Spicy foods stimulate appetite in winter

/ Courtesy of Dahyang Duck & Chicken Butcher’s

Do you feel the chill this winter and need something to warm you up? If you’re in Korea, you may want to try something with a kick.

According to people in the food industry, more people are opting for fiery-hot dishes to stimulate the appetite after a long day in the cold.

“People crave spicy meals due to their warming powers so this type of dish has become widely popular in restaurants,” said a spokesperson for Dahyang Duck & Chicken Butcher’s, which located in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul.

The restaurant’s Double Pepper Chicken and Duck is one of the customers’ favorite choices on the menu. It’s a pan-fried chicken and duck dish cooked with chili peppers.

According to the restaurant, a compound in chili peppers known capsaicin causes blood vessels to relax. Chiilis are also said to be rich in vitamin C.

Other popular dishes include the Bulgogi Brothers’ “Seoul Style Bulgogi” (Korean barbequed beef) and the spicy “Snow Crab Shabu Shabu” by Chaesundang Plus.