You know us -- those masochistic foodies who want the heat level on their food to turn their mouths into something that resembles the sixth circle of hell.
When I tell servers at Thai restaurants to make my pad see ew "Thai hot," they give me a look that says, "As if you could handle it," and then return amazed when they see I've essentially licked my plate clean.
So it was to my delight when I asked my server at El Mexicano, a charming dive located in southeast Atlanta , for the spiciest thing on the menu, and he didn't hesitate before pointing at the Camarones a la Diabla.
Roughly translated to "Shrimp of the Devil," El Mexicano's version of the staple includes eight plump, tail-on sauteed shrimp drenched in a spicy, smokey chipotle sauce that was hot enough to make my eyes water in the best possible way.
Any hot food aficionado knows reaching for the water is the worst thing to do to tamp down the heat -- luckily, the dish is served with rice, beans and a side salad with a creamy dressing, perfect for cooling off your palate after downing the punishing shellfish. If that's not enough, there's always the basket of perfectly crisped and salted tortilla chips to munch on.
Finishing the plate is a test of your endurance, but if you can make it through, you'll be richly rewarded.
It hurts, but it hurts so good.
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.
About the Author
