The sweet and spicy buzz on honey infusions
Honey infusions are not new, however, the concept of combining the heat of chilies with the sweetness of honey is now buzzing with enthusiasm.
One Atlantic Canadian company taking advantage of it is The Halifax Honey Company. The company has been creating a culinary buzz that's hard to resist.
At the helm of this gastronomic adventure are two individuals, Jesse Abbass and Jake Mahoney, who were driven to start the business by their love for great-tasting food, a spirit of entrepreneurship and an unwavering commitment to supporting local. I recently met the dynamic duo to discuss their sweet success story.
A JOURNEY
ROOTED IN PASSION
Jesse Abbass' journey into the world of gastronomy began in Stayner's, his father Todd's Halifax-based restaurant. Stayner's was a staple of the Halifax waterfront for nearly two decades before it closed in 2020. Working in the restaurant, a deep-seated passion for food started to simmer. As he says, “I grew up in the hospitality industry, so I was always around food. I loved creating different dishes for friends and family.”
Around 2015, Jesse and long-time friend Jake were looking to start a business together. They tossed around the idea of making hot sauces, as it the business was predestined to be in the food space given Abbass' background. Mahoney says of the restaurant that they “had bee problems, so it made us think of what we could do with honey? We literally started putting beehives in people's back yards.”
Abbass adds, “We started making different infusions. Finally, we landed on something (the combination of honey and chilies) we were happy and proud of.”
THE BIRTH OF STINGIN' HOT HONEY
In 2016, the duo embarked on an exciting culinary adventure by launching The Halifax Honey Company. It was here their shared love for food and local ingredients found its most delectable expression. The star of their culinary repertoire?
Stingin' Hot Honey! Stingin' Hot Honey is a harmonious blend of sweet and spicy flavours. This delectable infusion quickly became a sensation, winning the hearts and taste buds of countless food enthusiasts. Its popularity forced the young entrepreneurs to forego making their own honey, sourcing it from other local suppliers instead.
It is the commitment to local honey that is at the heart of The Halifax Honey Company's success. Allof their honey infusions are crafted using raw, unpasteurized local honey. The source? A delightful blend of nectars gathered from a variety of wildflowers across Nova Scotia. This commitment to local sourcing ensures the highest quality honey and contributes to the preservation of local ecosystems.
VERSATILE AND NUTRITIOUS CONDIMENTS
What makes The Halifax Honey Company's infusions truly special is their versatility. Crafted in micro-batches, these condiments contain no artificial ingredients and are packed with natural nutritional value. The possibilities for enjoying them are limited only by your cravings and culinary imagination.
Whether drizzled over grilled meats, used as a dipping sauce or stirred into cocktails, these gourmet condiments add a “tastefully hot” sweet-heat kick to your dishes. For inspiration, you can explore their personal favourite pairings on their recipe page, a treasure trove of culinary ideas waiting to be discovered.
Although, they started like many small food-based businesses selling their product at farmers markets and online, they have subsequently increased their production and distribution. According to Mahoney, “We were able to do a pretty cool collab (collaboration) this year with Pizza Delight. We launched at all 70 of their locations on three specialty pizzas with our Stingin' Hot Honey. We're currently in Sobeys stores locally, but the distribution is changing in November to be throughout Atlantic Canada and will include stores in Ontario.”
SPICY BROWN BUTTER GLAZED SALMON
4 servings
Ingredients (salmon):
• 4 salmon filets
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 4 tbsp Stingin' Hot Honey
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• Zest of 1 lime
Ingredients (spicy browned butter lime sauce)
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp Stingin' Hot Starter
• 1 lime, juice
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 F. To make the browned butter lime sauce, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until the foam subsides and the butter begins to turn a golden brown, about three minutes. Stir Stingin' Hot Starter, lime juice, salt and pepper to taste; set aside. Dredge each salmon filet with one tablespoon flour and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of Stingin' Hot Honey. Heat olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. Working in batches, add salmon to the skillet and sear both sides until golden brown, about one to two minutes per side. Place into oven and bake until completely cooked through, about eight minutes. Serve immediately with browned butter lime sauce.
Mark Dewolf, @drink_east, is a nationally recognized sommelier, creative director of Food & Drink at Saltwire Network, and leads food and wine tours to destinations around the world.
Discover Mark’s interview with Jake and Jesse, and more food and drink content, by scanning the QR code.