Food from the Sichuan province of China is known for being spicy, and the food in Chongqing is reputed to be the hottest in all of Sichuan. I'm inclined to agree, since it's the birthplace of the famous hot pot. Or should I say infamous, since any food cooked in a pot of boiling oil brimming with red-hot chili peppers and a mouth-numbing spice known as prickly ash is bound to develop cult-like status among culinary adventure seekers.

Not that you have to look very hard to find it in Chongqing. Restaurants serving the incendiary dish are more numerous than coffee shops in Seattle. And chances are, if you're spending more than a couple days at Le Méridien Chongqing, you'll be invited to try it by a local friend or business associate. So, why not cut to the chase and try it out?

To start, look for one of the 125-plus branches of Xiao Tian'e Huoguo, or Little Swan. The chain offers the option of hot or mild broth, and you choose what to eat from a buffet, which is helpful if you want to avoid such things as brains and innards. Here's a basic guide to food names and the cooking process — don't forget to dip food in your personal dipping bowl (which contains sesame oil, garlic and salt) to help cool the food and reduce the spiciness. And if you need more help cooling off your throat, beer is the traditional fire extinguisher.