A backyard garden harvest and a family united on a new journey—this is how Two Ugly Mugs turned a homemade recipe into a national salsa brand. Diane and Matt Perella trace the steps from hot sauce experiments to a salsa lineup with a habanero base softened by carrots, a clean label with low sodium, and a flavor that wins over heat skeptics and spice lovers alike.

Their journey is packed with real turning points that led from local stores to a footprint across the United States and beyond. We also get a first look at new products—an amped-up hot honey salsa and a bright salsa verde, coming soon.

We broaden the flavor tour with a day trip pick: White Rabbit Cafe and Patisserie in Greensburg, with Sarah of Sarah Loves Yinz. Then culinary pro Tess Monks from Phipps Conservatory shares a soup blueprint that turns whatever is on hand into comfort. 

If you love origin stories, retail strategy, and food you actually want to eat, this one delivers. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Pittsburgh-made food, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.

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