Quote Originally Posted by LIP
I love heat, and spice. BUT, more importantly, i like flavour. With the right amount of heat, something can be flavourful, and hot. If it's too hot, you loose the flavour.
I agree completely. That's why I prefer chipotles over all other peppers for the smokiness that they add to a dish. And also why I prefer Indian food over Thai or Korean- I think generally a well-cooked Indian dish carries a warm, rich spiciness, while even at restaurants in New England where we are comparatively bland, Thai food is just simply searingly hot, and there aren't the sort of soothing side dishes that even Korean food typically is served with. I like kimchi, but in tiny amounts, as a condiment. By itself, it's just not pleasant to eat.

There's a real sense of balance in Indian food- IMHO the world's greatest class of cuisines- where no one flavor is supposed to dominate a dish, and that applies to heat as well. I like to get a little sniffly but not start crying... OMG do I want some curry now...