By Leigh O’Connor.
Most people know chilli peppers are one of the hottest foods on the planet – but did you know that the hottest chilli pepper in the world is always changing?
These spicy little morsels are constantly evolving, with the Carolina Reaper recently named the hottest with a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating of 2,200,000 – that’s 200 times hotter than a jalapeno! Can you imagine popping this into your mouth?
As we celebrate International Hot and Spicy Day on Monday, January 16, here are some fun ways to mark the occasion and restaurants to heat things up with a meal out:
•Try a spicy dish you have never eaten before.
•Dine at a Thai, Korean or Indian restaurant, where they serve spicy food.
•Learn about the different kinds of chilli peppers.
•Make a recipe with a spice you’ve never used before.
•Host a chilli cook-off with friends and family.
Authentic food, genuine warm service and a great ambience make Hyderabad House on Wigram Street in Harris Park a must-visit Sydney dining destination for those who love Indian cuisine. The signature taste and flavour of traditional biryanis are the secrets to this stylish restaurant’s success; along with a hit of spice.
Drop by on Monday and dip your spoon into hot and sour chicken soup, or chicken 65 to start, sautéed in yoghurt sauce, chilli and curry leaves; before mains such as hot and spicy prawn masala, with sides of steamed rice, cheese and chilli naan.
Healthy food for an active life is what you’ll find on the menu at Yum Yum World Food on Botany Road in Mascot. This casual Sydney restaurant rocks a monochromatic colour scheme with sleek black tiles, stainless steel and minimalistic table settings; ideal for chilling out to savour traditional recipes from around the globe, as well as housemade pho and fried chicken.
Hit the spice notes with nasi lemak rice, with sambal sauce, peanuts, crispy anchovies, cucumber, hard-boiled egg, crispy chicken drumstick fillet and lotus root soup; or opt for signature premium Wagyu beef pho in a stone bowl to appease hunger pangs.
Inspired by the authentic tastes of Nonya cuisine and the street food favourites of Singapore and Malaysia is Peranakan Place restaurant tucked into Auburn’s Parramatta Road. Inside, an earthy interior of chocolate brown and deep red-purple tones creates a moody ambience that is well suited to smart casual dining, complemented by sculptures and intricate artwork.
Celebrate early this weekend with deep-fried chicken wings in five spice to start your culinary journey; moving on to spicy and tangy Nonya-style fish curry, with okra, tomatoes and sides of coconut rice, stir-fried mixed vegetables and roti.
Asian fusion dishes for all tastes are what you’ll find at Dada on Furzer Street in Phillip. This stylish Canberra restaurant takes its name from the Korean word ‘da’ meaning ‘all’ and delivers on all fronts from the simplistic vibe of black stools to perch on at the bar, to concrete pillars and a polished concrete floor.
Stop in anytime for a glass of chilled wine and stir-fried chilli pipis, with bean sprouts, chilli oil and sesame; followed by spicy Scotch fillet steak, tamarind, chilli, bok choy and fried rice, or hit the mark with udon noodles, 63-degree egg and chilli soy pork mince.
Delivering a powerful collision of sweet, sour, spice and saltiness, find where the flavours of Southeast Asia artfully collide at Rumble restaurant on Pyrmont Street in Pyrmont. Located on Level G Harbourside of The Star, Rumble is the latest spark in the casino’s dining precinct, chasing bold flavours that bring punchy tastes to complement quality local produce.
The ideal place to enjoy hot and spicy dishes at leisure, maybe spend a lazy weekend lunch over plates like chilli King crab bao, with baby cos and pickled radish; or baked fish fillet, with Chef’s sambal and sweet tamarind sauce.
Still looking to turn up the heat? Click here for more restaurants near you.
