SPECIAL SECTION
EAT & DRINK
SPECIAL SECTION
Loaded deviled eggs at Reunion Kitchen & Drink
TURNING UP THE HEAT Spicy dishes abound at local restaurants — if you can handle them . By ASHLEY RYAN
There ’ s no denying it : Menus throughout Southern California have been heating up . While trendy dishes are popping up everywhere , that ’ s not exactly the extent of it . Levels of spice are also being amped up , whether it ’ s in American classics like hot wings and chicken sandwiches or on cultural menus ranging from Asian-inspired fare to Mexican cuisine and beyond .
Chipotle chicken sandwich at Finney ’ s Crafthouse , which also offers hot wings and other spicy fare
Research on the effects of spicy foods can sometimes be controversial . But Ana Salazar , a registered dietitian nutritionist at the Laguna Beach Community Clinic , points to an observational study done by Molecular Nutrition & Food Research , a peer-reviewed food science journal , that suggests that phytochemicals in chile peppers may have antioxidant properties and can possibly protect against certain vascular diseases . Endorphins and dopamine may also be released upon consumption . Salazar also notes that spicy foods can worsen conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease .
“ Some people are more sensitive than others ,” she says . “ Some other people may eat a combination of these foods every day and feel no symptoms at all .”
Whether you ’ re already desensitized and enjoy eating spicy food on the regular or are delving in for the first time , visit these varied eateries throughout Laguna Beach to test your endurance and see how much you can handle .
FIRED-UP FARE American cuisine isn ’ t generally thought of as spicy , but certain dishes can really pack a punch . One such item is hot wings and , at newcomer Finney ’ s Crafthouse , you ’ ll find a unique option : yuzu Buffalo wings , slathered in a sauce made in-house that is inspired by one the founder discovered in Singapore . Spicy tuna rice cakes were also added to the menu this summer , with minced spicy tuna placed atop seasoned rice cakes and garnished with jalapeno slices and Sriracha sauce . A chipotle chicken sandwich rounds out the pub ’ s offerings . “ Spicy for the sake of spice isn ’ t what guests like ,” says Eric Bosrau , Finney ’ s executive chef . “ What they like is flavors with a spice that isn ’ t overpowering to the point of being uncomfortable , and that is what I have done with these dishes .”
At Reunion Kitchen & Drink , co-owner Scott McIntosh believes that the appeal of its spicy dishes lies in the thrill of the combination of flavor and sensation . The comfort food menu has quite a bit of heat sprinkled throughout , in plates such as the bacon-wrapped jalapenos , loaded deviled eggs , ahi poke stack and jalapeno burger as well as the Jim ’ s Bloody Mary . The bacon-wrapped jalapenos are definitely a fan favorite , stuffed with cream cheese and placed on a bed of house-made raspberry jam . But when you bite into them ,
52 LAGUNABEACHMAGAZINE . COM