Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?

I have a moderately high tolerance for spicy food, but I don’t go looking for it. IME, too many people trying to maximize spiciness forget about flavor. And flavor is what I seek, regardless of the scoville units involved.

Some of my favorite incarnations of certain dishes were the “hottest ever” versions I’ve ever had- a salsa from a family run Mexican restaurant; the hot & sour soup from a takeout joint long gone. But in each case, despite the infernos that raged in my mouth- and inevitably, the other end of my digestive tract- they were all flavorful dishes.
 

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I have a moderately high tolerance for spicy food, but I don’t go looking for it. IME, too many people trying to maximize spiciness forget about flavor. And flavor is what I seek, regardless of the scoville units involved.

Some of my favorite incarnations of certain dishes were the “hottest ever” versions I’ve ever had- a salsa from a family run Mexican restaurant; the hot & sour soup from a takeout joint long gone. But in each case, despite the infernos that raged in my mouth- and inevitably, the other end of my digestive tract- they were all flavorful dishes.
Thats me too, I love the spice but it has to blend naturally. You can tell when someone is making something hot just to make it hot.
 

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I have a moderately high tolerance for spicy food, but I don’t go looking for it. IME, too many people trying to maximize spiciness forget about flavor. And flavor is what I seek, regardless of the scoville units involved.

Some of my favorite incarnations of certain dishes were the “hottest ever” versions I’ve ever had- a salsa from a family run Mexican restaurant; the hot & sour soup from a takeout joint long gone. But in each case, despite the infernos that raged in my mouth- and inevitably, the other end of my digestive tract- they were all flavorful dishes.
My ex is Mexican and she can handle any level of spice like nothing is too hot, though she complains people add too much to cover for flavor.
 



Thats me too, I love the spice but it has to blend naturally. You can tell when someone is making something hot just to make it hot.
Yep!

There’s an Indian-owned takeout pizza place just down the street from me. There’s also a BUNCH of Indian restaurants & groceries on that street as well- there’s been a huge influx of immigrants from Southeast Asia moving here over the past 2 decades.

Anywhooo, the manager & I have talked food for many years, so he knows I know my cuisines. One of his (Indian) employees came through complaining about the new Indian place that had just opened across the parking lot from their shop. She had gotten her lunch there, and was complaining about it. It was, in her opinion, simply spicy for spicyness’ sake. The manager told her to let me taste it.

Well, she wasn’t wrong. It was “Indian hot”, but there was almost no real detectable flavor. And that was probably a big part of why they closed in less than a year of operation.
 



I have a moderately high tolerance for spicy food, but I don’t go looking for it. IME, too many people trying to maximize spiciness forget about flavor. And flavor is what I seek, regardless of the scoville units involved.

Some of my favorite incarnations of certain dishes were the “hottest ever” versions I’ve ever had- a salsa from a family run Mexican restaurant; the hot & sour soup from a takeout joint long gone. But in each case, despite the infernos that raged in my mouth- and inevitably, the other end of my digestive tract- they were all flavorful dishes.
I discovered one of those 18 years ago. My wife and I simply call it, "the good taco place" to differentiate it from the many, MANY other Los Angeles Mexican restaurants.

The reason it's so much better isn't just the quality of their ingredients, which is good, but the salsa that the owner makes. I've never seen or had anything like it at any other Mexican restaurant that I've been to, but it is freaking delicious. The spice level varies from merely spicy to raging inferno, depending on the mix, but it's always the best salsa I've ever had.

Our family mechanic just moved to a new location...................directly across the street from the good taco place. Every time one of our vehicles needs an oil change, I have now stopped putting it off and just go across the street to enjoy tacos in the morning while I wait. Good times!
 

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