Bhutan Feature

Bhutanese food is super-hot; chiles are a staple of the diet, and they're stewed in cheese and served as a vegetable. Most food for tourists is toned down, unless you request full-strength spiciness. The perception is that outsiders like as much toast and bread as Bhutanese require rice (five plates a day!) so prepare to ask hotels to dial back, unless you are on a high-carb diet. If you drink, be sure to sample the Red Panda beer, brewed in Bumthang, and K5 Whiskey, named in honor of the new King; it would rate as a top-shelf liquor if available in bars outside the kingdom.