Some Like It Hot! Here's Where to Let Your Tastebuds Sizzle in Kirkland

SPICY FOOD AND hot weather go hand in hand. Though it may seem counterintuitive, many of the world’s warmest destinations are also home to the spiciest cuisines.

The more capsaicin present in a chili pepper (measured in Scoville units), the more it burns. The more it burns, the more you will sweat. And sweat, as we all know, is the body’s way of cooling us down.

We haven’t exactly had a heat wave in these parts recently, necessitating the cooling effects of fiery food. No, in the Northwest we eat spicy food for pleasure. Call us masochists, but sometimes it just hurts so good, doesn’t it?

Here are a few of my favorite flame-producing bites around town:

The 7-Alarm Challenge At

Chicken wings are only ethnic food if the college-age male can be considered an ethnicity. However, chilies are a New World food, eaten by Incas, Mayans and Aztecs for thousands of years. So the 7-Alarm Wingdome challenge gets top billing.

First, some honesty. Though I've tasted one finger-lick of the sauce, I’ve never actually taken the challenge. I have managed to put away several 5-Alarm wings and tasted one 6-Alarm from my husband’s plate. But, the 7-Alarm? I’m much too afraid.

They are sold individually for $1.99. Or they could be free if you beat the challenge -- seven 7-Alarm wings in seven minutes with no beverages, other food or napkins. The wings must be eaten down to the bones and any sauce left on a participant’s hand must be licked clean before the seven minutes are up.

According to employee Jolene Sikstrom, a couple of people take the challenge every day. The success rate? A little less than 50%. Most challengers are guys, but Sikstrom says that when a woman makes the attempt, she usually beats the challenge. Sikstrom attributes this to the fact that women think things through more, while guys are just trying to show off. 

"I try to talk people out of taking the challenge," says Sikstrom. "Just smelling the sauce (made with scores of habaneros) makes me cough!"

Winners get a commemorative tee-shirt and their sweating mug on the Challenge Wall. Losers are charged $7.77. The menu suggests ordering a $4.99 7-Alarm recovery kit in advance, which includes two glasses of milk and an ice cream sandwich. Did I mention that you have to sign a waiver? It’s serious business at the .

The Surprising Sichuanese Peppercorn

Conventional Chinese-American food will not prepare you for Sichuanese fare, more commonly written as “Szechwan.” The central Chinese province of Sichuan may be named for it’s waters (“si” means four, “chuan” means river), but it is known for it’s culinary fire. Let’s just say that it could be in the running as the national cuisine of hell if hell were a tasty place to go.

Many dishes are laced with potent little red chilies, which are easy to spot. But, that’s not all. The secret weapon is the so-called Sichuanese peppercorn. It is not biologically related to black pepper or chilies; it belongs to the citrus family and tastes lemony. The surprise, however, is the tingly, numbing sensation it produces on the lips and tongue -- a sort of neurological confusion due to the hydroxy-alpha-sanshools, whatever those are!

My husband and I searched for years to find a restaurant that served the unique flavors that we remembered eating in Sichuan, China. We first found it at Szechuan Chef in Bellevue, then at Spicy Talk Bistro in Redmond. While the food might not be quite as hot as the stuff we ate in Chengdu, all of the flavors are right on. Try the Szechuan Crispy Chicken for a whole new meaning to the label “Chinese Food.” And you had better order some plain white rice to help extinguish the flames!

Thai Stars

Thai cuisine can usually be ordered to a customer’s spiciness specifications through the star system. Unfortunately, one Thai joint’s three stars is another’s five stars. Additionally, sometimes the star rating system is manipulated if you, how shall I say, don’t look like you can stand the heat.

At , I have consistently received a spiciness level that correctly corresponds to my preconceived notions. Of course, my notions might be different than yours! I prefer three or four stars -- spicy enough to need a cold beer or some rice, but not so hot that I can’t taste or enjoy the actual dish. The red curry is good, but you should try the Wild Wild Squid -- double the wild just sounds spicy, doesn’t it!

Cool The Heat With Cream At Cactus

One of my favorite appetizers in town is at -- grilled jalapenos stuffed with herbed goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. What’s not to love?

Jalapeno spiciness ranges from 2,500 - 10,000 Scoville units, which means that sometimes it will taste mildly warm and other times you will feel the burn. The goat cheese helps lessen the heat impact of the chilies because milk binds to those capsaicin molecules much better than water or sugary juices. When you swallow the milky bite, the spicy buggers go right down with it.

A Weekend Warmer Cantina-Style

Maybe you like to drink your heat. The habanero Bloody Mary at is the only way to go if you want a spicy beverage. The house-made sangrita beats the store-bought kind any day of the week, but when kicked up with habaneros (100,000-350,000 Scolville units!), the liquid lava begs to be sipped on a sunny weekend morning. The bar also has a regular Bloody Mary, which isn’t nearly so exciting, so be sure to specify that you want the habanero variety.

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In addition to the cuisines listed here, try Indian () and Korean () for your spicy fix.