The battle: Hot sauce vs. cool customer
21.05.12
WASHINGTON — The red stuff in the little bowl needed sampling.
I dipped out a spoonful, avoiding the seeds.
My lunch companion warned me.
"Be careful. That's hot. Make sure you just get the oil," he said.
He indicated another little bowl with green stuff in it: "That's hot, too, but the red stuff is really hot."
Yeah, yeah, I thought.
Music tinkled softly in the background at the Chinese restaurant. It was cold, a good day for pepper-infused oil. I spooned the hot sauce on some meat and rice.
My taste buds have evolved in the past year or so. Hot stuff I once avoided like the plague has become no big deal.
Pickled hot peppers on your sandwich? Naturally. Jalapeños on your burrito? Bring 'em on. A dash of cayenne pepper? Yes, please.
Those are some of the spicy foods that used to cause my forehead to break out in an uncomfortable sweat, my eyes to water and my nose to run — but not in a long time.
Source: ReporterNews.com