Steven Russell has always been excited to share his interests. First, with Roxbury Market in 2012 – an online marketplace with curated fashion pieces featuring Steven’s favorite brands. Then, with Lari Pati, Indianapolis’ first “crowd-sourced” club event, sourcing music and energy from partygoers instead of the party planners.
The founder of the popular Indianapolis event series is now expanding his cultural taste-making to culinary arts with Gavi sauce.
Gavi is Indianapolis’ first and the Midwest’s only signature hot chili sauce. “Chicago has mild sauce, [Washington] D.C. has mumbo sauce, Indianapolis has flavor to show the world, too.”
Chicago has mild sauce, [Washington] D.C. has mumbo sauce, Indianapolis has flavor to show the world, too.
Steven and I met in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood so I could try the sauce for myself and learn more about its origin. I was most curious about how a fashion and music curator finds food, most specifically a signature condiment, as his next venture.
Gavi Sauce’s Origin
The creator of Lari Pari originally intended to produce a Soho House-inspired restaurant and event space in Indianapolis. Club members would receive a bottle of Indianapolis’s signature sauce as part of their registration. But the sauce wasn’t created yet. Creating a completely new condiment as part of a larger plan to open a brick-and-mortar business is a testament to Steven’s can-do attitude and passion for bringing new experiences to the Indianapolis community.
After the loss of his younger brother to diabetes, Steven found solace in the kitchen. His brother’s health issues inspired him to cook meals from scratch with healthy ingredients. Gavi sauce was born from Steven’s natural appetite for curiosity, the desire to create another new thing for the city, and his need to maintain healthy coping mechanisms during grief.
As a graphic designer and marketer at heart, the thoughtfulness behind the logo was a no-brainer. “When you picture a spicy or chili sauce, you generally see a red or orange bottle. I wanted Gavi’s packaging to embody something cool and refreshing – a reflection of the tropical hints and clean ingredients that make up the sauce.” Taking it a step even further, Steven chose a matte glass bottle, rather than plastic or glossy glass. This was to give tasters the perception of a higher-quality sauce. The matte, foggy glass bottle was also a nod to the sauce’s spice.
Gavi Sauce Reviews
The first Gavi sauce trials came from Steven’s girlfriend and friends – hailing from Chicago with high expectations for a sauce that claimed to be Indy’s version of mild sauce. They approved and Gavi sauce was taken even more seriously by its creator.
Gavi has already earned placements in some of Indy’s greatest kitchens, including Milktooth for a limited run of oysters. Steven shared proudly, “I don’t claim to be an expert in culinary arts, nor do I seriously consider myself a chef. But for real chefs in the city to appreciate what I’ve created and take it seriously enough to add to their own creations is an honor.”
I tried the Gavi sauce on steak tacos and fries from Lil Amaru in Time Out Market. On the front end, the sauce tastes sweet and sour, a wonderful complement to the steak and cilantro. On the back end, there is spice – just enough to leave an impression, but not enough to scare you from pouring another dab. I’m unashamed to say I’m still savoring my sample bottle. It’s a delectable addition to any fried food and my favorite salmon dishes.
If you live in Indianapolis, you can try Gavi on Saturday, May 4th for free on a “Nap Dog”: a grilled, premium beef hotdog smeared with Gavi sauce, chopped onions, and diced jalapeños on a roll. Learn more about the event and the amazing nonprofit that it supports in the Instagram post below.
Soul Culture 