CXO is a labour of love, born from my curiosity and craving for the delicious red oil I kept ladling over everything whilst dining out at local Chinese restaurants. That aromatic, spicy, and numbing chili oil had me hooked. Eventually, I tried making my own at home. I wanted more. I made more. Then I made even more. One weekend I decided to make a huge batch. Soon, my family and friends were just as obsessed.

In 2024, I decided to take it seriously. What began with a few ingredients and a simple idea quickly became something real. Within a week, we had planned, prepped, and produced the very first official batch of CXO Chili Oil.

CXO is directly inspired by Sichuan chili oil and the incredible depth of flavour of Chinese cuisine. Making it is my practice of appreciation, a tribute to the culinary traditions behind the iconic red oil that inspired my obsession. Every jar of CXO is handcrafted with love, spice and infused with a generous blend of aromatics.

Balancing this project with full-time work hasn’t been easy, but CXO became my creative outlet. I joke that it’s just an elaborate way to procrastinate. To be honest, there’s probably some truth in that! At its heart, though, is a genuine love for food and the satisfaction of seeing people enjoying something truly good.

My dream is to keep this passion project alive, making CXO each year and sharing it with others who crave big flavour, bold spice and a little indulgence. CXO stands for Chili and Oil. Simple. Honest. Delicious.

This project came to life with the support of my best friends, my biggest cheerleaders and the ongoing support of my loved ones, family and friends. I couldn’t have done this without you.

Les, Ali, Bubbles & Goggyne. I am indebted, grateful and in awe of you all as humans. Thank you.

From my (well, my besties’) kitchen to yours, I hope it becomes your new obsession too.