Loco Luna Lauded as Low-Carb Leader.

DALLAS -- Hot sauce junkies have yet another way to rationalize their habit. This year's Low Carb Flavor Awards recognized Lava Sauce -- the fiery brainchild of Brian Moon and Loco Luna Gourmet Foods -- in not one, but two categories.

According to its Web site -- www.lowcarbflavor.com -- the 2005 Low Carb Flavor Awards is the premier low-carb tasting contest. The annual event is organized by the same group that hosts the Scovie Awards Competition -- considered by many pepper aficionados to be the leading judge of delicious, yet pain-inducing concoctions. The Scovies -- named for the late scientist and chili pepper expert William Scoville, who pioneered the Scoville Heat Unit index for measuring chili strength -- recognizes outstanding hot sauces and other "fiery foods."

In the Low Carb Flavor Awards, Loco Luna and Lava Sauce beat out all the other fiery food entries in its categories. Lava Sauce placed 3rd in Product Packaging for its label design, and 2nd in the Web Site division. The brand new hot sauce hit the streets too late for the taste test -- which means that ironically, Lava Sauce was deemed a first-rate low-carb food without even so much as a sample. But Moon is convinced that next year, Lava Sauce will take the judges' breath away in the flavor competition, too.

"Heat is great, but with Lava Sauce the focus is on flavor," says Moon. "So while Lava Sauce will certainly clear your sinuses, we also made it taste good enough to stand on its own. That's why it's perfect for marinades or rubs -- or even by itself with chips. We had a very strong response from consumers on the taste. People seem to really love it!"

With dieters eagerly searching for a wider selection of "carb-friendly" foods, Loco Luna seized an opportunity to hop on the low-carb bandwagon. Their Web site -- www.locoluna.net -- makes note that hot sauce is naturally almost carbohydrate-free, and even suggests that Capsaicin, the heat-producing oil from the peppers in the sauce, has other healthful benefits.

Designed by McGarr Creative in McKinney, programmed by Cody Clayton of Austin and written by Wayne Geyer of Dallas, Loco Luna's Web site is a tribute to Capsaicin fanatics and those new to fiery foods alike. Part educational, part entertainment and part e-commerce, the site gives hot sauce lovers a taste of Loco Luna's product offering -- as well as the company's personality.

"Hot sauce is fun," says Geyer. "It's a category where mom-and-pop recipes and eccentric entrepreneurs are often celebrated over the bigger brands. That's why we tried to give the site a real character -- both in its design and in its tonality. Folks should visit locoluna.net and feel like Loco Luna shares their enthusiasm."

Kendall Creative in Dallas produced the Lava Sauce packaging. For hot sauce connoisseurs, the product's identity can be every bit as important as ingredients -- as many fans develop fierce loyalties to their beloved condiments. Moon recognized the need to establish a strong look and feel for Lava Sauce, and the Low Carb Flavor Awards responded with its tasty little acknowledgement.

Lava Sauce is the flagship product from Loco Luna Gourmet Foods, LLC. It's made by hand from only the finest natural ingredients, and sold in four varieties -- mild, medium, hot and extreme. Brian Moon, Loco Luna's founder, is an entrepreneur who lives and works in McKinney, Texas.

About Loco Luna Gourmet Foods, LLC

Loco Luna Gourmet Foods is a privately held producer of small batch, hand crafted, gourmet sauces. Founded in 2004, Loco Luna is headquartered in McKinney, Texas, with regional sales managers scattered across America. Loco Luna Online can also be found at www.locoluna.net. Sales and distribution inquiries are welcome.