9 hangover tips from restaurant chefs
Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: 9 hangover tips from restaurant chefs.
Dry mouth, burning eyes, pounding headache and yes, also a bit nauseous: you can't miss it, you have a hangover. And how do you get rid of it as quickly as possible? These professional chefs share their hangover food, take advantage of it. And: good luck.
That strange headache comes from being dehydrated, that shawarma gives you a stomach like a dishwasher, your sore throat might have something to do with smoking outside (you had quit, right? Yes, but not right now) and your burning eyes were due to a bet involving pickle juice and contact lenses. This hangover is epic and you want to get rid of it as soon as possible, or at least find some relief.
Don't worry: these restaurant chefs are experts, they know what you should do. Wondering why we listen to their advice: hello, have you ever experienced a closing party?
Steak and fried eggs
‘A thick steak, fried eggs and hash browns are my hangover remedies. I don't know if it's the proteins from the steak and eggs or the fat they are cooked in. Also handy: you can usually order it in most restaurants. A stack of pancakes for dessert and you’re all set.’
Brian Jupiter – chef and owner of Ina Mae Tavern and Frontier restaurant in Chicago
Noodle soup with udon noodles
‘Udon noodles, especially those from Koya in Soho, help immediately. Luckily, this place opens early. A bowl of noodles is nice and warm and filling, and the spices and fresh ginger give a kick. Tea with honey on the side and you have enough calories to get through the whole morning.’
Max Venning, owner of Top Cuvée in London
Sloppy Joe (and a beer)
‘In India, we always say: a beer is the best remedy for your hangover. And it really works. If I want to eat something with it, I go for a Sloppy Joe. Deliciously greasy, that always works, but my best tip remains that beer.’
Prashant Chipkar, chef and owner at Masti and Time Out Market in Dubai
Soup
‘The only thing that helps against a hangover is something with broth. I love soup and stews, that’s real comfort food. And that goes for bacon too. Salty, fatty bacon works really well against your hangover if you want to eat something quickly.’
Nyesha Arrington, Top Chef contestant, working in Los Angeles
Pho
‘The best hangover meal is pho. The savory beef broth with noodles that you slurp down with fresh herbs brings you back to life. I make that pho quite spicy, so you really perk up.’
Chanthy Ten, founder of Touk, chef at Parliament Pub & Parlour in Montreal
Green smoothie
‘I’ve tried a lot, but nothing really helps against a hangover, is my conclusion. To ease the pain, I make a smoothie with coconut water and fruit, or a thick smoothie with dates, like our Boom Smoothie. I also always take a big plate of pasta if I feel like I can keep that down.’
Heather Costa, chef and owner of Revolution Health Kitchen in Boston
Dim sum
‘I have two tips. The first is: dim sum with ice-cold Coca-Cola. I order dumplings with shrimp, with scallops, chicken claws, and steamed buns with pork. The second tip is Colombian beef sancocho, a traditional soup with potato, yucca, green plantains, corn, and a whole lot of cilantro. A dish like a big hug!’
Cesar Zapata, chef of Phuc Yea and Pho Mo in Miami
Dahl and rice
‘Scrambled eggs on toasted bread, with crispy bacon and baked beans, that’s the perfect hangover meal for me. And sometimes I eat dahl and white rice. That’s full of vitamins and it’s really comfort food, it reminds me of my childhood in Bangalore.’
Avinash Shashidhara, chef of Pali Hill in London
Mexican brunch
‘I really do my best not to get a hangover, that’s why I love tequila so much, you don’t feel bad the next day from that. If I do go too far and feel drained, from lack of sleep and too much food and drink, then I swear by a hearty brunch. I first drink as much water as I can, or coffee, tea, or fruit juice, and then halfway through the morning I make the perfect Mexican brunch. Something with eggs and a huge amount of salsa. Chili peppers really work wonders: they are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Eat a lot, then you’ll definitely feel better the next day.’
Thomasina Miers, founder of Wahaca in London
Source: Time Out
