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What's up with hot?
I don't get it. Why do people like "hot" in their food? I mean hot-spicy, not hot-temperature (although, that too, is often given more importance than I think necessary--see: coffee.)
I can understand many flavors and textures and their purpose, I don't really see the point of hot. The one time I did see worth was hiking on Outward Bound, I would eat a chili pepper in the morning to blow the cobwebs out.
I even like very vinegar-y, serious garlic or overloaded with black pepper, although at a certain point, even those cross beyond actual taste/texture into something that just obliterates flavor.
It doesn't seem too have a flavor per-se, just creates a physical reaction of mild to extreme distracting pain. I can see it's origins very possibly being in food that was near rotten or spoiling, and thus you would add very distracting spice to cover an otherwise vile taste. Many depression and war time era foods have traits like this. When people were boiling up any scraps of leftover animal in a vat of wilted cabbage-goo.
Is it mostly a macho thing, like that fugu(sp?) fish that if mis-prepared will kill you double-quick?
In my opinion, its hard to get unless you subject yourself to it a few times. After you get over that actual discomfort of the 'heat', you will notice an exaggeration of flavor...in fact, I think its similar to super powers ;). Perhaps its something to do with the clearing of your sinus' that enhances flavor, I don't know or pretend to know the scientifics.
In essence, hotter does not mean better. I would just like to lay that on the table right now. I have had delicious very mild 'hot' sauces. I have also had self proclaimed 'Hottest F'n Sauce Burns you Long Time x2' that tastes like turpentine previously used to embalm slugs.
I love Frank's Red Hot. I put it on anything I possibly can. Simply delicious. I am also a huge fan of Jamaican Jerk sauce, and make my own. Yes, it uses superhot peppers. But it has such a great, garlicky citrus taste...its out of this world.
There is a method to the madness. But it seems there are alot of people that just like the madness part....which makes it hard to get through the burn the first few times. Do you remember when you were a kid, and thought beer was yucky? Its like that.
Yeah there's hot..... then there are those peppers from the Simpsons. Hot is good, but the sauce must have a good flavor. I prefer that hot chinese rooster sauce that comes in squeeze bottles. It goes on almost everything. :D
[quote="ronzoni"]It's the endorphine rush reaction that people, like myself, get addicted to from eating hot-spicy foods. Once you get hot a few times, you'll get the rush too and may begin to like it. Or you may not like it.[/quote]
Actually thats debatable. There are many reasonings behind the craving for heat. For example, some people think mexican food is spicy because it actually makes ya sweat and thus cools you down in the heat.
But I'm with you on the endorphins. It makes more sense to me...
[quote="Dez"]In my opinion, its hard to get unless you subject yourself to it a few times. After you get over that actual discomfort of the 'heat', you will notice an exaggeration of flavor...in fact, I think its similar to super powers ;). Perhaps its something to do with the clearing of your sinus' that enhances flavor, I don't know or pretend to know the scientifics.
[/quote]
Quite true. Some people think it causes a bit of a swelling of the tissues of the tongue, thus 'opening' the taste buds. But I also agree with the opening of the sinuses...smell is the first part of tasting.
[quote="Dez"]
In essence, hotter does not mean better. I would just like to lay that on the table right now. I have had delicious very mild 'hot' sauces. I have also had self proclaimed 'Hottest F'n Sauce Burns you Long Time x2' that tastes like turpentine previously used to embalm slugs.
I love Frank's Red Hot. I put it on anything I possibly can. Simply delicious. I am also a huge fan of Jamaican Jerk sauce, and make my own. Yes, it uses superhot peppers. But it has such a great, garlicky citrus taste...its out of this world.
[/quote]
Actually it depends on how you use the sauce. Those 'death sauces' are made more for adding to a large pot of chili or soup...NOT to just blorp onto your lunch.
I remember when I was still teaching, one of the kids at the school got ahold of a one million scoville sauce. That was always intereting watching the kids try to outdo themselves...morons. I was content with putting a single drop in a bowl of soup and DAMN that added some heat.
You and the Frank's again! That stuff is like mostly vinegar. The ONLY brand name sauces that I like are Tobasco's Habenero sauce and their Chipotle sauce.
We'll get you on a better sauce...I promise.
