SC - Re: cooling after spicy foods

[lilinah at earthlink.net]

Nisha wrote:
>  >So what can you do to calm your aching tongue? Try one of
>  >these three methods. Eat bread. The bread will absorb the
>>oily spices. A second solution is to drink milk. Milk
>  >contains a substance called "casein" which will bind to the
>>spices and carry them away. Finally, you could drink
>  >something alcoholic. Alcohol will dissolve the oily spices...
>
>Also, something citrus will help. Ever notice how
>there is usually a fruit punch or lemonade at mexican
>resturants? It's because it helps cool your tongue
>after all that salsa:) ANd in my opinion, if it's
>citrus and alcoholic(good margarita,) it's even
>better:)

I've never understood having wine with hot spicy food, since i find 
that all the seasonings covers the flavor of wine. Why bother? You 
could be drinking Thunderbird or Bali Hai and not be able to tell 
them from some really fine rare expensive delectable vintage.

I can't speak for beer, because, although i like many bitter 
foodstuffs, i don't like beer.

Finally, i could be wrong, but i think the alcohol in a beverage 
makes the inside of my mouth sting after the hot stuff.

What i've found quenches the fire if i've gotten some really hot 
chilis is either lassi - an Indian yogurt drink which i especially 
like with mango puree in it , iced coffee or tea with cream/milk - in 
Thai and Vietnamese restaurants, or a coconut drink.

But then i tend to eat my hot food pretty hot. If you can taste your 
margarita, the food isn't hot enough :-)

Anahita al-shazhiyya
who also likes mild foods like tofu