Let's spice things up.
Hello, again!
With tomorrow being ‘International Hot and Spicy Food Day’, and being the spicy food lover that I am, I started wondering how to best celebrate and honor spicy flavors and culinary traditions from around the world. There’s no better time to share my local spicy favorites than a day for spice enthusiasts to explore diverse dishes and experiment with bold flavors.
While Angie and I typically go to Ruben’s Mexican Grill in Delano or Felipe’s Jr. on east Harry, there are so many good places to enjoy spicy Mexican food in our area. We also enjoy New Paradise Indian Restaurant on south Rock Road which can have spicy food as well. I will admit... I think Thai food is some of the spiciest food I’ve ‘enjoyed’!
A spicy food challenge can be a fun way to celebrate the day as well. Rick Goehring and BJ Hunt from Walnut River Brewing and I had our own hot pepper challenge a few years ago leading up to Chilefest. Starting with mild green peppers with 0 Scoville Units up to Ghost Peppers with over 1,000,000 Scoville Units and many peppers in between, it was a fiery challenge. We keep saying we’d ‘enjoy’ doing that again…
If you are wanting to grow your own hot peppers in your garden, it will soon be time to start them indoors. I’ve found that the hotter the pepper, the slower they are to germinate, and the longer it takes for them to be ready to plant outside. By keeping them in a warm, sunny spot they will perform better than getting started in the garden. We have many hot pepper varieties in the store now on our seed displays. Our transplants will be available starting in April.
Horseradish is another plant that you can grow in your garden for a spicy option. My great Uncle Dan Binford grew the plant and made his own horseradish sauce. My cousin David now has taken it upon himself to carry on the family tradition of growing and making his own horseradish. Pick up a start this spring in the stores to give it a try yourself.
While you’re shopping the seed racks at the stores, pick up some radish seeds to plant soon. From ‘Cherry Bell’ to ‘Icicle’ to beautiful blends, they all make marvelous early spring spicy vegetables.
While it’s a bit late for planting garlic, be sure and plant some next fall; their growing culture is like that of spring flowering bulbs. For the best garlic around check out Orie’s Farm Fresh and don’t miss Garlic Fest 2025 on Sunday, September 7th this fall.
Enjoy celebrating International Hot and Spicy Food Day with some spicy heat in your garden and on your plate! Let us know where your go-to place is for hot and spicy foods. I know we all have our favorite places!
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
P.S. If you're looking for a deliciously spicy weeknight meal that uses both hot peppers and Thai basil, check out this easy Thai Basil Gai Pad Krapow recipe!
