Last weekend being Valentine's weekend, I thought it an appropriate time to have my first affair! Last Thursday my dear friend Randy Watson, know to you all as "The Wine Whore" invited me to tag along to one of his affairs, a celebration at Careme's Market in Lutz, Florida with Michele and Tom from Intensity Academy Gourmet Hot Sauces!

Careme's is a little jewel of a neighborhood store. Immaculately clean, well-lit, and carpeted (a nice surprise), Careme's exudes a warm feeling of neighborhood welcome. Concentrating on what they call the "dining out at home" experience, Careme's is stocked with a plethora of meats and cheeses, frozen foods, and pasta, sauces, and other pantry stock items. The centerpiece is a long, refrigerated display that showcases some of the most mouth-watering reheatable dishes I've ever seen. Want a slice of vegetable lasagna that looks like a little snowy Christmas present? Careme's is your store. Want some delectable heat-and-eat prime rib? How about some red heart-shaped lobster ravioli (pictured above)? Together with a colorful array of salads, sides, and other deli fare, you'll find plenty to feed your family in gourmet style. One entire case is reserved for incredible-looking desserts. I took home a scratch-made cannoli, a slice of "black-and-white" cheesecake, and a scrumptious-looking New Orleans style banana rum cheese pie. Sadly I only know how they looked, because my family devoured these treats as soon as I got in the door. I did get to sample many other treats which encouraged me to remember Bill, Don and the staff at Careme's the next time I'm on the hook for dinner and don't feel like cooking.

My other hosts for the affair were Michele and Tom from Intensity Academy. Michele started making hot sauce out of all-natural ingredients for her kids' school project and did so well that it blossomed into a full business! I sampled everything from their Scovie Award-winning Chai Chipotle 'Chup to their brand new, super-secret Garlic Hot sauce. The 'Chups are wonderful, starting with a bold sweet tomato flavor that leaves no doubt that you are eating ketchup, but finishing with a unique chipotle kick or curry zing that leaves you wanting more. The heat ranges from "Hot3" which is spicy enough for the most adventurous eater to their 'Chups and a Chai Thai Teriyaki sauce that was mild enough for my 3 and 6-year-olds to enjoy over some noodles (recipe on Intensity Academy's site here!) The heat of the sauces were equal to the warmth of Michele and Tom as they gleefully dished out samples for the large crowd and talked excitedly about their products. I liked every single sauce I sampled that night, and the crowd favorite was easily their soon-to-be-released Garlic Hot sauce. I'll be returning to Careme's as soon as it's out to stock up!

Thanks to Careme's Market and Intensity Academy for making my first affair a memorable one!

Careme's Market is found online at http://caremesmarket.com. Intensity Academy can be found at http://www.intensityacademy.com. Follow @MicheleNorthrup and @SaucyDude on Twitter to see the inner workings of the Intensity Academy operation!

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