Gene Porter was the man behind "The Man."

"The Man" was Mr. Porter's own secret hot sauce, and at lunchtime Mr. Porter would work his way through the tables of his crowded barbecue restaurant, challenging customers to try a tiny dab of the fiercely hot liquid on a toothpick.

Mr. Porter, 71, the owner of Dixie's BBQ in Bellevue, died Sunday of cancer.

Sad times. Farewell, Mr. Porter.

Tip from the Cornichon