Right before I’m about to partake in a decision I know I shouldn’t do, time stops.

It’s almost like the universe slows down in hopes that I will rethink whatever is before me. Do I change my course? Of course not! In a final effort, the universe sends the whisper of Maya Angelou saying, “When you know better you do better.” That’s when I stop. For a brief and quiet moment I reconsider what fate may lie ahead. I contemplate the choice that could change the trajectory of the days and weeks in my future and I whisper back to Aunty Maya: “What if I don’t want to do better?”

And that’s how bad decisions are made in life. If I have any sense, I should only do it once, but some lessons are never learned the first time around. A perfect example of this was my visit to Bristol Farms this past weekend for their Hatch Chile Contest. My visit to the Bristol Farms event was a bad decision, because I know my body can’t handle intense spice or heat regardless of the form they come in. Whether it’s a powder, Nashville hot chicken, or produce my body struggles with it if it’s intense. Knowing that, you’re probably wondering why I would even attend an event focused around peppers where the degree ranges from hot to “oh hell no” but allow me to answer that with three points:

1. I love Bristol Farms,
2. I have little better judgement when it comes to food, and
3. Refer to #1 and #2.

With that, I drove to Bristol Farms in South Pasadena to check out their roasting party and to try out some of the 20+ hatch infused items available in the shop. The roasting party took place in the store’s parking lot and was open to anyone walking by. Customers could pay for a box of hatch chilies inside the store and then pick up their roasted chilies under the tent. To see people walk away with boxes full of chiles made me question what they would create with that many peppers and how their stomachs could be stronger than mine. Yeah, I was jealous. Roast after roast, the heat was growing in the area and the scent of the blackened chilies began to fill the air. It was spicy and fragrant making me cry and want to inhale a bit more at the same time. I promise you it wasn’t a good look. But, it was nice to see what appeared to be a fast process bringing in crowds of people eager to get their hands on their own box. It didn’t take long for me to step inside the store to see the ways the hatch chili could be included in various items.

Aisle after aisle, hatch chile peppers would appear in so many different items. Cookies, scones, and cornbread were a few items that I had to grab from the bakery. Then I couldn’t stop taking samples of hatch chile spread that I decided to finally throw it in my basket. Even the meat department had their own hatch specials with hatch infused sausage, beef patties, and more. It was pretty impressive to see how many ways they store could slide the hatch chile into food where it didn’t take away from the overall product, but would clearly only enhance the flavor.

This is where it was exciting to see the store create a contest where their shoppers and social media followers could participate. Until Friday, September 7th, 2018 at 11:59pm, people can join in on the Hatch Chile Recipe Instagram contest! All you have to do is grab Hatch chilies from any Bristol Farms, cook something that looks and tastes great, take a couple photos, and post it to Instagram. A few more rules apply such as following the store on Instagram and using the hashtags #BFHatchChile and #ThisisHowIHatch and you’re all done! The store will choose 2 winners who will receive a $150 Bristol Farms gift card and a feature on the store’s site.

That sounds like a win to me!

After leaving the store with the pastries, spread, and a few other things I didn’t wait to devour it. I can honestly say in one day I had more chile infused items than I’ve had in my entire life. It didn’t take long for my stomach to feel like a fireball was brewing and in that moment I realized I should have listened to Aunty Maya. Heck, in the least I should have paced myself a bit better. Let’s just say, I got very little sleep that night.

Maya may be right in her quote, but even after devouring every chile I could get my hands on and even struggling to digest it all later, I would still do it again. I loved getting a better introduction to the pepper thanks to the grocery store and I appreciated the unique incorporation that were available. Maya’s whisper of her quote may have saved me a night of tossing and turning, but the day was so delicious and that will always be worth it.

To get all the detail and the contest rules, visit the Hatch Chile Recipe Instagram contest here! And if you want to go to one of the remaining chile events happening at a local Bristol Farms, check out their calendar!

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