From chilly to chilli – warm up at Leith’s new hot sauce shop
Chorrito Sauce Hot Sauce Production and Cantina has opened at the recently refurbished Red Sandstone building on Leith Walk, which was built in the 30s and where you’ll also now find occupants including Hobz Bakery, Cornelius Wines and other independents.
This space is owned by a couple – restaurateur Dan Bentlett, 44, and Dawn Freeman, 38. For Freeman, this is a bit of a career segue, considering she was previously in the fashion industry.
“That was most recently with the brand Raspberry
Pavlova but after the entire wedding business was decimated during Covid, I needed a change,” she says. “As customer service is my strong point and Chorrito was doing so well, I thought I could bring something to the brand as it grows.”
The duo, who have lived in Edinburgh for the last six years, create their own sauces on site, as well as serving up a casual menu of Mexican-inspired dishes. These are available in the morning and at lunch, with the breakfast menu going down particularly well. Dishes include huevos rancheros, and hand-pressed corn tacos that contain beef barbacoa, salsa and jalapeno, or carrot and pepper chilli, sour cream and crispy corn. Once they’ve secured an alcohol licence, they’ll be open for dinner and will be launching a twice-monthly supper club.
We asked Freeman about the business.
TELL US ABOUT CHORRITO
We exist because of Dan’s love for chilli. He was working in menu development and, after years spent travelling around the world while working with other talented chefs and innovators, he was unable to find a sauce in the UK that satisfied his passion. They were either too hot, too salty or too sweet, with added artificial preservatives or thickening agents, so he decided to create his own all-natural sauce made to pair with food.
After working with other independent suppliers and organic chilli growers, Chorrito now boasts eight varieties. They’re developed to enhance, not overwhelm, which makes our products accessible to even the most sceptical of palates.
WHAT ARE THE BESTSELLERS?
We have three. They include our original – Habanero/Orange/Coffee. This complex sauce is a favourite because it’s a take on a Mexican breakfast. It’s the one we are most proud of because it’s savoury and refreshingly hot but also versatile because a few drops can transform almost any sauce. It’s equally as good if you’re fond of a long burn; just add it straight onto your food.
Jalapeno/Apple/Tequila is our zingy salsa verdeinspired sauce for those who want a small amount of heat. It’s made from organic green jalapenos, zesty green apples, tequila and coriander. The balanced heat will transform guacamole, is perfect with oysters and can also spice up a margarita. Chipotle/Pineapple/ Garlic is a favourite for BBQ fans. It will do great things to your chip butty. You could combine it with mayo for a mouth-watering dip, or veggies might want to add it to black beans.
ANY NEW CREATIONS IN THE PIPELINE?
We plan on changing our menu every few weeks; working with local producers to create new flavours and dishes that are centred around our love of chilli. We also plan on launching new products later in the year, including our own recipe book.
HOW DO THEY DIFFER FROM WHAT YOU MIGHT GET IN THE SUPERMARKET?
They’re all natural and are sugar, dairy and gluten free. We are not vinegar led, and instead focus on the flavour of each chilli variety.
WHY CHOOSE LEITH?
The area is basically the heartbeat of Edinburgh and feels like a real community, as it’s vibrant and bursting with unique businesses and customers. We couldn’t believe our luck when we