Our Story
The Quarantine Project story starts on a blustery December day in 2020. Rick DeSimone, having spent the summer outdoors, tending to the yard and playing disc golf, was sequestered indoors. During a break in a Netflix binge, he went scavenging for boredom snacks.
The pantry was bleak, barren, devoid of any salty or sweet goodies to munch on while watching 30 Rock for the 18th time. Ready to give up, something at the back of the snack shelf caught his eye. It was a quiet, unassuming brown box.
The first bottles!
Dusting off the label, Rick saw it was a hot sauce making kit that he’d received as a Christmas gift years prior. He’d always enjoyed spicy foods, so the possibilities piqued his interest. With little else to do and the indentation in his couch cushion growing depressingly large, he decided it was time to use it.
Opening the package, he saw an assortment of glass bottles, dried pepper powders, and vinegar. This couldn’t be it, there had to be more! The instruction manual offered little hope, suggesting he dump some powder into some vinegar and wait. He had other ideas.
Armed with a head full of steam and a delicious salsa recipe he often made, Rick ventured to the store and bought fresh jalapenos, garlic, and onions. He roasted, peeled, and blended them with some guajillo, white vinegar, and a touch of salt. The result was 6 bottles of a thick, aromatic, beautiful green sauce. He coveted 2 and shared the rest with friends.
Picky Ricky and Loca Lola before they got their names!
The feedback was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. A hobby was born. He ordered a 24-pack of bottles, and spent the next month shopping and tinkering to uncover the next creation. The result was a complex, smoky chipotle lemon sauce. That was well-received, too.
Rick knew then that this was more than a hobby, he wanted to share these flavors with everyone. Days of Googles searches and spreadsheets and note-taking ensued. Early signs pointed to big hurdles, excessive budgets and red tape; but in the end, passion prevailed, ways were found. And voila - Quarantine Project was born. Like most good things, this company started by accident. And, we’re so excited to see what it will turn into!
