Cool and refreshing foods — mint, salads, ice cream — sound like no-brainers in the summer months, right? Think again. It may seem counterintuitive, but turning up the heat in your diet will actually cool you down.
According to food scientists and researchers, eating spicy food triggers a phenomenon dubbed “gustatory facial sweating” and can be more effective in equalizing your body temperature than, say, an ice cream cone. Paradoxically, consuming dishes like fiery Thai papaya salad, Indian curry or cold noodles rich in Sichuan peppers will initially increase your blood circulation and heat levels, but the resulting sweat will cool you down as it evaporates.
Don’t believe us? Try it out yourself this summer.
Buldak: Known as “fire chicken,” this Korean specialty of flame-grilled chicken thighs is marinated in chili, soy and gochuchang, Korea’s increasingly ubiquitous fermented chili paste. Executed with explosive aplomb at divey joint Dancen, north of Lincoln Square (5114 N. Lincoln Ave.), buldak’s heat starts as a slow build and soon coats your whole mouth with a smoldering, not unpleasant burn. Order it topped with cheese if you need a reprieve from the spiciness.
Northern larb: Aroy Thai in Ravenswood (4654 N. Damen Ave.) is not your average Thai restaurant, and this dish is not your average Thai dish. Hailing from the country’s northern region, larb is a traditional salad of minced meat, dried chilies, herbs, lime juice and onion. Spicy, but just enough. At Aroy, it’s a mouth-blistering dish that alternates between bright pepper and a smokier, deeper heat that will have you blinking back tears even as you attempt to tear yourself away from the plate. Your mouth will be a raging wildfire, but you’ll be back for seconds.
Kanabo spice ramen: A steaming bowl of noodle soup sounds like the exact opposite of what you’d want on a sweltering day, but trust us on this: If it’s heat you want, it’s heat you’ll get from the West Loop’s High Five Ramen (112 N. Green St.) The kanabo spice ramen — a tonkotsu broth ramen turned up to 11 with the addition of chilies and peppercorns — comes with a menu warning, imploring guests to “please don’t order without careful consideration.” Described as “face numbing” and “unbearable,” it’s a masochist foodie’s dream. Try at your own risk — or opt for the house’s signature ramen, which is spicy enough in its own right.
RELATED STORIES:
Mexican-style ice cream offers unique flavors at Chicago neverias
More Top Picks Best Lap Steel Guitars
3 farm-to-table cocktail recipes
.galleries:after {
content: ”;
display: block;
background-color: #144A7C;
margin: 16px auto 0;
height: 5px;
width: 100px;
}
.galleries:before {
content: “Trib Magazine Photos & Video”;
display: block;
font: 700 23px/25px Georgia,serif;
text-align: center;
color: #1e1e1e;