HOT WHEELS

A gustatory leap of the imagination

Photo credit Craig Howell, via Wikimedia Commons

If the gourmet chili pepper, piment d'Espelette were a car, which one would it be? A French friend's immediate and categoric response: a Facel Vega III. The high-end French luxury car, now a vintage cult item, was driven by the likes of Ringo Starr, Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, Ava Gardner, Pablo Picasso and, sigh, Fred Astaire. 

If you've never test-driven the flavorful and emblematic Basque country piment d'Espelette on your omelettes, soup or quiche, then it's high-time you did. The Facel Vega was produced only from 1954 through 1964; the smooth non-agressively hot chili pepper from Espelette has been around for four centuries. Sprinkle on foods just before serving. 

©2012 P.B. Lecron