Solving World Problems

It is very serious issues like these that have prevented me posting for a while.. It is very time consuming trying to solve the bigger problems of the world! lol

Background information: My brother Al is a hot pepper sauce fan of the highest degree. When Kirsten and Lee were married 2 years ago they gave out a St. Kitts combo of pepper sauce, local rum and teas. My brother loved the Mrs. Greaux's hot sauce and purchased a couple of bottles from a small duty free store near to their hotel. Last year sometime he asked that anyone going to St. Kitts, to please bring him back some more of the same. He had even e-mailed the company owner (Bernie Greaux) and got all the information on where the product was sold. The response should have raised a flag immediately, but I didnt really give it too much thought. Then for whatever reason, nobody actually brought the hot sauce back.

During an email exchange last month about this blog, Al said, "I am actually reading it for the day that your trip to tour the Mrs. Greaux's factory is there. Then I know that the elusive case of pepper sauce is near."

I responded, "I can only imagine that a tour of Mrs. Greaux's factory would be like going to see the Wizard of Oz! Do we really want to know what's behind the curtain?? lol The topic of your hot sauce request has come up frequently and (how many bottles do you want?) the shipment will be arriving in Canada on Feb 10th"

Al took offense at my attempt at humour and told me so. So as to not prolong his ire, Jamie and I went to the supermarket and searched for the pepper sauce. I fully admit that neither of us really looked at the label, noticed the Greaux label and took the balance remaining on the shelf. To compound the situation, Jamie went to another supermarket downtown to purchase the remaining bottles that Al had requested.

I was so proud! I had to argue a little bit about the previous e-mail (I am a Barless first and foremost! lol) and his offense taken but I sent him an e-mail letting him know that I had purchased his product:
"Please notice from the attached picture that the Cisco's hot sauce, although in a plastic bottle, has a professional tamper proof lid. I also know that Cisco's is aged by different years, in barrels on the his verandah but is the sauce of choice in most homes and restaurants on the island. Nonetheless, the sauce is in the house and one step closer to your table "

Well......if I was sitting on my laurels for 30 seconds before getting knocked off..I was lucky! lol The response was quick.

"This is not the Mrs. Greaux's sauce I am speaking of!!!!!!! It says V. Greaux's????? How do you get from V to Mrs? V could stand for Victor? Even the address is wrong."

I had to run into the kitchen to look at the bottles. Al was right... it wasn't Mrs. Greaux's hot sauce, it did say V. Greaux. We now owned 8 bottles of the stuff..Jamie had bought 2 for himself! Believe me, St. Kitts is not the place to be going back to a supermarket and saying, "I would like to return 8 bottles of hot sauce" What the heck was I going to do now?? Al would never let me live this one down! I started running the issue by everyone I knew... with the most common answer being that they were one and the same sauce. But they didnt actually look the same and Al was quick to point this out,

 "I have to tell you I am making that "tccck" sound to signify my digust

Okay look at the attached picture.  This is what I mean by North American bottles. Cylindrical bodies with a
long neck...if I asked anyone what the bottle contained they would say "hot sauce" .  This is what the
Mrs. Greaux's looked like. Not a bottle as if Scott and Randy decided to get some old water bottles
and fill them with an acid concoction.  I am telling you neither of the two in the picture would I
be dumb enough to think you could sell to Canadians.  The one I have is neat and clean.

The other thing is that Mrs. Greauxs is more solid.  When you pour it, it comes out like the texture of
wet coffee grains. If you look at the picture you see separation.  No separation with Mrs. Greaux's.  "

I started pointing this out to people...because now I was secretly agreeing with Al. Then one morning I was looking in the fridge for something and low and behold we had a bottle of the original Mrs. Greaux's. I poured out a little bit of each and had Jamie do a taste test. He said that there was a slight difference. Oh!! What now??? I was becoming obsessed with the whole issue. Scott would run the other way when I brought it up.

Then last Friday night we went to have pizza at Sean and Robin's house (absolutely amazing pizza btw- !!!) and of course I had to raise the hot sauce dilemma. Immediately Robin said, " I will call Bernie and ask him." "Hi Bernie, its Robin...Can you tell me what is the difference between Mrs. Greaux's pepper sauce and V. Greaux's?" Bernie: "Nothing, just the packaging...one is marketed for the tourists and the other is for locals." Robin: "If there is a difference in the sauce, what is it?" Bernie: "Different batches."

I immediately had to e-mail Al with the news and a picture of the bottle I had. His response:

"yes that is the stuff. I guess I am a sucker. I will take the V Greax's if Bernie is confirming this. Could you taste to make sure since I am not convinced. :)"

Scott was beside himself that I had doubted his knowledge in the first place..but he absolutely lost it when I brought up the subject again, let alone the doubt and even after having spoken to Bernie.... .he still doesnt quite get the Barless mentality!! lol... Of course I will be bringing some of each so that Al can do his own taste test... because....I get it Al!

So now you see what has been occupying my mind and time these days! To make the ending even happier, Kirsten has now requested some hot sauce be brought to England and she doesnt care what kind it is! A couple of bottles of V. Greaux's on the way!!!