Friends don't let friends do Franks :)
Tell ya what. We'll start you on something easier. I'll let you have a sample of my cajun blackening...flavor and heat. AMAZING on steak and chicken.
[quote="Dez"]
There is a method to the madness. But it seems there are alot of people that just like the madness part....which makes it hard to get through the burn the first few times. Do you remember when you were a kid, and thought beer was yucky? Its like that.[/quote]
Nope :)
[quote="Patrick_Clapham"]Yeah there's hot..... then there are those peppers from the Simpsons. Hot is good, but the sauce must have a good flavor. I prefer that hot chinese rooster sauce that comes in squeeze bottles. It goes on almost everything. :D[/quote]
Guatemalan insanity peppers are the BEST!
But if you want hot...go here:
[url]http://www.sweatnspice.com/proddetail.php?prod=429[/url]
Someday....someday....
I have a recipe for a blackened seasoning myself, we shall have to arrange a trade! I spent 6 years running a BBQ kitchen....so I have a fair amount of experience with BBQ, Hot Sauces, peppers, all the good stuff. I just really like Franks, of all the sauces I have had.
Oh man. The Hangar! They have the [i]best[/i] buffalo sauce for their buffalo chicken. Heck, I've loved all of the sauces I've had there. Doesn't have to be super hot, but even if you do get it as hot as it gets there, the taste still comes through, and oh boy is it wonderful...
So yeah, I agree with most of what's been said. Hot foods can be:
-A way to laugh with friends about how absofreakin'lutely hot something is and challenge each other to eat something a step hotter
-A great way to clear up the sinuses (I almost always have a stuffy nose :x )
-If done properly (like at the Hangar :P ), that last touch that really sets off a dish
I can see the endorphine rush thing. Sounds like a similar effect of wasabi or a tense moment in one's day. Gets your senses all up.
[quote="Kassidy"]Oh man. The Hangar! They have the [i]best[/i] buffalo sauce for their buffalo chicken. Heck, I've loved all of the sauces I've had there. Doesn't have to be super hot, but even if you do get it as hot as it gets there, the taste still comes through, and oh boy is it wonderful...
So yeah, I agree with most of what's been said. Hot foods can be:
-A way to laugh with friends about how absofreakin'lutely hot something is and challenge each other to eat something a step hotter
-A great way to clear up the sinuses (I almost always have a stuffy nose :x )
-If done properly (like at the Hangar :P ), that last touch that really sets off a dish[/quote]
The Hangar is awesome, but i rarely go there for the hots.
[quote="Charlie"][quote="Kassidy"]Oh man. The Hangar! They have the [i]best[/i] buffalo sauce for their buffalo chicken. Heck, I've loved all of the sauces I've had there. Doesn't have to be super hot, but even if you do get it as hot as it gets there, the taste still comes through, and oh boy is it wonderful...
So yeah, I agree with most of what's been said. Hot foods can be:
-A way to laugh with friends about how absofreakin'lutely hot something is and challenge each other to eat something a step hotter
-A great way to clear up the sinuses (I almost always have a stuffy nose :x )
-If done properly (like at the Hangar :P ), that last touch that really sets off a dish[/quote]
The Hangar is awesome, but i rarely go there for the hots.[/quote]
I haven't ate there yet, but i have heard really good things about it... Where is it located?
Amherst I think. There's also one in my hometown back east, Brookline.
[quote="Patrick_Clapham"]Amherst I think. There's also one in my hometown back east, Brookline.[/quote]
Thats so far away... I wish there was a closer one... :/
55 University Drive, Amherst.
We've actually ordered take-out from there while in Greenfield. It can be that good. My favorite is the normal ones at "Wimpy" level. They're not hot, but really vinegary! Yum!
I overdid it once with their sweet mustard style, and am still mildly nauseated by that particular flavor.
Thanks for the hot analyses. I may have to investigate further.
Hot wings do sound good, Do u mean they delivered to Greenfield? or did u drive down there and pick it up?
Oh man. If they deliver, I'm gonna have to boot my dad out of my Fav 5 on my phone to put the Hangar in there.
lol So there really is a fave 5 for that phone plan thing. wow.
It's the endorphine rush reaction that people, like myself, get addicted to from eating hot-spicy foods. Once you get hot a few times, you'll get the rush too and may begin to like it. Or you may not like it.
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