Also this month, Layla answers a reader question about good places to pick up a salad.
Welcome to our food column, Corner Booth, where each month Layla Khoury-Hanold will guide us through what’s happening in Roanoke’s food scene. We’ll feature restaurant openings and closings, changes in cuisine concepts or locations, a first-impression review of a new eatery, and our Ask Layla section, where Rambler members can get their burning questions answered on the best places to eat or drink for any occasion. Simply leave a comment with your question or email us at [email protected]. Enjoy! 😋
Hot Stuff Brings Sought-After Locally Made Products to West End
Just in time for holiday gift giving, there’s a new Roanoke shop slinging small batch hot sauce and locally made snacks, home goods and more. Hot Stuff, which is located at 214 5th St. SW (formerly occupied by Machine Creek Studios), held its soft opening Nov. 21-23. Hot Stuff is owned by Lisa Archer, a food industry veteran, and Jesse Feldberg, founder of Fermented Fire Hot Sauce Co., which makes small batch hot sauces ($10 or $12 each), kimchi ($10) and sauerkraut ($10) crafted with produce from the likes of SunRay Farms, Glade Road Growing and Riverstone Organic Farm.
While popular Fermented Fire bottles like the salsa verde-esque Green Man and garlic-forward Riveracha line the shop’s first floor’s shelves, you’ll also find Roanoke brands like Spice Titan and Mountain Thyme Honey, plus Virginia-made snacks ($2 to $6) from Route 11 Potato Chips and Hub’s Peanuts (ideal for noshing on with a pint at Golden Cactus Brewing next door or nearby Blindhouse Beer). Upstairs, there’s an assortment of home goods ($5 to $24) from Roanoke makers like La Lunatiques’ candles, Sun and Spruce’s soaps and Drifting Farms’ loofahs, plus art, merchandise and plants, such as succulents from Riverside Nursery (which is owned by Feldberg’s dad)…