The Chief grew up in the thirties and forties in Northern California, the area around Eureka and Fortuna, never saw a mexican. When he wrangled a first date with Betty Lou, and she chose to go to her favorite Mexican restaurant, he quickly agreed. He had never experienced Mexican food in his life. He had no clue what was what and finally had to admit his lack. Betty Lou took pity and ordered him something simple...a beef and bean burrito. The food arrived and Betty Lou went right to work...Mexican food never stood a chance around her. After a few minutes she noticed that the Chief hadn't eaten anything, he was picking at the tortilla with his fork. She asked if he was going to eat it and he replied, "Just as soon as I figure out how to get this napkin unwrapped..." The line lives on in the family treasury of Chiefisms.
His first meeting with family was a double date with Betty Lou's older brother and his wife. Her brother, my Uncle Dude, was a big guy...and mischievous as any Irishman ever was. They returned to the same Mexican restaurant together. The Chief felt a little more comfortable there, he was now a battle hardened burrito man. Now in San Diego, and probably in lots of places around the country, the restaurant folks were proud of their home made salsa and usually left a bowl on the table to season their dishes...the hotter the better. Dude told the Chief that since he was the guest of honor, it was his privelege to have the tomato soup. Before Betty Lou could say a word, the Chief, eager to create a good impression on family, scooped a big spoonful of the "tomato soup": and slurped it down. Now, this man was raised in a family of English background...boiled meat and all...and salt and pepper were about as racy as he ever got with condiments. Betty Lou was mortified for the Chief...but that didn't keep her from cracking up like a sailor whenever she told the story and got to describe the gyrations the Chief went through to try to act as if every thing was ok while something was burning a path from his flaming tongue to nether regions. Dude always told the story better...he made funnier faces.
But from that humble beginning, there grew a man of fiery appetite. The Chief came to love the mexican menu and was crazy about hot sauce...the hotter the better. While living in Hawaii, a friend gave him pepper plant. He told the Chief that when they sprouted and grew peppers, the little buggers were special hot. Eager to start in on his own salsa, he decided to pick one of the tight little green peppers early, to test it out. I asked him that evening what king of peppers they were...his answer was barely understandable, coming through blistered and swollen lips and tongue...but I think it sounded like "habayaro" or something like that. He was kinda quiet for a few days...didn't eat much either.