I'm not a fan of really spicy foods, but I like a little red pepper here and there.  I think there's a difference between "melt your face off spicy" and just regular spicy.  I ate dinner at an Indian family's house one time, and the mom cooked some sort of casserole ... with jalapenos.  None of my white friends noticed them at first, but deduced from the changing color of my face that this was no ordinary casserole.  After eating a few, I was eventually told that jalapenos were added because, well, who doesn't add jalapenos to casserole?  Indeed.  Who doesn't?  This wasn't my idea of a good way to introduce spice to a meal.  I'd rather sprinkle some pepper on something to give it a little umph, not be tricked into eating something because it looks innocent. 

The type of food makes a difference.  A casserole shouldn't be spicy just like ice cream shouldn't be spicy.  But chicken, steak, fajitas, burritos, really anything Mexican ... that's just asking for some spice.  And most finger foods at Super Bowl parties, such as chips, wings, etc. are much better with a little extra flavor. 

The type of spice is also important.  I'm not talking about which kind of pepper.  I mean whether it's pepper or Tabasco sauce.  I think it's ridiculous that people think Tabasco sauce adds flavor to their meal.  I've been criticized many times for thinking Tabasco sauce is too hot.  Sorry.  I guess I just like to taste my meal and not make my lips burn off.  On the plus side, hot sauce clears out my sinuses like nothing else.  I guess there are two sides to everything. #food