What is the origin of Bob Evans Wildfire® sauce?

Regulars at Bob Evans restaurants are likely familiar with the smoky, sweet Wildfire® sauce that comes served with our signature Wildfire Chicken Salad. The unique flavor of our Wildfire sauce has been a mainstay on the menu for a long time, but many may not be familiar with the story of how Wildfire became a Bob Evans favorite.

Wildfire aficionados know that this sauce has the perfect balance of sweet and savory – but did you know it’s a world championship winning recipe? Read on to learn more about our Wildfire® sauce.

On the Menu

Our signature Wildfire Chicken Salad is perennial lunchtime favorite. Fresh greens topped with grilled or fried chicken, corn, diced tomatoes, crunchy tortilla strips, cheddar cheese and plenty of our zesty Wildfire sauce. Many also opt for a side of Wildfire to bring extra deliciousness to an order of crispy chicken tenders.

Where Wildfire® began

Back in the 1990s, Yazoo City, Mississippi native Paul Hood and his friends and family started entering BBQ tournaments. Using a friend's recipe, they entered the 1995 Memphis in May World BBQ Championship and took the top spot. Just two years later, with a new recipe of their own, the newly named Wildfire Gourmet Cooking Team took the Memphis in May Championship again with their original Wildfire sauce.

Image: Paul Hood (center) being awarded at the Memphis in May BBQ Championship.

The original Wildfire sauce was a spicy barbecue sauce with notes of onion, garlic, apple and brown sugar. This Memphis-style sauce went on to win 15 more grand championships across the country and attracted the attention of then Bob Evans president, Roger Williams.

Bob Evans began sponsoring Paul Hood’s BBQ team and claimed the exclusive restaurant rights to the Wildfire sauce. Paul dialed down the heat from the original recipe and that’s the sauce served in Bob Evans restaurants today.

What's Next For Wildfire

Over the years, Paul has worked closely with Bob Evans on dozens of projects and appearances. He’s appeared in commercials, participated in store demos and cooked for the company's annual barbecue at the Bob Evans Farm Festival.

And after a few years of semi-retirement, Paul says that he’s going to rejoin the competition circuit again in Spring of 2021! While we eagerly await his latest creation, we'll enjoy his classic sauce with our signature Wildfire Chicken Salad – both in our dining rooms and online.