Bear Hug - Seasonal

This year's winter seasonal is just a dang good chili crisp. It's called Bear Hug simply because that's the feeling we wanted to evoke around the holidays. Who doesn't need a bear hug?? 

Bear Hug chili crisp is simple, extremely versatile, with no frills... except for a very generous amount of the famous Piment d'Ville pepper grown by Boonville Barn Collective in Mendocino County.

The Espelette pepper, a beloved staple of Basque cuisine, is renowned for its mild heat and smoky-sweet flavor. Traditionally grown exclusively in the village of Espelette in southwestern France, this appellation-controlled pepper has found a new home closer to us thanks to Krissy and Gideon of Boonville Barn Collective. Their dedication to localizing the Espelette pepper has brought us Piment d’Ville, cultivated just a county north of us, offering a fresh take on this iconic ingredient.

Big Spoon Bear Hug is very inspired by long walks in the forest, fond memories of driving through the redwood forests up to Boonville, and a desire to hunker down with our loved ones, with a cat in our lap, under a cozy fleece blanket, with a bowl of soup. Bear Hug chili crisp is what you reach for when you want to add some prized chili flakes to your pasta, but wish somebody had frizzled them up for you for a wee bit more texture and pizzaz. You're welcome.

---

INGREDIENTS: Olive oil, shallots, chiles (espelette grown by Boonville Barn Collective, guajillo, ancho), sesame seeds, garlic, pepitas, Sichuan peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, salt, sugar, ginger, annatto, mushroom powder (porcini, shiitake), cumin, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, fennel seeds, white pepper.

Heat level:  Medium.

This product is shelf stable and there is no need to refrigerate after opening. Best enjoyed within a year.

---

Photos of peppers courtesy of Boonville Barn Collective.