McIlhenny's Gold: How a Louisiana Family Built the Tabasco Empire

In this fascinating history, Jeffrey Rothfeder tells how, from a simple idea--the outgrowth of a handful of peppers planted on an isolated island on the Gulf of Mexico--a secretive family business emerged that would produce one of the best-known products in the world.

A delectable and satisfying read for both Tabasco fans and business buffs, McIlhenny's Gold is the untold story of the continuing success of an eccentric, private company; a lively history of one of the most popular consumer products of all times; and an exploration of our desire to test the limits of human tolerance for fiery foods.

A former BusinessWeek editor and national editor at Bloomberg News, Jeffrey Rothfeder has written for publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post and has appeared on 20/20, Nightline, Today, Good Morning America, and Oprah. He lives in Cortlandt Manor, New York.