From Mountain Hikes to Perfect Pizza, this is how our pizza drizzle came to be.
When the sauce decided to stick in my mind.
Ever since I lived in my converted van for a few years, crisscrossing New Hampshire to visit my uncle and conquer the "48s" - all 48 of the state's 4,000-foot mountains - one place has held a special spot in my heart (and stomach): Shillings Pub & Pizzeria in Littleton.
Those were some serious hikes, often 2-3 mountains in a single day. Starving and desperate for a refuel, Shillings was our post-adventure haven. My uncle would grab a beer, and we'd devour their incredible pizzas, baked in this charming old water mill.
But the story doesn't end there. After soaking our aching legs in the ice-cold Moore Reservoir, sometimes we'd find ourselves back at Shillings, ensuring we had enough energy for the next adventure. For me, New Hampshire became synonymous with pizza. Those Shillings pies deserved a companion, something to take their deliciousness to the next level.
To creation & beyond.
That's where our 603 Sauce comes in. (For the geologically challenged, 603 is New Hampshire's state area code.) We took inspiration from classic pizza toppings – fresh parmesan and red pepper flakes – and combined them with the richness of honey, adding a touch of cayenne pepper heat. To create a truly well-rounded flavor profile, we threw in some unexpected twists: lime and olive oil. Not to mention our show-stopping ingredient present in all our sauces, bone broth.
The result? A perfect drizzle for pizza, bursting with depth and complexity.
John Muir said it best with a bit of touching up on our end. "Keep close to nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean..." - with some pizza. ;)
This sauce has been a labor of love for years. Hot honeys were gaining popularity, but they often lacked depth. We wanted to create a true pizza sauce, something that would elevate any slice. Let's go back to the beginning...we think.
The original (maybe it's a stretch but they were doing it before anyone else to our knowledge) hot honey came from a tiny shop in Banff, Canada, where they offered honey for pizza drizzling alongside a separate cayenne-infused olive oil. It was a simple concept, but the combination was undeniable. After a few close calls with moose and avalanches (that's a story for another time!), I knew this flavor combo had to be one of our first sauces. So pizza and honey-type sauces, yeah it has followed me around for years.
Ignite Your Bite.
And now, finally, the 603 Sauce is here! Believe me, the years of development were worth it. This stuff is in all ways, that good.
So, grab a pizza, drizzle on some 603 Sauce, and take your taste buds on a New Hampshire adventure. You won't be disappointed!
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