Spicy food and my dilemma

lokie · Sep 20th, 2004, 21:20

Hopefully people here won't be a hostile as lonely planet (yes I know better than to go to that stupid site!)

I love the spices that give food flavor, what I don't like is the chilis that make it hot! I hate idli too so that limits my food intake also. What is one to eat if they can't handle the heat? (If you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen

) LOL! Sorry, little joke there!

I love Indian food so I don't want to go to India and not be able to eat it. My husband is from South India and he has never been able to handle hot food either (lucky me!). His mother didn't like that so much but what can you do?? I am scared that his mother is going to cook all this food with chilis in it and we will both be on fire

! How do you tell someone that you can't handle it (his mother isn't going to be very understanding in this area). I don't want to offend her but I won't be able to eat her food.

Digital Drifter · Sep 20th, 2004, 21:41

Since when did this site offer advice in handling Mother-in-laws? :-)

Since you asked, pretend you have ulcers! Just make sure to carry milk of magnesia tablets with you...

cheers,

Digital Drifter

cyberhippie · Sep 20th, 2004, 23:08

I travelled with a 59 year old woman last year who couldn't eat chillis, or coriander or even pepper!!
Thanks to the understanding nature of Indians we managed to get the various restaurants to leave out these ingredients when cooking. This only works for freshly cooked food of course the meals places prepare for the masses and as such if the clientele like it hot well that's it!!
The use of chillis varies from place to place and to be honest not every Indian likes a red hot curry so you'll find that if you search around there will be a restaurant serving food that isn't too hot for a westerner.
As far as your mother in law goes just be honest and ask her to go easy on the chillis!!!
Of course these days there's such a variety of food available in India you don't always have to eat local food so that may be an option!
Also In Tamil Nadu and Kerala I found the food delicious but pretty bland compared to other parts of India, no afterburn!! So with luck your South Indian mother in law will have a few bland recipes up her sleeve!!

Happy Traveling

Karma Queen · Sep 21st, 2004, 15:26

I found we had more trouble getting spicy food, than mild food! whenever i ordered something potentially spicy, i'd get a worried look from the waiter, who would ask me 'are you sure? very hot'!

Sep 20th, 2004, 21:20	#1
lokie Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: United States Posts: 94	Spicy food and my dilemma Hopefully people here won't be a hostile as lonely planet (yes I know better than to go to that stupid site!) I love the spices that give food flavor, what I don't like is the chilis that make it hot! I hate idli too so that limits my food intake also. What is one to eat if they can't handle the heat? (If you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen ) LOL! Sorry, little joke there! I love Indian food so I don't want to go to India and not be able to eat it. My husband is from South India and he has never been able to handle hot food either (lucky me!). His mother didn't like that so much but what can you do?? I am scared that his mother is going to cook all this food with chilis in it and we will both be on fire ! How do you tell someone that you can't handle it (his mother isn't going to be very understanding in this area). I don't want to offend her but I won't be able to eat her food.

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Sep 20th, 2004, 21:41	#2
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	Since when did this site offer advice in handling Mother-in-laws? :-) Since you asked, pretend you have ulcers! Just make sure to carry milk of magnesia tablets with you... cheers, Digital Drifter

Sep 20th, 2004, 23:08	#3
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	I travelled with a 59 year old woman last year who couldn't eat chillis, or coriander or even pepper!! Thanks to the understanding nature of Indians we managed to get the various restaurants to leave out these ingredients when cooking. This only works for freshly cooked food of course the meals places prepare for the masses and as such if the clientele like it hot well that's it!! The use of chillis varies from place to place and to be honest not every Indian likes a red hot curry so you'll find that if you search around there will be a restaurant serving food that isn't too hot for a westerner. As far as your mother in law goes just be honest and ask her to go easy on the chillis!!! Of course these days there's such a variety of food available in India you don't always have to eat local food so that may be an option! Also In Tamil Nadu and Kerala I found the food delicious but pretty bland compared to other parts of India, no afterburn!! So with luck your South Indian mother in law will have a few bland recipes up her sleeve!! Happy Traveling

Sep 21st, 2004, 15:26	#4
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	I found we had more trouble getting spicy food, than mild food! whenever i ordered something potentially spicy, i'd get a worried look from the waiter, who would ask me 'are you sure? very hot'!

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