I&J’s Signature Sauces started with a simple challenge from my wife, Ilka: “Can you make a hot sauce that reminds me of home in Panama?” While I regularly enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen, I had never made a hot sauce before.

To make this new sauce, I drew upon what we knew from decades of travel in the U.S. Navy—habanero peppers from Latin America, smoky heat from the Caribbean islands, and the fragrant complexity of India and Southeast Asia.  One by one, each one found its way into our story and, eventually, our sauce.

When Ilka tried that first perfect batch—and her brother back in Panama tasted it too—I knew we were onto something special.  And after years of additional tinkering, tasting, and learning (and more than a few kitchen mishaps), we’re proud to share Fuego Latino with you.

Every bottle of I&J’s Fuego Latino sauce carries a piece of our family’s story: the places we’ve lived, the people we’ve loved, and the values we’ve always believed in—service, family, and togetherness.

Sharing these flavors with you is a dream come true. Thank you for welcoming us to your table.