Gift Guide 2020: Secret Sauce

December 11, 2020

When Harborview House Special XO Chili Sauce arrived, I opened the jar and took a taste. Then I took another. And another. It was all I could do not to slurp up the entire bottle.

Now I find myself putting this amazing elixir on everything. I use it on Chinese food of course – it’s wonderful on noodles and stir-fried vegetables – but yesterday I slathered it onto a steak sandwich with spectacular results.

XO sauce is the essence of umami. It’s made with a variety of dried seafoods and meats – dried scallops, dried shrimp, Virginia ham, shallots, garlic, chiles and a variety of spices.

Every chef makes his own version of XO Sauce, but this one from the renowned San Francisco restaurant is especially delicious. I’ll admit that I’m a condiment slut – I have a refrigerator filled with exotic bottles – but this is one condiment I never want to be without. If you know someone like me, they’ll definitely thank you.

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2 Comments

  • Judi Suttles says:
    December 11, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    Hi Ruth,
    When you said you were a condiment slut – something snapped! That described me to a T.
    I can’t resist this sauce as it sounds like it’s calling my name.

  • Catherine Howard says:
    April 23, 2021 at 7:58 am

    I am also a condiment fa atic I’ve recently made four batches in the last 2 weeks I can’t keep my hands off it I’m so addicted

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