Idk I feel like buffalo wings as a whole were part of the American rediscovery of piquancy. Tex mex and Mexican food proliferating around the same time also contributed. It was all boomer era shifts. Idk if it was gen x or millenials where Indian food really became popular for most people, but Thai and other spicy Asian foods also have been rising in popularity. Hell when I was a kid Chinese restaurants had a few spicy options, now many have a few non spicy options.
Idk if Cajun will ever rise from its position where a lot of people like elements of it, but it’s definitely a bold thing to suggest a group of friends go out to get, but it is a US original cuisine that prides itself on being spicy.
Also vinegar based cayenne pepper hot sauces have been reasonably popular for a long time. I hear that started with smokers wanting to be able to taste their food.
Idk I feel like buffalo wings as a whole were part of the American rediscovery of piquancy. Tex mex and Mexican food proliferating around the same time also contributed. It was all boomer era shifts. Idk if it was gen x or millenials where Indian food really became popular for most people, but Thai and other spicy Asian foods also have been rising in popularity. Hell when I was a kid Chinese restaurants had a few spicy options, now many have a few non spicy options.
Idk if Cajun will ever rise from its position where a lot of people like elements of it, but it’s definitely a bold thing to suggest a group of friends go out to get, but it is a US original cuisine that prides itself on being spicy.
Also vinegar based cayenne pepper hot sauces have been reasonably popular for a long time. I hear that started with smokers wanting to be able to taste their food.