# Hot salsa and wimpy Canadians **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659 "2010-12-10T14:37:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/1 "2010-12-10T14:37:03Z")
A few years ago there was a thread here regarding a really good, hot salsa. I forget the name of the stuff, but when I went looking for it in the grocery stores I could only find the medium and mild versions. Oh well, at least I still can buy Pace Hot Salsa. It was only available at one chain of stores, but I knew I could at least find it. Well, until now. They’re stopped selling hot, and only have mild and medium. I emailed them asking why, and apparently it just wasn’t moving so they discontinued it. Other brands that do say hot, are not. Heck even Pace Hot wasn’t at my level, but it was decent enough. Now, all I can find is shitty mild and medium salsas that don’t even register on the Scoville scale. Fucking wimps here. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/2 "2010-12-10T14:41:01Z")
No shit. When I moved back from Texas I bought some tortilla chips and hot salsa. I kept thinking that there was some faulty salsa or something. The stuff that was sold here as hot would rate mild in Texas. Don’t even get me started on the fact that you can buy extra mild salsa. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/3 "2010-12-10T14:42:43Z")
Not just Canadians. Here in my neighborhood in DC, neither of the two grocery stores regularly carry hot sauce. I have to drive down to Columbia Heights (shudder), or Maryland. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/4 "2010-12-10T14:52:10Z")
Pace Medium mixed with about 1/3 Mexican Hot Sauce is my perfect salsa. I like the taste of fresh salsa but it isn’t homogeneous enough to stick to chips. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/5 "2010-12-10T14:52:41Z")
Moving from MPSIMS to Cafe Society, where things are really hot. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/6 "2010-12-10T14:54:15Z")
If you need hot spicy sauces in Toronto, go to the Indian/Pakistani or Vietnamese sections of the city and try their grocery stores. You might even be able to find the odd jar of hot Mexican-style salsa. Which reminds me, I really need to go back to Little India again. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/7 "2010-12-10T14:55:08Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Pace Medium mixed with about 1/3 Mexican Hot Sauce is my perfect salsa. I like the taste of fresh salsa but it isn’t homogeneous enough to stick to chips. What is Mexican Hot Sauce? Not that I’d be able to find it here in milquetoast-ville. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/8 "2010-12-10T15:24:34Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Not just Canadians. Here in my neighborhood in DC, neither of the two grocery stores regularly carry hot sauce. I have to drive down to Columbia Heights (shudder), or Maryland. What? I could get Herdez brand (which is way better than Pace for jarred salsa) in hot in my local grocery in central virginia. You should drive to Manassas and hit the Global Foods - a mammoth pan-Asian, pan-Latino megamart of goodness. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/9 "2010-12-10T15:55:44Z")
I avoid salsa in jars (easy on the west coast), but I make an exception for Mrs. Renfro’s Green Salsa. Others of ‘hers’ are also good. Have you looked for salsa of the fresh type? Often in plastic tubs in the cold cases. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/10 "2010-12-10T16:02:27Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I avoid salsa in jars (easy on the west coast), but I make an exception for Mrs. Renfro’s Green Salsa. Others of ‘hers’ are also good. > > Have you looked for salsa of the fresh type? Often in plastic tubs in the cold cases. Yes, they’re also not hot, and have a shelf (fridge) life of about a week. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/11 "2010-12-10T16:07:20Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What is Mexican Hot Sauce? Not that I’d be able to find it here in milquetoast-ville. The little tiny bottles about the shape and size of a Tabasco bottle, which usually have a person in traditional Mexican garb on the front. Basic ingredients of vinegar and red pepper. When you combine it with the thicker salsa, it creates an even more homogeneous, hotter, and more pungent (i.e. vinegary) chip-topper. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/12 "2010-12-10T16:17:08Z")
It fucking chaps my ass when people call spice-haters like me “wimps”. When you eat things that are hot, it’s like you’re saying “You know what would go great with this? A punch in the face.” and then when I disagree, you go on and on about how not-really-hot it is. That’s like going “Aw come on, it’s not really a punch. It’s more of a slap, really. Just a light tap on the cheek.” as if that really makes it better. I have a fool-proof method for improving any spicy food. Make it not spicy anymore. Instantly better! I realize that people have different tastes, but there’s nothing wimpy about not desiring to be in pain when I eat. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/13 "2010-12-10T16:20:28Z")
Salsa is about the easiest thing in the world to make. Make your own, it’ll be as hot as you want and it will taste better than the jar as well. Also about 10X cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/14 "2010-12-10T16:25:37Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > It fucking chaps my ass when people call spice-haters like me “wimps”. When you eat things that are hot, it’s like you’re saying “You know what would go great with this? A punch in the face.” and then when I disagree, you go on and on about how not-really-hot it is. That’s like going “Aw come on, it’s not really a punch. It’s more of a slap, really. Just a light tap on the cheek.” as if that really makes it better. > > I have a fool-proof method for improving any spicy food. Make it not spicy anymore. Instantly better! > > I realize that people have different tastes, but there’s nothing wimpy about not desiring to be in pain when I eat. Sorry. I’ll put some ketchup out at the kiddie table for ya. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/15 "2010-12-10T16:28:17Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > It fucking chaps my ass when people call spice-haters like me “wimps”. When you eat things that are hot, it’s like you’re saying “You know what would go great with this? A punch in the face.” and then when I disagree, you go on and on about how not-really-hot it is. That’s like going “Aw come on, it’s not really a punch. It’s more of a slap, really. Just a light tap on the cheek.” as if that really makes it better. > > I have a fool-proof method for improving any spicy food. Make it not spicy anymore. Instantly better! > > I realize that people have different tastes, but there’s nothing wimpy about not desiring to be in pain when I eat. Wimp 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/16 "2010-12-10T16:32:28Z")
And a glass of milk in case the ketchup burns him. ---
**Author:** ![mckall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mckall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mckall)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/17 "2010-12-10T16:35:26Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > IWhen you eat things that are hot, it’s like you’re saying “You know what would go great with this? A punch in the face.” and then when I disagree, you go on and on about how not-really-hot it is. I totally agree and that’s the funniest thing I’ve read today. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/18 "2010-12-10T19:11:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Sorry. I’ll put some ketchup out at the kiddie table for ya. 😛 And what is wrong about not wanting chemical burns in my mouth? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/19 "2010-12-10T19:17:40Z")
Maybe I should start a poll: “Which would you rather have, Hot salsa and wimpy Canadians, or wimpy salsa and hot Canadians?” ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659/20 "2010-12-10T19:41:51Z")
I love spicy food; the hotter, the better. Sadly, I may no longer partake; I’ll spare you the details. Is there not a South or Central American stall in the ByWard market? Or some little hole in the wall way north off Bronson? I remember one of our Stage Managers took me along on a shopping expedition that included some odd out-of-the-way places where we got various things like salsa. It’s been 4 years since I was in Ottawa, but I’ll see if I can find any trace of specialty delis… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-salsa-and-wimpy-canadians/563659.md?page=2)