To help us get inspired to try new cuisines from around the
world, Roger Mooking, host of Everyday Exotic, shares his delicious
adventures and notes from across the globe. We'll be rolling them
out every Wednesday, so be sure to check back to find out where
Roger's food adventures takes him to next.
I grew up eating hot food my whole life. In the Caribbean, a
table is not considered fully set until the pepper
sauce is on the table. Most families make their own
version and a good amount of those who know how-to actually keep up
the tradition. Because it's so prevalent, lots of places on the
islands sell pepper sauce, from grocery stores to corner stores and
even on the side of the street (or on the street in traffic).
Pepper sauce is a way of life and people pride themselves on their
ability to handle the heat. However, this appetite-for-heat
phenomenon is not isolated to the Caribbean, as I've witnessed this
in South East Asia, Mexico and many other parts of the world.
People love hot foods and it's all about the burn,
the endorphin rush, the change in body temperature and the
sensation. Eating hot is a way of life that affects our bodies in a
very immediate and direct way. It's food that produces emotions and
pushes our limits, that's a good thing, but like my grandmother
would say--all things in moderation.
Tune in to Roger's new show, Heat Seekers (premiering on September 1, 2011), and
join him and Aaron Sanchez as they travel the world seeking
heat. Be sure to check out more from Roger Mooking here.
Related
Posted:
Wed, Aug 24 2011 by
Terry Wong