I am very fond of hot foods. I like the boldness of the heat. I like being overwhelmed by something. There’s also, just like in long-distance running, sometimes a rush of endorphins that really makes you feel somehow more alive. But I’m always looking for the hottest thing I can find. And from what I’ve seen, the Scoville scale can be very misleading. The great food blog Five Thirty Eight did a great piece lately on the challenges of quantifying heat.
So the first video I’ll share is a clip of me eating a piece of a “Naga” pepper. It was given to me by my father-in-law, who is not only growing ghost peppers in his backyard, but also brings me peppers from coworkers who are growing other implements of torture. So far I’ve tried Carolina Reapers, raw, as well as ghost peppers. So far I prefer habaneros, because they have the best flavor and a pretty consistent heat.
And, one for the books: here’s a video (it’s long, so be warned) of me completing the Wellfire Wing Challenge at Barrelhouse 101 in Ventura. It’s insanely hot, but it was so much fun to get to do a hot wing challenge. It may have been the hottest thing I’ve ever eaten; by the end, my pinky fingers were going numb, and my legs started twitching, too.
(I’m not saying I wouldn’t do it again. I’m just saying, don’t take the challenge lightly.)
(Also, be prepped for a bit of profanity. I was in serious pain.)