Greetings! My name is Michelle Mierwald, and I am the owner of Sweet Heat Gourmet. A little more about me. I graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2011 with a degree in Culinary Arts.  After graduating, I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go with my new college degree. Being a non-traditional student with a family, I knew I didn't want to work in a hot kitchen 90 hours a week. While I contemplated which direction to go, I began canning fresh produce from our local farmers' market, and giving away fresh made hot sauces and BBQ sauces. The response I received was kind of like a tap on the shoulder.

I started looking into opening my own small business, and with the help of Linda Feltman and the amazing people at the Penn State Small Business Development Center, I was soon on my way to owning my small business.

What soon followed was nothing short of amazing and wonderful. The farming community and local businesses responded in an incredible way. As of today, I'm in two local farmers' markets, as well as 14 retail locations, 4 online stores and on the menu at Whiskers at the Nittany Lion Inn. My main goal is to support the local food market, and I continue to strive to buy as much local produce as possible to make my unique and tasty sauces.

Since I create my sauces with what's in season a the local market, some of my products are seasonal. But I am commited not only to working with local farmers, but also to my customers. If you have a special request, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will work with you to give you the best product possible.