ADD the "Za-Vee Zip"
to any dish!
Our Story
Xavie Gourmet Peppers is rooted in the heart of the Midwest and a rich family tradition that began with our grandfather, Xavier “Xavie” Breigenzer.
Xavie used the freshest ingredients and the most time-honored techniques to produce peppers that burst with bold and authentic flavors and transformed everyday meals into something special.
Those techniques have been passed down from generation to generation. Today Xavie’s grandson, Kenneth X Matelski, preserves the care and heritage that goes into every batch of Xavie Gourmet Peppers by personally preparing and jarring the peppers in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Kenneth recently enhanced the family recipe, making it even healthier and more nutritious, while still delivering that something special.
Grandpa Zavie
Xavie was born in Morrison, Minnesota in 1921, and moved with his family to Kenosha, Wisconsin shortly after. While serving in the U.S. Army during WWII, Xavie married the love of his life, Eunice Hendricksen, in 1943. Xavie worked a variety of manufacturing jobs to support his family, including at American Motors. At home in rural Kenosha, Xavie had a passion for gardening, where he and Eunice grew their own produce.
While Kenneth grew up working in his grandpa’s garden, his first real job was peeling shrimp as a restaurant prep cook when he was 16 years old. Restaurant work was hard work, but it taught him how to cook, clean, and take care of himself. Kenneth recently took his grandpa’s hot pepper relish recipe to the next level. By switching out some key ingredients with Avocado Oil and Pink Himalayan sea salt, Xavie Gourmet Pepper Relish is not only healthier and more nutritional, it brings out the best flavor for your palette.
Kenneth X Matelski
Mom
Loving, caring, generous, and hard-working, Mom was the heart and soul of this operation. She had a green thumb and she pickled and canned everything she could - pepper relish, pickled garlic, pickled tomatoes, hot cauliflower, and tomato sauce. Mom’s other passion was singing and writing music. As a cover vocalist, she sang everything from Bonny Raitt to Donna Summer.
