Elmo server revealed that this isn’t all in diners’ heads—or their inflamed sinuses. The sauce gets its oomph from
shipped from three different suppliers.
“Wow that was spicy, but I loved it,” Thomas said, echoing the sentiment of so many others who have dined at St. Elmo’s steakhouse during it’s near 120-year existence. “Somewhere deep inside I loved the pain. It was amazing.”
“I hope this horseradish starts wearing off in my mouth or they’re gonna have to call the ambulance from the sideline and take me off in a stretcher!” Thomas said with panic, adding that it was “burning the inside of my nostrils!”
On taste number four, Thomas started coughing and by his fifth bite, the six-time All-Pro was grossly struggling to put down a mouthful of St. Elmo’s very spicy cocktail sauce.
Prior to the Indianapolis Colts thumping of the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, NFL Network analyst and Hall-of-Famer Joe Thomas used cocktail sauce of differing heat levels to assess teams during his “Hot or Not” segment.
If Indianapolis were a tourist destination, St. Elmo’s would be a main attraction. When national media members visit the city, a trip to its oldest steakhouse is a must and the meal always begins with shrimp cocktail.
It t urns out you don’t have to visit Indianapolis to get ahold of the sauce, however. In 2012, the restaurant started bottling up the stuff and it’s now available for purchase across the country. I am going to warn you, however, it can be tricky to find. I’ve located it at ALDI on extremely rare occasions; it’s previously been sold in Midwestern Costco locations; and I’ve seen it for sale at my local seafood market. (At its most expensive, you can get it shipped via Goldbelly, where it comes as part of a variety gift box with other St. Elmo condiments. )Advertisement
We are huge f ans o f shrimp cocktail in all of its forms here at The Takeout, and frankly, we hope you are too . When I’m not in the mood to cook dinner, it’s almost always a shrimp- cocktail- and- salad kind of night. The only issue is that most jarred shrimp cocktail sauce isn’t strong enough; I love that nearly violent sinus -clearing sensation I get from horseradish and wasabi. If you, too, are a fan of that burn and always find yourself seeking the heat , there’s only one brand all horseradish lovers must know about : St. Elmo Steak House Very Spicy Shrimp Cocktail Sauce.Watch
As you might expect, there’s a lot of YouTube reaction videos documenting the reactions of people who try St. Elmo Steak House’s spicy shrimp cocktail sauce for themselves. Personally, I love this footage of the 2013 annual St. Elmo shrimp cocktail eating competition, where you can see professional eating champion Joey Chestnut’s facial expression change once the burn of the stuff really starts to kick in. (The fun stuff starts around 3:50 .)G/O Media may get a commission
D o not hesitate to grab a bottle of this stuff if you find it near the seafood at your local grocery store . Take the plunge into its fire . Hell, grab two of them and save one for me. I’ll be right over with a giant bag of frozen shrimp.
If you do find this cocktail sauce in person, it’ll run you about $8, which isn’t cheap, but I can’t stress enough just how worthwhile it is . This shit is strong. A modest dip of a shrimp will result in a brief assault on your nasal cavities, and a full-on dunk into this sauce will bring you to your knees for about two seconds. Then, just as fast as it hits you, the sensation dissipates. Talk about a rush. There’s not a lot of other food out there that feels like such a rollercoaster ride. Joey Chestnut sets World Record with St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail
Is St Elmo’s cocktail sauce gluten free?
Balanced with a refreshing tomato paste and hints of lemon, the St. Elmo Cocktail Sauce shocks senses and delights the palate. Both the sauce and seasoning are gluten-free and kosher. Serve it to your guests at home, send it as a gift, or simply enjoy for yourself!
FAQ
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