Can spicy foods be pleasurable?

Photo: Webmd.com

 This is Nidhi

As a college student, I rarely find time to actually enjoy life beyond the world of studying, working, and attending a million meetings during the week. Usually, I try to make a habit of going to my favorite restaurants in the city at least once every few months during the year.

The last time I went to this restaurant was about five months ago. Even though the restaurant is quite small and always crowded, I do not let those things bother me. During the wintertime, it does get rather cold waiting outside in below freezing temperatures just for a table at this restaurant. Nevertheless,  I do not mind waiting because I usually anticipate eating a delicious meal at this restaurant even weeks prior to my planned visit.

Every time I visit this restaurant, some sporting event is usually showing on the flat screen television that is awkwardly placed in the far corner of the restaurant. The television is practically pointless to have in the restaurant because you can barely hear anything due to the commotion caused by the loud jazz-fusion music that has a hint of an oriental touch. And forget about expecting to catch a glimpse of the final inning of the World Series or the last minutes of the Super Bowl. It is nearly impossible to see anything on the screen, regardless of having the seats closest to the television.

Despite the chaotic atmosphere and poor lighting, I still make the two-hour commute to eat at this restaurant. For me, the pleasurable experience comes solely from the spicy food. Many people think I am crazy because I enjoy the spiciest of dishes that the world has to offer. I actually find my eating experience more pleasurable when the food is so spicy that I am forced to drink at least a pitcher of water.

While waiting for my food, I could just smell the ever so tantalizing combination of lemon grass, cilantro, galangal (used in Asian cooking and looks similar to ginger), lime leaves, lime juice, topped off with a spicy vegetarian broth that includes some of the hottest chili peppers one could imagine. As the first course was served, the scorching hot, spicy soup practically burnt off my taste buds. However, I was completely satisfied. My entire mouth was on fire and I could barely taste the soup after a few spoonfuls because my tongue was pretty much numb from the spices. As my friend watched me devour my first course, she asked me how could eating spicy food that made your forehead sweat be so enjoyable and not painful? 

Due to my Indian upbringing, I have been eating the spiciest of foods since I was in kindergarten. Overtime, my tolerance increased and I like to search for restaurants with the spiciest foods. Some people may find my pleasurable eating experience to be quite strange because I am not enjoying something decadent like a double-chocolate cake or French fries off of the McDonald’s menu. Personally, the long wait at this restaurant is worth it, only if I leave with a stomach full of water and a mild case of heartburn on the side.