what makes authentic Thai food?

[johnnyk]

My XGF was from near BanMi in Lopburi province and she always ordered phet phet. I can handle pretty good heat for a falang but this felt like three layers of skin had been stripped off the inside of my mouth and a blowtorch applied for good measure.

[Jimbob]

JohnnyK: Could you please explain the ingredients of Phet Phet. Clearly its not available at my local Falang type Thai food restaurant and I 'colour up' with very hot food. Derrière end is usually OK
Off topic Is there an index for Thai 'hot'? something related to Ph levels such as this sliding scale
Tourist
Falang
bangkok trendy
Expat with Thai partner
Isaan
Fire eater

[PeteC]

Isn't it correct to say that originally the use of chili and curry was to kill bacteria, parasites and perhaps make spoiled food more palatable? You find spicy food originating and used in tropical countries where a fast spoilage factor is high to extreme. Pete

[johnnyk]

Spices and salt pre-date refrigeration of course and I suppose evolved into cuisine.

[johnnyk]

JohnnyK: Could you please explain the ingredients of Phet Phet. Clearly its not available at my local Falang type Thai food restaurant and I 'colour up' with very hot food. Derrière end is usually OK
Off topic Is there an index for Thai 'hot'? something related to Ph levels such as this sliding scale
Tourist
Falang
bangkok trendy
Expat with Thai partner
Isaan
Fire eater

Not sure if your question was serious or not! Phet phet was as hot as the cook could make it, no chilies left over!

[Korkenzieher]

As an aside, chilies were introduced to the world through a combination of Spanish and Portuguese trade routes. Almost all chilies originate from the lower portion of Central America down into Brazil. Even though Columbus is credited with their introduction to the old world, the Portuguese were in very large part responsible for introducing them to Thailand, India, China and Japan. They were first seen widely in Europe in the early 1500's (UK apparently 1535). The Portuguese may have been in modern day Brazil several decades before Columbus set sail. There is some evidence that they were growing Maize in Madeira and the Azores before it was theoretically possible, had they not already been aware of the landmass. Their negotiations at The Treaty of Tordesillas (http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa112999a.htm) and Portuguese politicking at the time makes it pretty clear that they knew something was there and that they weren't about to let the Spaniards have it.

[lomuamart]

I'd agree with the above. Chilies were unknown in Thailand (and many other countries of the world where you'd expect to see them now) until fairly recently - 300-500 years ago.
Certainly Indian curries are prepared with a combination of spices which are supposed to preserve the food longer - not just the chilies.
Also, I believe, chilies are generally eaten in hot countries to actually cool the body temperature down. Ie, you sweat.

[Jimbob]

so we owe to Central/South America: potatoes,corn,chillies,tomatoes, robusta coffee, chocolate,certain nuts etc etc. I imagine South eastern Asian food were previously only spiced with peppers and Indian Type spices.

[Korkenzieher]

I think Asia gets Garlic too, and a range of herbs.

[johnnyk]

Once upon a time spices were more valuable than gold.

[TypicallyTropical]

Once upon a time spices were more valuable than gold.

Some spices still are, have you bought saffron lately?