In the homonymous movie, Tony
“Some LIKE IT HOT.” Curtis’s character was thinking of fans who favour mephitic rhythms and instruments that lose their cool. But in most people’s experience heat and cold occur in afflicted bloodstreams, or weather, or — especially where tastes conflict — at table. The imagery of Curtis’s metaphor obviously originated in food.
The phrase he immortalised occurred earliest, as far as I know, in reference to pease pudding. Some, according to the