Dangerously Smooth: Hot Honey

By Daniel Kwak / Photography By Daniel Kwak | October 14, 2019

The Cesarano Brothers of King Umbertos, a venerable Italian restaurant in Elmont, New York.

PHOTO 1: The Cesarano Brothers

King Umbertos, a venerable Italian restaurant in Elmont with old school stylings, seems hardly the place for a Gen-Social, pizza-tasting-merch-party and food lab. But the Cesarano Brothers, Ciro (left) and Giovanni (right) are making it happen with it’s tasting and recipe demo’s for Mike’s Hot Honey, the uber-trending Internet pizza condiment.

PHOTO 2: Mike Kurtz of MIKE’S HOT HONEY

“Future’s so bright, gotta wear shades”. Mike Kurtz, founder of Mike's Hot Honey in attendance. At this pop up, recipes were created highlighting Mike’s Hot Honey as an ingredient and as an alternative condiment for pizza and other dishes.

Pictured here is the new sauce packet version being drizzled over a King Umberto’s celebrated invention, the “Grandma Pizza”.

PHOTO 3: THE GRANDMA PIZZA UPDATE

According to Kurtz, the condiment is perfect for pizza “…because the sweetness of the honey and kick from the chili peppers are the perfect compliment to the savory elements (meats like pepperoni or sausage) of a pizza and the acidity of tomatoes found on most pies.” Pictured here is the new sauce packet version being drizzled over a King Umberto’s celebrated invention, the “Grandma Pizza”.

PHOTO 4: MIKE’S HOT HONEY RIBS

According to Kurtz, Mike's Hot Honey “doesn't overwhelm your food with sweetness or heat; it just makes your food shine.” And shine it does, offering these ribs not only a beautiful sweet honey based glaze, but a mild kick of heat as a welcomed endnote to a great smoky bbq flavor.

PHOTO 5: Ciro Cesarano, Wine Director at King Umberto’s, created the Hot Honey Margarita.

A mix of lime juice, orange juice, and mixed with Jose Cuervo and “Mike's Secret Stuff”: a secret ingredient that made the drink “dangerously smooth”. The glass is rimmed with Mike’s Hot Honey and cinnamon. The heat is subtle and there is both a refreshing citrus and warming heat from the cinnamon and hot honey. This cocktail easily stay current as a citrus refresher poolside in Summer to a holiday cocktail in December.

PHOTO 6

Spoons Ice Cream and Cereal Bar was invited to demo the use of hot honey as a sundae topping. According to Kurtz, “… the fats of the ice cream help take down the heat, leaving you the sweetness of the honey”.