SH*T HOT FESTIVAL FIRST EDITION

Apr 28, 2022

THE FIRST SHIT HOT FESTIVAL AT AMSTERDAM DEUS CANTINA
72 hot sauces, hundreds of visitors and 2 ‘chilli eating contest’ winners

The first edition of the Shit Hot Fest in Amsterdam was a big success. Last weekend, pepper fans and lovers of hot sauces and spicy food gathered at the Deus Cantina at Herengracht 88 to taste, meet and to stock up on hot sauces. The two-day event appeared to be a magnet for aprox. 300 visitors from the Netherlands and abroad, and resulted in a new, energetic community for hot sauce makers. “The Shit Hot Fest was beyond my wildest expectations, and the creative energy of our entrepreneurs was electric” - Neil Roake (Deus Cantina creative director)

The Shit Hot Fest happened to become THE event where creative entrepreneurs got to grab their well-deserved stage. From Clusius Tulip Vodka maker Joris Putman, cider importer Roy LePoutre (The Travelling Nut), kombucha maker BAIN Brewing (Dusty Bain) and the Amsterdam based LALA Tequila (Ambre van den Berg and Iris Sijlmans) to the 14 international hot sauce makers who stole the show. Most of them started their businesses in the lockdowns and showed their sh*t hot ideas that were born in these challenging times

The hot chilli eating competition was the crowd puller on Saturday and was set up in collaboration with Westlandpeppers. 4 hot heads took part is this hot battle and challenged their taste buds to the max to win €100 and eternal fame. Contestants from the USA, Palestine, UK and the Netherlands ate their way through14 chillies (from mild to wild) with Sara Rachdan (Palestine) and Colin Bortner (USA) winning the joint prize and crowned the ‘Shit Hot Chilli Head’ winners of this fiery contest.

Both days were busy and crowded, counting aprox. 300 visitors - most of the visitors came from the Amsterdam area, but also pepper fans from other parts of the country and even from Belgium came to the Deus Cantina. "The pepper was even hotter than we expected. This weekend plans have been made to take the Shit Hot Fest to Portugal, the guest country of this first edition. The hot sauce makers have found each other in Amsterdam, and their community is ‘on fire’” (Neil Roake).

Some special thanks goes to the hot sauce makers that took part in the festival and the beverage partners that helped cooling down the vibe on fire

Sauce makers form Amsterdam:
Lil’ Salsa (by A Different Story)
Sweet Heat Hot Honey
Original Sinners
T-Rex Sauces
Herbano (Roots, Rice & Beans)
Charlie’s Fresh
Pika Hot Stuff
Chilli Chan’s
Hush Hush Hot Sauce
Oh Na Mi Kimchi

Sauce makers from Portugal:
Temperus
Senhor Rito
O Petiska

Ciders poured at the Cider Bar:
Decideret Cider (Copenhagen),
Kupela Basque Cider (Basque Country)
Cidre Kern (Bretagne)
Maeloc (Galicia)

Refreshment at the ‘cooling down stations’:
Fountain of Youth Coconut Water (Berlin)
Frozen Margaritas of the Amsterdam based LALA Tequila
Kombucha by BAIN Brewing (Rotterdam)
Tulip vodka based cocktails with a spicy touch by Clusius Tulip Vodka (distillery Katwijk).

We still have many shit hot plans for this year - so stay tuned following @deuscantina and @deus.amsterdam

Ph. @TristanFopma

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!