The foods that please me the most are the objectively ugly ones: the stews, gravies, gumbos, and goulashes that are cooked long and low until they slump and thicken. Time can make some foods taste like heaven, and look like hell.

I was blessed with a mom who was a spicy food enthusiast. From a young age, I remember chugging glasses of milk to be able to tackle her five-alarm chili. But for anyone new to the spicy food world or who just wants to raise their tolerance to another level, here are six ways to do it.

Food plays an important role in Studio Ghibli animated films.