Rika’s destination this time is Bhutan, famous for the country’s efforts to lead the world in Gross National Happiness. Bhutan’s unique culture draws visitors worldwide to this small nation located within the Himalaya Mountains. Bhutanese cuisine is similarly distinct, with a focus on chili peppers and rice. Rika is a fan of spicy foods, so she set out to find the world’s spiciest food culture — one that treats hot chili peppers as vegetables, rather than spices — and got a taste of Bhutan’s culture and spirituality as well. Through all of this, Rika developed her own new Washoku recipes combining Japanese cooking with organic ingredients grown naturally in Bhutan.