As we head into the coldest month of the year (in what feels like one of the coldest places on earth), the least we can do is warm up our taste buds. We've found the spiciest dishes across the state; this list is not for the faint of heart. Order a large glass of cold water and dig in.
Madison
1. Graze
Graze's Bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish, comes with your choice of marinated ground pork or tofu, crispy rice, sunny-side-up egg, sauteed bok choy, mixed vegetables and, the best part, the spicy gochujang. Can you handle it?
2. Bandung Indonesian Restaurant
Indonesian food is known for its spiciness, so for a menu item at an Indonesian restaurant to contain a photo of flames, it must be next-level spicy. The Holy Basil stir fry comes with your choice of beef, chicken or tempeh with green and red peppers, onion and bamboo shoots in a spicy basil sauce.
3. New Orleans Take-Out
Again, traditional New Orleans food isn't exactly known for being mild. When New Orleans Take-Out denotes its Crawfish Etouffee as being "very, very hot," you can rest assured it's going to give your taste buds a run for their money.
4. KJ's Curry Bowl
Another notoriously spicy cuisine? Sri Lankan. Try a blazing stir fry cooked in a fiery Sichuan sauce, with your choice of cashew chicken, Sichuan beef and broccoli, vegetables or shrimp.
Milwaukee
5. The King and I
While many Thai dishes tend to be spicy, The King and I offers the "Native Thai" spice level - just have someone ready to fan you.
6. EE-Sane
EE-Sane has something for everyone, with your choice in spiciness level (1-10). Though, according to the restaurant's reviews, only "experts who can handle the heat" should attempt level 10 lava sauce. Consider yourself an expert? Head to EE-Sane.
La Crosse
7. Buzzard Billy's Flying Carp Cafe
Another New Orleans-style restaurant, Buzzard Billy's features an assortment of super-spicy dishes, such as wings, rasta pasta, crawfish etouffee, and alligator grand chenier. How brave are you?
Hudson
8. San Pedro Cafe
This Caribbean-themed menu features several spicy dishes, but a favorite is the Chicken Chile Penne, featuring jerk chicken, penne pasta, spicy red chile cream sauce finished with asiago cheese and wood roasted vegetables.
Wausau
9. J. Gumbo's
J. Gumbo's offers all-things Cajun, but it's Voodoo Chicken is slow-cooked in a garlicky tomato sauce with cayenne, crushed red, and black pepper and is not for the faint of heart.
Green Bay
10. Chili John's
I'll bet you can guess what Chili John's specializes in. Choose from mild, medium, hot, or, if you dare, extra hot. The recipe has been a favorite since the restaurant was opened in 1913, and, although the recipe has remained secret, the theory behind its spiciness is a bowl of red chili seasoning (the entire 8-ounce container). Well, that may explain it.
For those of you who live for all things spicy - where do you go to get your fix? Share your favorite spicy dishes with us on social media using #discoverwisconsin.
- This article originally appeared on TravelWisconsin.com. Kristen Finstad is a crew member of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." The column is published Tuesday on the Life page in the Times.
Madison
1. Graze
Graze's Bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish, comes with your choice of marinated ground pork or tofu, crispy rice, sunny-side-up egg, sauteed bok choy, mixed vegetables and, the best part, the spicy gochujang. Can you handle it?
2. Bandung Indonesian Restaurant
Indonesian food is known for its spiciness, so for a menu item at an Indonesian restaurant to contain a photo of flames, it must be next-level spicy. The Holy Basil stir fry comes with your choice of beef, chicken or tempeh with green and red peppers, onion and bamboo shoots in a spicy basil sauce.
3. New Orleans Take-Out
Again, traditional New Orleans food isn't exactly known for being mild. When New Orleans Take-Out denotes its Crawfish Etouffee as being "very, very hot," you can rest assured it's going to give your taste buds a run for their money.
4. KJ's Curry Bowl
Another notoriously spicy cuisine? Sri Lankan. Try a blazing stir fry cooked in a fiery Sichuan sauce, with your choice of cashew chicken, Sichuan beef and broccoli, vegetables or shrimp.
Milwaukee
5. The King and I
While many Thai dishes tend to be spicy, The King and I offers the "Native Thai" spice level - just have someone ready to fan you.
6. EE-Sane
EE-Sane has something for everyone, with your choice in spiciness level (1-10). Though, according to the restaurant's reviews, only "experts who can handle the heat" should attempt level 10 lava sauce. Consider yourself an expert? Head to EE-Sane.
La Crosse
7. Buzzard Billy's Flying Carp Cafe
Another New Orleans-style restaurant, Buzzard Billy's features an assortment of super-spicy dishes, such as wings, rasta pasta, crawfish etouffee, and alligator grand chenier. How brave are you?
Hudson
8. San Pedro Cafe
This Caribbean-themed menu features several spicy dishes, but a favorite is the Chicken Chile Penne, featuring jerk chicken, penne pasta, spicy red chile cream sauce finished with asiago cheese and wood roasted vegetables.
Wausau
9. J. Gumbo's
J. Gumbo's offers all-things Cajun, but it's Voodoo Chicken is slow-cooked in a garlicky tomato sauce with cayenne, crushed red, and black pepper and is not for the faint of heart.
Green Bay
10. Chili John's
I'll bet you can guess what Chili John's specializes in. Choose from mild, medium, hot, or, if you dare, extra hot. The recipe has been a favorite since the restaurant was opened in 1913, and, although the recipe has remained secret, the theory behind its spiciness is a bowl of red chili seasoning (the entire 8-ounce container). Well, that may explain it.
For those of you who live for all things spicy - where do you go to get your fix? Share your favorite spicy dishes with us on social media using #discoverwisconsin.
- This article originally appeared on TravelWisconsin.com. Kristen Finstad is a crew member of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." The column is published Tuesday on the Life page in the Times.