Sriracha. 33 min. Dist. by Dreamscape. 2013, released in 2015. $24.99. $199.99 PPR. ISBN 857063005165.

Gr 9 Up –Sriracha, the bottled red chile sauce with the rooster emblem and distinctive green spout, has gained a cult following in the United States, and in this ode to the deliciously spicy hot sauce, director Griffin Hammond reveals the story—and man—behind its success. David Tran, the unassuming founder of Huy Fong Foods, Inc. in Irwindale, CA, began his sauce-making career in the mid-1970s after fleeing Communist Vietnam. In the beginning, he would deliver his one-of-a-kind condiment to Asian restaurants along the California coast in his blue Chevy van. The chile empire that started in a 5,000 square-foot facility is now housed in a 650,000 square-foot factory where in 2012 the company sold 20 million bottles, the equivalent of 100 million pounds of chiles. While the origins of the iconic sauce provide the framework for the film, the documentary is really a love letter to its millions of fans. First-person interviews with zealous devotees pepper the narrative, as do songs written about the sauce, images of enthusiasts sporting Sriracha tattoos, and even clips of groupies dressed like the red-and-green bottle. Their obsession with all things Sriracha is tangible and gives the film its heart, and ultimately they are the reason why the popularity of the “rooster sauce” continues to grow. DVD extras include a “making of” piece, the Kickstarter pitch, and the deleted “Spelling Sriracha” scene. VERDICT This delectable short will appeal to foodies, fans, and those hungry for the latest pop culture phenomenon. Highly recommended.–Audrey Sumser, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, OH