Warm Up Your Palate This Winter: Dishes and drinks that bring the heat

When it starts getting chilly, how do you warm up in Vegas? Sin City has its many ways, of course, but we suggest turning up the heat with some eye-watering, sweat-on-the-forehead spicy food. Here is some of the city’s fieriest fare.

Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s ampersand-laden B&B Burger & Beer at the Venetian offers a spicy spin on the basic burger: the Bottom Burner, a hulking piece of fresh-ground Prime Black Angus beef topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño pesto and
Mario’s hot sauce.

Are you a hot-stuff warrior? Go for a double dose of fire with the chile relleno burger and the blood orange jalapeño margarita at Border Grill Mandalay Bay and Border Grill Forum Shops. The burger has a Mexican twist: ground short rib and brisket topped with panela cheese relleno, pickled chilies, tomato jam, aioli and arugula. Though it’s spicy year-round, the heat varies depending on the batch and the season.

Or try the Spicy Lover cocktail at Tacos & Tequila at Luxor, made with Jose Cuervo Traditional Plata Tequila, English cucumber, Mexican cilantro, lime juice, sweet agave nectar and a dash of spicy Tabasco pepper sauce.

And finally, for the real spicy masochist, there’s the Diablo’s Death Wings Challenge at Diablo’s Cantina in the Monte Carlo. You have 20 minutes to eat 20 super-hot wings soaked in Diablo’s Death Sauce, an evil blend of habanero chili purée and ghost chili extract. The winner lands free wings, bragging rights, a T-shirt and photo on the wall of fame.

— Andrea Kahn, Tribune Content Solutions