This came about because my in-laws are here, and we made a big ol crockpot of chili yesterday. Wifey didn't want to make it too spicy for her parents, so consequently it had almost no bite at all. It was basically tomato sauce with some meat & beans. Out of desperation I added a dose of Tobasco, but then the flavor was sub-optimal. Because our kitchen is undergoing some renovation at the moment, I couldn't find my chili powder, cayenne, etc. It was like I was in food hell. I mean, what good is chili if it doesn't clear out the sinuses a bit?

The poll is one to five stars, like you'd order at a Thai restaurant. Don't go lying to us trying to convince us you're all manly because you like a ton of spicy stuff. Vote based on what you really like. Five stars is lips burning, face bright red, and sweating profusely. I know some of you probably sweat profusely all the time, but I specifically mean spice-induced sweating. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

I'm a solid 3+ stars (voted 3). I don't mind 4 stars and I'll partake if it's a flavorful spicy (not just burning hot for the sake of burning hot) in authentic ethnic cuisine. I don't really enjoy 5 star levels of spice.

How many stars? single choice
	5 (extremely spicy)
	4
	3
	2
	1 (not spicy)
Votes accepted starting: 11/26/08 06:00 AM
View Results

I'm a 2 and will go to 3 for hot wings or some other spicy dish. I've had 4 before and laugh at people who try a 5 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

I voted 4 because I like hot food. I like to enjoy my food. If it is too hot to enjoy I dont like it. So I took 5 as being too hot to enjoy. Not too much food is like that for me though. So a 4 for me might be 5 for others. I actually have some chilli on right now with jalapenos, caynne pepper, crushed red pepper and more. People around here think it is hot, I think it is good. I like chilli.

I voted 1. Mild sauce at Taco Bell is all the hotter I want my food. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It was a toss up between 2 and 3, but i went with 2. I like spice mainly for flavor, not for the burn.

I love frank's red hot. Would that qualify for a 2?

3-4 but only on foods that I like spicy such as chili, sechuan chicken, fried chicken wings, etc. but not everything.

I remember guys in the Navy throwing Tabasco on an omelet or other dishes that already had a wonderful taste. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
IMHO that just serves to hide the natural flavor of a good tasting meal.

No on 5 though. I've tried that before. Blistered my lip! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> no thanks. I'll pass.

im with the others... pretty much a solid 3, mabey a little hotter depending on the dish.
every tuesday i deliver to a indian resteraunt and always get a free buffet lunch... its really good, i dont know whats in it much less what it is but i like it. that being said, 2 weeks ago i got there before the buffet... so "dad" (the owener... very little english, his sons cornered that market) starts to whip me something up. he asks "spicy?" i say "huh" he repeats, i say sure... after all, how spicy can curry actually be? right... never again. so i said spicy and he says "gud" turns around to put the finishing touches on my lunch with his wife going "NO,NO,NO,NO,NO" at him. i asked the son if my mouth was going to melt off... he said "no,no... very good". uh, huh. one bite and 3 bottles of water later... my mouth was still on fire, literally. i looked like one of those nazis from raiders after they opened the ark. i dont know what he put in it... but dam, ill never say sure again.

i voted 3 but i relly like 4 it just don't like me,and neither do the coworkers or anyone else within range <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, that's pretty much how I see it. I don't spice up everything, far from it. But there are certain foods that are supposed to be spicy and don't seem right if they're not. That chili I had the other day being a prime example.

A coworker of mine grows his own peppers. At first it seemed like an odd thing for him to be doing, because he's English, and their food has a reputation (however well deserved I do not know) for being unexciting. But he explained that curried dishes are widely available over there so he was used to it. He makes his own hot sauce from the peppers he grows. It's not ridiculously hot, but it definitely kicks. Now that I have a place with a yard I'm thinking of trying to grow some peppers of my own in the spring.

Apparently the bhut jolokia is the world's hottest pepper. There are videos on youtube of people eating them. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I'm a bit curious what that would feel like, but I'm not masochistic enough to actually eat one. That stuff can do a number on your digestive tract. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

I voted 4. When I was in Thailand I loved the spicy food and it had quite a kick. I do like 5 also but not just buring hot, I like flavor too! If food is only hot and no flavor I would much rather eat something at the 1 level that had flavor.

Japan had really good grilled octopus at evel 3!