Back in November 2009, Jill Padua closed her catering business in order to focus solely on producing Jill’s Kitchen Open Sesame Sauce, which had been a hit with her customers. The first bottling came in March of 2010, and about two weeks ago, bottle number 10,000 was purchased at Peck’s Market in Jeffersonville.

On May 16, 2011, Padua announced the winner of the 10,000 Bottle Contest, which took place in various locations throughout the Catskill and the Hudson Valley.

The winner was Cindee Baum of Jeffersonville, who said, “I love this sauce. I’ve been eating it since I could buy it packaged on noodles—way back when. I started with a small container and then went right back to the store and bought a big one. I’m addicted, and I’ve gotten other people addicted! I couldn’t believe it when I got the winning bottle—this is great.”

Along with Padua, Gabrielle Scott, marketing manager of Bethel Woods Center of the Arts, was also on hand to congratulate Baum and present her with two tickets to a select concert at Bethel Woods and museum tickets. Baum also received a case of the sauce.

“I am so happy for Cindee, who has been a lover of my sesame noodles and has been a fan for years. And it is wonderful to have Bethel Woods Center for the Arts as an active supporter in my venture. Support from my customers at the Bethel Woods concerts and other venues is one of the reasons I chose to take my sauce to the next level, hence the birth of bottled Open Sesame Sauce,” Padua said.