I believe the correct word in those cases is just 'spice'.

I've always treated chili as a seasoning rather than a flavouring, like MSG or salt. I think by the time you can actually taste 'chili', you've put too much in. After all, it's original function is to make you stop eating whatever contains it. It's function in food, IMO, is to affect how you taste the other flavours of the food you are eating. I'm basically thinking of the way proper Asian curries are made, most of which don't actually have a lot of 'heat' but do have a mix of a whole bunch of other spices and herbs, which the chili is part of to meld together into a distinct flavour.


One of the effects claimed for capsaisin is that it speeds up your metabolism slightly, so for any given exercise you do, you burn slightly more calories with the extra energy dispersed as heat (through sweating etc). I'm sceptical frankly. Wikipedia says

Apparently they're chock full of various anti-oxidants and boost circulation too.
Interesting: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/04April/Pages/chilli-peppers-fat-burning-and-appetite.aspx

I suspect any weight-loss properties stem entirely for the ability to give you some serious diarrhea if eaten in too large a quantity...

It's a running joke with Jamie Oliver at the moment. Take 15-Minute Meal programmes, which I sat and watched when I was with my parents before Christmas, for example. He might be going to prepare something I'd find quite tasty, and then chilli would arrive. Every single meal had chilli in some quantity. Why?

Chilli is very good for you & it adds flavour.

That's Jamie's trademark though. Watch Saturday Kitchen or Michel Roux Jr and there's no chili in sight

I'd say that chilli is pretty much a take it or leave it kind of ingredient in a lot of these recipes, so if you like everything other than the chilli, just leave the chilli out.

I see a lot of chefs say "season with salt and pepper".

Why pepper? It has a powerful taste which can easily overwhelm a dish, where as chilli can be more delicate.

As it happens I'm a fan of chilli and pepper and most other spices. It's just a question of using them in the right way.

It may well be good for you, but I hate spicy foods as a rule. I want to enjoy my food, not lose my tastebuds for a few hours.

It's like marmite

But salt can easily be overwhelming. I like adding pepper to food, but not all food and I taste the thing first before deciding whether it needs additional seasoning.

To do otherwise is simply rude.

"Do Not Resuscitate" should be renamed to "Allow to Die Peacefully" or similar.

Or doctor on break and not to be disturbed?

Am I the only one that doesn't get this comment? Seems in very poor taste to me.