How Did Chili Dawg's Get Its Start?

Since the early 1990’s, after moving out of Omaha to acreages in Washington County, Nebraska, two brothers, Tim & Shawn, began their food production journey by making salsa. Using fresh ingredients from their gardens, they experimented with various combinations of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and many spices to create several outstanding flavor profiles.

In the mid-1990’s, the brothers began to share their concoctions with family and friends. The recipes continued to improve. Like many entrepreneurs, the brothers continued to get suggestions from family, friends and business associates that they should bring their recipes to market. After much contemplation, the two brothers, both of whom have a passion for great food with heat, started Chili Dawg’s Foods of Fire. Chili Dawg’s Foods of Fire was incorporated on their father Arthur’s birthday, November 30, 2005.

Though the salsa recipes are outstanding and very unique, the brothers will not compromise on the quality of the recipes by using inferior tomatoes. Due to difficulties in finding a year-around source for fresh tomatoes and some other special ingredients for their brand of salsa, they are delaying introduction of their salsa to the market until all quality conditions are met.

During the same time, however, they also began making Habanero pepper spreads using the Habaneros grown in their gardens. They began with an apple lemon blend called Hablemeno, (hob-la-mean-o). They now have eight spreads that are becoming favorites to use in the barbeque world during competitions. They are most popular for entertaining at parties and tailgates.

Their very popular habanero pepper spreads are referred to as “Sweet Before the Heat.”

The spreads are not just jellies, jams or preserves, they are much more versatile. These pepper spreads are used to spice up and put a zing in Hors d’oeuvres, toast, bagels, crackers, snacks, and fish and meat dishes. The possibilities are endless. The “Sweet Before the Heat” gives the consumer a very unusual combination of flavor and heat. The flavors are very robust and they are very successful in the BBQ markets.

They are now selling their Habanero pepper spreads and seasonings nationwide.

They have created not only fantastic pepper spreads but they also have a line of chile pepper rubs. Based upon customer demand, they have recently added jerky to their product offerings.

Innovation is the key to great products and the company continues to grow because of that focus. Their slogan, “We Put the Eat in Heat” explains this focus. Great tasting food with just the right amount of heat is always the goal.

Due to the success of the entire product line, the brothers opened a retail location in Blair, Nebraska on August 1, 2014 where they sell their products, products from all over the country, and all kinds of barbeque supplies as well.

When using Chili Dawg’s products with any dish, “your imagination is your only limitation.”