Hotties Welcome! Start Your Saturday Off with Spice (and Non-Spicy) Samples at the Dragon Foodies Downtown Farmers' Market Booth

During the pandemic, the Dragon Foodies Family (Ty, Trang, Helen, and Owen) started the business out of a love of spice, beginning with spicy and mild sauces and expanding to include mild/spicy pickles and also now spicy beef sticks and jerky. The business owners attend events across Greater Des Moines (DSM), including in Adel, Clive, Des Moines, Johnston, Norwalk, Urbandale and West Des Moines. They also connect with people at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). Read how Dragon Foodies launched and got involved in The Market below:

Q+A with Dragon Foodies

How did Dragon Foodies get its start?

Ty Kirk: We started during COVID. I love to grill, and I love food, so the origin of our business was looking at making hot sauce as a hobby. I made a spicy and mild hot sauce and then moved on to making a spicy and mild pickle. From there, we made a seasoning which is now being used with beef sticks, and soon, beef jerky. And when I say some of our products are spicy, I mean spicy. (That’s why some of our customers are called hotties!)

What do you offer at The Market?

TK: Right now, two hot sauces: tomatillo, pineapple and jalapeno mild sauce and a mango habanero hot sauce. We have two types of pickles — a jalapeno-based dill pickle and a habanero-based dill pickle. We also have a super spicy seasoning and then partnered with Old Craft Meats in Waukee for a beef stick with our seasoning. Come Sept. 7, we’ll also have spicy beef jerky, too.

How long have you been at The Market?

TK: This Is our first year, and we’re so excited to get in. We’re a temporary vendor so have been assigned six different times. We’ve learned a lot about how to appeal to customers because this event is a little different from other events we do.

How has the first year at The Market been?

TK: It’s been a fantastic experience. The first event was dauting, just understanding traffic and setup, but all the vendors are helpful because we’re all in the same boat. A lot of them have been at The Market for a long time and offer advice to the newer vendors. We’re all entrepreneurs that help each other. If I buy things, I take it and set it on my table so if someone asks, “Where’d you get those massive chives or onions” and I can point to where I bought them. Overall, it’s a great experience.

When did you decide to pursue a spot at The Market?

TK: We were doing the Des Moines Home and Garden Show when someone mentioned The Market. I’d heard getting into The Market was difficult. It does take time to apply, but that’s good because it forces you to think about things in depth and put together the right pictures. There are some other hot sauces at The Market, but the pickles are pretty unique.

Are there any Market experiences that stand out, whether it be with customers or fellow vendors?

TK: I’ll give a shout out to Brown Dogs Farm. They are popular and have amazing hot sauces. I went to them and explained that I’m a competitor, and they didn’t care and offered suggestions. It was one of the most positive experiences. She didn’t need to spend any time with me, but she did. They have a great product, too, and are just great people over there.

What advice do you have for other small businesses interested in being a vendor at The Market?

TK: Just do it. Everyone starts somewhere. The first week might be a shock to you. It won’t be perfect, but you’ll learn, and you’ll continue to get better. It’s worth it when it comes to customers. They are usually in a good mood and typically buy things. Most of the people want to support local and support small vendors. Over time you’ll learn what’s going to sell, what’s not going to sell and how to really please the customers.

Check out Dragon Foodies at dragonfoodies.com or on Facebook.

There are so many fun events specific to Downtown DSM. Attend annual events like the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market, World Food & Music Festival and Holiday Promenade or find live music happening each week through the "Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.