Spice level warning — Svíčková na Smetaně is not what I expected

I underestimated Svíčková na Smetaně. The rich and filling description didn't prepare me for the reality. pickled vegetables brings a heat or pungency that builds steadily rather than hitting upfront. By halfway through I was sweating but couldn't stop eating.

Czech cuisine is inseparable from beer culture, one of the world's highest per-capita consumption nations. The a traditional Czech hospoda setting means locals eat this with ease while visitors like me reach for water. slivovitz plum brandy cut through it better than water would have. Don't order the mild version out of caution — the full version is the point. I'd go back. Three stars only because I wasn't warned.