Meet Janice Kim | Founder, Hotgirlsauce

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janice Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janice, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
My favorite book is Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee, which I happen to be rereading right now. I can still remember the first time I picked it up, reading from cover to cover, devouring every word deep into the night with tired eyes. In her first novel, Min Jin Lee [my favorite author] crafts a raw, heart wrenching tale of a first generation Korean-American female navigating the folds of her family, relationships, career, and more. She brought a voice to pages I hadn’t read before, one that resonated deeply with not only me but my community. Characters we could get lost in and see ourselves. The dimensions she carved out provided a lens into the deep, burrowing nuances of the immigrant struggle in America – the cultural complexities entrenched within our personal hopes, doubts, fear, ambitions. As a reader, I see my own dreams, flaws, and untold ambitions etched into the pages – at times unable to discern between my empathy, frustration, or laughter, but seen all the same.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve had a long career building brands for others. At times, I felt lost creating for others at the expense of myself, and I often found solace in the kitchen. I love the idea that I founded Hotgirlsauce, as it was the unanticipated journey I stumbled into as I found my way. As a Korean-American daughter of immigrants, I aimed to infuse bold, savory, unique flavors inspired by traditional Asian roots that were authentic to my heritage and taste, yet without limit to any food or cuisines. I wanted to create something approachable and versatile, non-pretentious and non-intimidating. I wanted Hotgirlsauce to invite all to the kitchen.
What I created is your new kitchen staple, and Hotgirlsauce is set apart by our versatility and well balanced daily end-use. All natural with no additives, preservatives, or sugar, our recipe is non-waste, and a priority of R&D was sustaining the natural consistency of the oil. The result is a silky, rich texture perfect for drizzling, marinating, or simply pouring over any dish. I couldn’t be prouder of the end-product, which lends itself to a diverse range of everyday palates — exactly what I set out to do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Born in South LA and a Santa Monica native of the past decade plus, I sincerely believe that Los Angeles is of the most underrated cities in the world. We have so many special gems and distinctive pockets stretching across our city. In times of tragedy and hardship, we come together as a community to uplift one another, and our fabric is richly weaved with diverse voices and perspectives. As we cope and rebuild from the devastating fires that struck early this year, I firsthand continue to witness the outpouring of generosity and spirit of empathy throughout the city. It’s just a small token of the beauty of Los Angeles.While I may reside in Santa Monica, I have always commuted across the city to various neighborhoods. Despite what some may suspect, a perfect week does not isolate to simply one dwelling of LA. No matter the time of year, a visit is not complete without strolls, bike rides, or skates along the beach path. I’ve taken a countless number of visitors to Cassia, the pivotal Santa Monica restaurant we cherish for unforgettable fusion Asian food. A deeply special place to me mournfully closing this month. Equally requisite is a meal (or three) in Korea-Town for the best Korean food outside of its homesake. To me, comfort food is the food court of any Korean mall or shopping plaza, and specifically, the Koreatown Plaza on Western, a hallmark my entire life, erected my birth year. Little Ethiopia on Fairfax has a sprawl of my favorite restaurants for vegans and meat-eaters alike. Finally, DTLA calls for the best rooftops in the city, the Broken Shaker in particular holding my fancy. 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In Korean, there is saying called 손맛, son mat, which in literal words translates to hand taste. The meaning of son mat evokes a flavor that transcends physical taste, imbued with the love and care of the hands of those who prepared it. When I think of my earliest memories of food, I think of my 할머니, halmoni, my grandmother, whose home was my first. I think of the tenderness and love poured in each dish she has made me from childhood until now and am filled with warmth. The kitchen is the earliest place I found a connection just my own to my heritage, and there is nothing that brings me more joy than sharing pieces of my culture to others through the medium of food. The ability to share son mat with others, particularly flavors that may be curiously new to some, is what Hotgirlsauce embraces. It’s what my halmoni taught me.

Website: https://thehotgirlsauce.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehotgirlsauce/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicekimkim/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehotgirlsauce

Image Credits
Erik Melvin