We recently had the chance to connect with Lee Kitzis and have shared our conversation below.
Lee, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’m an avid baseball card collector. Mostly junk wax from the 80’s and some modern stuff
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name’s Lee Kitzis. I wear a lot of hats. I’m a professional cook (I hate calling myself a chef), a dad and for the purpose of this article a hot sauce producer. Chile peppers are my true passion. My company is my baby. I’ve been making hot sauce for over 20 years. Bad Seed has been around for roughly 15 (including its infant stages). I specialize in fresh chile sauces: Green Steam (jalapeno, serrano, Hungarian hot) and Beelzeburn (habanero). Though I do have one in the line, Latin Dragon, that uses dry peppers (chile de arbol). Every jar of my hot sauce is produced, canned and taste tested by me.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve been very privileged to work with some amazing chefs throughout my career. I’ve taken the work ethic/passion for detail they’ve instilled in me and tried to have it translate as best I can into my hot sauce company. For me hard work and constantly tasting and tinkering are a major part of the Bad Seed ethos.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Stop smoking cigarettes at the park with the other teens. You don’t look cool. Solid taste in music though.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I really love this question because as a small business I obviously don’t have the budget for a marketing department. So when I promote my sauces it’s just me. Often times it’s very irreverent. Just me rambling only loosely about my hot sauce. People really seem to like it. So, yeah, a lot of it is the real me. People have come up to my wife and told her my stuff is “authentic.” Which makes me happy and irritates the shit out of my wife. So it’s a win win.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What false labels are you still carrying?
Peoples Sexiest Man Alive 1987. It was Harry Hamlin. Keep your mouth shut.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://badseedhotsauce.com
- Instagram: @bad_seed_hot_sauce
