Just got done with a chili cook-off at the Eiteljorg Museum here in Indy. My chili included (but was not limited to): 1/4 lb dried Red Savina (tm), 1/8 lb smoked hab, 1/2 lb fresh habs, 1/4 lb of Tepins & Serranos & Piquins, 1 bottle of Ralphs', and one ENTIRE bottle of Backdraft. All this for about 3 gallons of chili. I had the proper warning signs up, including serving the chili up in full firefighting gear and breathing apparatus. The best reactions were always those that were preceeded by the declaration "I'm from Texas/Arizona, boy- you don't know what hot is. Now back there they have REAL hot chili. Let's try this stuff of yours that you think is hot." It's less than three seconds later & they were usually crying/dancing/whooping/hollering/cussing/quaffing prodigiously and muttering. All this while I'd horse laugh them, which made it even worse ;-) I only wish I'd had some bread to serve it to them on....

From:   Jim Campbell Mild to Wild Pepper Co.
Posted By:   Jim Campbell BR> Post Date:   Sun, 19 Sep 1999