Welcome to Zesty Kitchen a Culinary Spicy Adventure

Mild Beginnings with a Spicy Twist

I was never overly fond of spicy food. I often avoided it, instead treating my taste buds to milder and more traditional options. My apprehension toward spicy food began to change after I had made many trips to Asia and learning the culture of the Philippines that started back in 2012.

Fast-forward to today, over a decade later, and I’m a total convert when it comes to spicy food! The process of learning to enjoy spicier food is an eye-opening journey. Of course, all you can taste is the relentless heat for a while. But after you get used to the heat, you discover a new world of flavor lying underneath.

I’m always excited to try new and exotic spicy food. I’ve traveled back and forth from the U.S. to Asia over 13 times, staying for different lengths each time. I was inspired to create this site to catalog must-try recipes as I will soon remain in Asia full-time.