Smitten by a love of hot peppers, journalist Richard Schweid traveled to
the capital of the U.S. hot sauce industry, New Iberia, Louisiana. This
is Cajun country, and capsicum (as hot peppers are known botanically)
thrive in the region's salty, oil-rich soil like nowhere else. At once
an entertaining exploration of the history and folklore that surround
hot peppers and a fascinating look at the industry built around the
fiery crop, Schweid's book also offers a sympathetic portrait of a
culture and a people in the midst of economic and social change.
This edition of Hot Peppers has been thoroughly updated and includes
some twenty-five recipes for such deliciously spicy dishes as crawfish
etouffee, jambalaya, and okra shrimp gumbo.