a month and nothing has returned including including the bees and wasps. I also used the sauce in my yard to get rid of moles and it has been the ONLY thing to work.” Nathan Sienkiewicz
  • “A little Dab will due you in” The Detroit Times
  • “a wonderful fire-roasted flavor” (Roasted Pepper Chipotle Hot Sauce) Fancy Food & Culinary Products Magazine
  • “wonderful Sauce. We are your biggest fans. We craved spice and only Dave’s would do.” Ryan, Sergeant in Camp Doha, Kuwait
  • “I am a Marine Drill Instructor (Gunnery Sergeant 14 years) The first time I used Dave’s Insanity Sauce was in Honduras. A bunch of Army dogs dared me to eat their “special” hot wings. Well, after momentary loss of sight and numbness over my whole body I fell in love and am addicted to it still. Give me my SAUCE! P.S. ”It’s great for cleaning brass and strippin boots!”
  • “Dave’s Gourmet Total Insanity hot sauce…will kill” - The Daily Review May 11, 1998
  • “ Piercingly hot-one drop will do” - Woman’s Day June 1998
  • “My brother…had a bad tooth ache…try the Insanity Sauce…tooth hasn’t hurt for over a month” Patricia in Arkansas
  • “After trying any Insanity product, you find out you bit off more than your tastebuds can take” - Fancy Food Magazine July 1998
  • “Dave Hirschkop, originator of the Super Hots” - Fiery Foods Magazine July/August 1998
  • “master of the heat”, “that’s great (our product)” KRON 4 – Henry Tenenbaum
  • “dave’s crazy”, “popular products”, “insanely hot”, “scorcher”, “middle name is crazy (sauce)” FOOD FINDS, THE FOOD NETWORK
  • “For a guy who makes a living inflicting pain, he’s actually quite funny” Gourmet Retailer Magazine
  • “This is a must-have for all chileheads out there or those who want to be”
  • “It’s hard not to like Hirschkop’s witty prose in this book, and the man does know his chiles. Also, the recipes are as manageable as they are tasty, and Hirschkop wisely avoids forcing chiles into dishes that were never meant to be spicy. All of which makes Crazy from the Heat seem not so crazy after all.” - Winston Salem Journal
  • “Dave is one of the world’s leading makers of hot sauce and in this book he shares with you some of the tastiest tongue-tearing recipes known…Get this book before it spontaneously self-combusts” Swank Magazine
  • “Dave’s Insanity Sauce relieves constipation. Jalapenos didn’t do the job anymore-that’s when I found Insanity Sauce” Rusty from Vancouver Washington
  • “Consumers will be excited about this clever new product. Great for parties and entertaining.” - Phil Lempert, Gourmet Retailer
  • “clever new condiment called Dave’s Adjustable Heat Hot Sauce” - News Reach Newsletter
  • “I’ve been all over the world and tried many hot sauces, but yours is by far the best!” - Vadge Moore (punk rock star)
  • “It was delicious (Insanity Cheese Straws on her chili). I love Insanity in my pantry!!!” - Julia Stratton (consumer)
  • “first adjustable heat sauce” MSNBC.Com
  • “revolutionary spray…is Adjustable Heat Hot Sauce from Dave’s Gourmet” Specialty Food.com
  • DARPHS – “roasted pimiento flavor adds a nice bottom note to the chipotle smoke - a great choice to paint onto a pork roast” JUOR – “very food-friendly sauce” DASBS “We liked…the texture with …mild peachy fruitiness and great heat that doesn’t overwhelm” DARGHS “an ideal mixture of tasty savory goodness and smoldering flames” DAGSHS “nifty spray top on this bottle lets you protect your prized tomatoes from garden pests, and then spray it on your salad for some extra zing” DAUI Tongue numb. Senses shut down. Vision….going dark.” DAIN “It stings. It burns. Man, it hurts.” DAIS “it’s a killer, smoky taste that burns so good” CHILE PEPPER MAGAZINE
  • “Finally, a special container lets you vary the spiciness by turning the cap” Pittsburgh Tribune Review
  • “….coolest gadgets that we’ve come across” Coolest-Gadgets.com
  • “sparrows building a nest over my car in my carport…..put a little Insanity Sauce where they were building the nest……since then I haven’t seen them once.” Paul Brock, Bellingham, WA
  • “we had to try some….(adjustable) clever…..great addition to the first grill” Rainy Day Magazine
  • (Smokin Nuts) “great addition to your next barbecue, party or daily snack.” The Gourmet Retailer
  • “….nothing beats peanuts and pretzels and Dave’s Gourmet delivers with the new Dave’s Smokin Nuts” Fancy Food & Culinary Products Magazine
  • “innovative packaging like the Adjust-Your-Own-Heat…Dave’s Insanity Sauce” Associated Press
  • “the brilliant minds at Palette Fine Foods have come up with another great idea. They’ve taken their scrumptious preserves, jam and jelly and repurposed them as cheese condiments
  • Golden raspberry “glorious golden spread with an intense raspberry flavor”
  • Purple Basil “star of the group” “exquisite jelly pairs well with cheeses & meats”
  • Sour Cherry “Lemon balm is a wonderful herb to pair with tart cherries”
  • Quince “Quince with aromatic spices is a delightful alternative to Spanish quince paste” - The Nibble.com
  • Dessert Sauces “Dessert topping, pancake topping, layer cake filling, an instant fondue. …performs in a number of different, splendid ways.” The Nibble.com
  • “reputation as a company that’s innovative” Chile Pepper Magazine