Attack of the Sauce!

London shoppers were shocked when they were enshrouded by acrid smoke in Soho.

Police cordoned off three streets and removed all people from the area, fearing a chemical attack.

A Hazardous Area Response Team Unit were sent into the deserted area to confront the source. They emerged hours later carrying a cooking pot full of smouldering chillies.

The Unit had discovered the pot in the Thai Cottage Restaurant, who had left the chillies dry-frying. They had been preparing them for the hot nam prik pao sauce.

Sue Wasboonma, the owner, said, 'The smoke didn't go up into the sky because of the rain and the heavy air.

A waitress from the restaurant said, 'Next time we might put some posters up to say we are cooking the dip.'

Burning Sensation

An American man has released the hottest chilli sauce ever made. 

Blair Lazar, head of Extreme Foods, has launched the "16 Million Reserve" which is pure capsicum- the element that stimulates the nerve endings on the tongue.

People who taste the concoction are unable to see because of tears for up to half an hour. 

Mr Lazar said, 'The pain was exquisite, it was like having your tongue hit by a hammer.'

Extreme Foods has released 999 limited-edition bottles, each one containing just a few crystals of the fiery menace. They are available at the mouth-watering price of $199 each.

Mr Lazar got into the chilli business while he was working as a  barman. As a means of clearing out customers at the end of the night, he would give them chicken wings dipped in very hot sauce.

Buyers have to sign a disclaimer warning them that any handling 'must be under a controlled environment using protective gloves and safety eye wear.'

Burglar Caught in Sticky Situation

Police in the United States have caught a burglar who was covered in barbecue sauce.

Aaron Maurice, 37, was found in the early hours of the morning by the home owners. He was dressed in a woman's coat and his face was drenched in the popular condiment.

The homeowners, of Appleton WI, called the police after hearing a trespasser whistling in their basement.

Upon being arrested in the house Mr Maurice claimed that he was on the run from the FBI, and the barbecue sauce was an 'urban disguise.'

Woman Is Right Browned Off

A woman was not allowed to buy barbecue sauce at a Tesco in Flitwick because she had no ID.

Claire Birchell, 25, was refused a bottle of Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce as it has a two per cent alcohol content. 

Miss Birchell's brother-in-law, Philip Dover, was also refused the bottle as staff in the Tesco store believed he was buying it for her.

Mr Dover, 27, said, 'We just could not believe it. It's not as if we were going to go and sit down the park drinking it.'

A Tesco spokesman said, 'It appears that there has been an error of judgement and we apologise for any upset caused.' 

Tesco has recently stopped parents with children buying alcohol, in case they pass it on to the youngsters.

This was in response to a recent government initiate that heavily fines shops who sell alcohol to minors.

Dial M for Mayo

A man from Florida called the police when his sandwich did not cut the mustard.

Reginald Peterson, 42, called the police after Subway forgot to put their special Italian tomato sauce onto his order.

Mr Peterson was so upset with the mistake that he called 911 twice. The first time he complained about the sandwich, the second commenting that they weren't coming fast enough.

Paul Newman: Modern-day Saucerer

Paul Newman endeavoured to help sick children by raising money through his Newman's Own sauces.

Newman's Own, which now makes popcorn and pasta sauces, has given $250 million to charity since it's inception in 1980.

A.E Hotchner, Newman's long-time friend and business partner said, 'the food business we started as a lark, it was not really intended to be anything that would last more than a few months.' 

Newman himself described the project as the 'joke that got out of control'. However, the business grew for the next two-and-a-half decades. 

Originally just a salad dressing was made available, but Newman's Own now provides numerous condiments and sweets.

Newman's charity opened the first of many camps for sick children in 1988. It was named after the Hole in the Wall Gang from the movie classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Red Hot Chilli Ketchups with Man

A tragic event has upset the saucing world.

Andrew Lee, 33, died after eating a red hot chilli sauce. Mr Lee, an amateur chef from the West Midlands, had challenged his girlfriend's brother to eat the spiciest sauce possible.

Mr Lee died hours later in his sleep after complaining of severe itching.

Toxicology tests will be carried out to see if it was a reaction to the food of if another factor was involved.

This is the first recorded death from eating a chilli voluntarily.