I like my food spicy. That is, I like some spice; enough to hit the back of my throat with bold flavor, but not too much so that I can’t taste anything else. If my spice preference could be likened to a jar of salsa, I am a medium. Given this, whenever I see a spicy red hot pepper or other spicy indication next to a menu item that I am considering, I feel that it is best to ask the server how spicy the item actually is because spicy, is really a subjective term. For example, my medium level of spice might feel like extra super-hot to someone who doesn’t like any spice flavor whatsoever. Unfortunately, the subjectivity of spice flavor also holds true to the chef in the kitchen who is preparing the meal and what may be mild in spice one day, can end up being quite hot the next…And I hate it when that happens!
I have a favorite meal at a restaurant that is, typically, not very spicy. However, I always ask for the array of house made spice sauces so that I can add my own level of spice to it. I do this so often that I have learned which sauce is my favorite and just how much to add to my meal so that it is spicy, but not too spicy. However, just recently, when I added my small, but not too small, dollop of spice to my meal, mixed it around and started eating, I quickly realized that my meal was now VERY spicy. Eating it made my eyes water and my nose run so much so that didn’t really enjoy my meal as it felt more like excretion management rather than eating.
I didn’t want to blame my favorite restaurant because my food being too spicy was a direct result of me making it too spicy. I had become too complacent in ordering the same meal and adding the same amount of the same spice. I no longer tasted any of the spices or added just a little, stirred it around and then tasted my meal to see if I needed to add any more. It was a spicy wake-up call to not only my mouth, but also to my head as I realized that my consistent meal selection and behavior had become boring, or dare I admit it, even a bit bland. Because beyond just liking my food a bit spicy, I also like my life to be a bit spicy. I like to wear dark-colored clothing but LOVE a bold and colorful shoe. I like a danceable pop song but LOVE a classic ACDC rock tune. I enjoy a solid blue square ski run but LOVE the challenge of a black diamond. Ultimately, the next time I went to my favorite restaurant, I tried something new and added just a little bit of spice to it. It was delicious.
Mild? Medium!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!

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