Friday, March 30, 2007

Cholula



I'm involved in a torrid affair.

An affair so hot and messy that I get teary as it gets fiesty.

How long has this been going? It's been so long that I've lost count! Whatever it is, I believe I have my Dad to thank. Obviously you dear readers know what I'm talking about.

My affair with all things spicy that is.

I'm inspired to write this post after reading Leo's Red Hot Love Affair. He's another person I know who loves chilli as much as I do. Seriously, it's a love that surpasses all others. Come on, to love something that burns you or chokes you or makes you tear?

You must be thinking "who's she kidding, she's obviously mad!".

I am mad! Madly in love with chilli. I was nodding my head the entire time as I was reading Leo's bond with the red hot spicy gem. All of you chilli-lovers should read it! We should have our own Chilli Club - we'd go round the island searching for the best chilli: be it sambal belachan, chilli padi, chicken rice garlic chilli, etc...

Why do I sound so obsessed with something that sounds torturing? Trust me, I do have a 1001 reasons. But perhaps if you realise that as much as it is painful, it is this pain that makes it so endearing. Wait... I know i know, you must be thinking what a sadist I am. I don't necessary adore pain, but I am unpredictable and I totally dig the spontaneous rush I get from consuming chilli. Sometimes you never know how spicy it gets or how lousy it is. That's the excitement of eating chilli.

Heck, I'm adventurous. I've even tried Dave's Insanity Sauce.

Yes, you read right: INSANITY Sauce. It's really a hot sauce that promises to make you cry and run straight to the freezer. What's this about? You see, red habaneros make up the bulk of the sauce. I've read that this was the only sauce banned from hot sauce competitions because it was simply too hot! Before you dismiss this information, let me tell you, I've tried it!

A few years ago, I was at my photojournalism lecturer's place with my classmates for a farewell do. We ordered pizza and were happily chowing down on dough & meat when Mr. Umehara (that's my lecturer's name) brought out this delicate bottle with the words Insanity Sauce.

Me, being the ultimate chilli lover quietly dismissed the label and tried some. I didn't believe what he said (about it being the hottest sauce ever) so I tried it on the pizza....

GUESS what happened?

My tongue burst into flames.

Then it fell to the ground, black and ashen.

Just then, I wished I had Harry Potter's wand to fix my tongue.

Hmmm. HAHA. Pardon my lame attempt to include magic on this blog!

Anyhow, it was seriously seriously hot. Thing is, I only put a drop! This is lethal stuff I thought. Geez! My classmates and I were pretty excited. Haha... we decided to play a prank on those who arrived late. We 'hid' drops of the sauce in the pizza and offered it to latecomers.

No tongue was spared. Everyone looked as though they were eating fire. It was that strong! I will never forget that experience. I believe Mr. Umehara bought it from the States but he said he saw it sold here somewhere. I've been looking high and low for it but to no avail.

Since then, my eyes widen whenever I see bottles of hot sauce because I would really love to relive that insane experience simply for the kick (or to play pranks) :p

Now now, I'm not an evil person! I just like to have fun. So since I don't have any insanity sauce with me, I'll just have to make do with my old favourite Tabasco.

But I've recently discovered something that's quite easy on the tastebuds - Cholula Hot Sauce. I believe it's Mexican but even though it doesn't pack as much punch as Dave's Insanity sauce, it works well because of its slightly tangy undertone. A bottle costs $2.30 and I found it at Mustafa Centre. I've been eating it with almost anything! I have to go back to get more though... it's finishing soon.

Hey, I've an idea, someone should bring Dave's Insanity Sauce here! Or better yet, if you know any place that sells it, drop me and email! Best, if you're in the States and are coming back, could you kindly get me a bottle? I will bake you cookies I promise! :D

8 comments:

Yellow Garfield said...

Hey Cheryl,

There's a recommendation for you! Have you had the buffalo wings from Seletar airbase? They're graded on a scale of one to ten, one being the most mild and ten - the killer in terms of spiciness!

I think I'm quite a good chilli eater already, but I tried level 4...and just 1.5 wings had me groaning in agony for at least one hour post-eating, notwithstanding heart burn pains the entire night...

So if you try it, do drink loads of milk!!!

Anonymous said...

yo cheryl,

sorry to dissapoint you, but as far as i know, no one sells Insanity in singapore....:(

my bottle was from canada...damn good stuff... :D
(btw, think they have a whole range of hot sauces with varying degrees of hotness.)

cheers

The Hungry Cow said...

Wayne was your photojournalism lecturer?

Unknown said...

Just like you, I'm a chilli eater too! I can't live without chilli. Everytime I eat out, I'll ask for chilli sauce, chilli padi, chilli oil, cilli powder, or wasabi if I go for Japanese food. My mom joked with me before I came to Melbourne to study: "Shoulud I post a box of chilli sauce for you?" =_=''

By the way, the chilli padi in Australia are much hotter than those in Malaysia. But I'm glad about it :P 'Cos they spice up my life! :D

mimosa.shy said...

Hehe..Chilli Lovers United ! I love Chilli too...Pure heat and tingle on the tongue...

Receipe : Chili Padi, Garlic, Ginger , some salt . Pound using mortar. Pure unadulterated heaty pleasure.

Loads of Vitamin C too . : )

Beans said...

Hi, hope you don't mind me linking you to my blog. I love your site! Your choc chunk cookie recipe has become one of my staple recipes. I think I might even have it memorized quite soon! Lol.

Anonymous said...

hi babe! Lynette here! you told me to read yr entry bout chilli!oh man, i so adore and wanna try tt bottle of chilli!

its one of the best invention in the food industry man! hands down!

love,
lynette

Anonymous said...

Oh, have you tried Nando's sauces then? Made from African peri-peri chillis? Crazy hot.

I think you can find bottles of these sauces at Mustafa Centre for $2.90. The sauces range from mild to very hot. Good for roasts and fried items likes noodles and finger fooods! =)

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