About Us

Lewis Family Foods, LLC was founded in July 2024 by Todd and Cathy Lewis, but really this journey began a few years prior. As a lover of spicy foods, Todd always has several bottles of hot sauce on hand, but it was after sampling a souvenir sauce brought back from his mother from a cruise to Belize that necessity met "invention". When the bottle ran out, he knew he had to have more (without taking a cruise to Central America). Having worked as a chef/line cook in many restaurants over the years, he took inspiration and through utilizing the same smoking techniques North Carolinians are known for, set out to create his own smoked habanero sauce. He tested and refined it over a couple of years as he gave it away to family and friends. It was they who frequently urged him to make it a business and sell to the public.

When Todd and Cathy, were both let go from their full-time jobs at a local university in the summer of 2025 (after 30+ years combined experience), it seemed like the right time to bet on themselves and produce Taurus Urbe for sale. Relying on their strengths to compliment one another (Todd handles the cooking, Cathy has the mind for business) in their faith-forward business, they endeavor to create high quality products at an affordable price. 

Todd and Cathy met in 2004 and live in the "Bull City" (Durham, NC) with their two sons. Todd was born and raised in Durham, with deep roots on both sides of the family and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Cathy was transplanted to Durham as a pre-teen by way of Ohio with brief stops in the DC metro area (courtesy of her dad's job with the VA). Both have many siblings (full, half, and step) who all reside across the state. 

The name Taurus Urbe is Latin for "Bull City." It serves as homage to their hometown, but  also evoke the classical and timeless spirit of this delicious sauce. While it is indeed a hot sauce, Taurus Urbe is more flavor than heat, created by an acidified process rather than the more commonly used fermentation process.

The Lewises are proud to offer Taurus Urbe, from their family to yours--enjoy!