Why do Asians think I can't handle spicy food?

[bfdd]

I know, but for that burger you will DEFINITELY get argued even here from the wait staff to stay away from it. Then you have to sign waivers, make sure you have medical insurance, and wear protective clothing.

There are many restaurants here in SA that serve food in the Habanero level of hotness around here. One of the few redeeming qualities of this town. They don't look at you funny either when you order hot food.

Habs are absolutely delicious. My favorite chili by far.

 

[dud]

Anyone else have this problem? Roll into an Asian restaurant(it happens across the various ethnic types of restaurants) order the spiciest thing on the menu and spend more time arguing with the waitress over the level of spicy you want, because they think you can't handle anything over mild, than it takes to get your food. Not to mention I have yet to eat a single thing at any Asian restaurant that can hang with some of the spicy American or Mexican food I have had. Hell a single habanero has most their dishes beat by a long shot. So what the hell is the deal?

I wish I had your problems ... I would be in a much better place.

 

[geecee]

I love cajun food, but I don't think people think of cajun as stereotypically American food.

I went into a local Cajun restaurant and ordered the etoufee. They asked me whether I wanted mild, medium or spicy. I asked them how would their grandmother make it, and to please give it to me that way. That was a good meal.

 

[dud]

I went into a local Cajun restaurant and ordered the etoufee. They asked me whether I wanted mild, medium or spicy. I asked them how would their grandmother make it, and to please give it to me that way. That was a good meal.

I love a good crawfish Étouffée. Business takes me to Louisiana from time-to-time and I try to grab some ... especially when crawfish are in season.

 

[Cerb]

At my local Indian place if you ask for 'hot' they ask if you want 'Indian hot' or 'Kiwi hot'.

Heh. The recession took my favorite local Indian restaurant, but I liked how they did it: they said they wouldn't take it back if I said it was too spicy. A few times dishes did border on too hot, but most of time, they were just right.

"American hot" = Wendy's Spicy Chicken burger.

WTF I thought they'd at LEAST pretend to be spicy.

American fast food chains, and family restaurant chains, all seem to equate black pepper and acid to 'hot'.

On a side note, when I am with Asian friends and we go to an Asian restaurant on several occasions I am given a fork when my friends are given chopsticks. :\

Whiteys suck at chopsticks. I can use them somewhat, but I get cramps after 10 minutes or so, because they are just uncomfortable and awkward in my average size not too nimble European-derived hands. For slurping hot noodles, nothing can compare to chopsticks. Western utensils are as good or better for everything else, IMO.

 

[bfdd]

Heh. The recession took my favorite local Indian restaurant, but I liked how they did it: they said they wouldn't take it back if I said it was too spicy. A few times dishes did border on too hot, but most of time, they were just right.

American fast food chains, and family restaurant chains, all seem to equate black pepper and acid to 'hot'.

Whiteys suck at chopsticks. I can use them somewhat, but I get cramps after 10 minutes or so, because they are just uncomfortable and awkward in my average size not too nimble European-derived hands. For slurping hot noodles, nothing can compare to chopsticks. Western utensils are as good or better for everything else, IMO.

yeah I find many chop sticks to be to small for my hands. one place i like has the thinnest steel chop sticks, i can't use them. the throw away wood ones aren't to bad, but i need some big dog chopsticks i think.

 

[zinfamous]

Habs are absolutely delicious. My favorite chili by far.

yeah, same. I'd actually like to engineer a non-spicy Hab, simply b/c the flavor is so unique and, I think, would be an awesome flavor profile in tons of dishes that don't really need the spicy.

 

[RobertPters77]

Off topic but; I don't understand it either. I like spicy food, when it's done right. Not when it's used to cover up rancid and un-fresh ingredients. Making tikka masala at home I can add all the spice I want. Ordering it from an indian restaurant and it feels over spiced. Usually because the restaurant uses cheaper and worse cuts of meat.

 

[HumblePie]

yeah I find many chop sticks to be to small for my hands. one place i like has the thinnest steel chop sticks, i can't use them. the throw away wood ones aren't to bad, but i need some big dog chopsticks i think.

I use chopsticks all the time. When I lived in hawaii there was a huge asian influence so I at at many a place where the only utensils were chopsticks.

Also back then we had a strange game as kids. We'd play what we call Chop Suey with chopsticks. Basically one person would hold a single chopstick in their hands at either end of the stick while the opponent would "flick" their chopstick downwards in an attempt to break. Similar to flicking your finger because it had to be all wrist action. Then you would switch turns if the opponent failed to snap the chopstick in half. You do this with bets each time until someone one.

I tell you I saw some BEEFY chopsticks for guys with big hands for that. So there would also be certain rules before hand of what sticks could and couldn't be used. Obviously there was never any metal sticks as those can't be broken like that.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

yeah I find many chop sticks to be to small for my hands. one place i like has the thinnest steel chop sticks, i can't use them. the throw away wood ones aren't to bad, but i need some big dog chopsticks i think.

I can use normal-size matches as chopsticks to pick up things like pieces of paper, lint etc. And my parents are much better at chopstick use than I am.

 

[Cerb]

yeah I find many chop sticks to be to small for my hands. one place i like has the thinnest steel chop sticks, i can't use them. the throw away wood ones aren't to bad, but i need some big dog chopsticks i think.

I just find any to be uncomfortable to use (small ones are worse, though). Maybe if I wasn't fully grown by the time I decided to learn to use them...