-=> Mike Powell wrote to DAVE DRUM <=-

 > I can only get it at Magic Kitchen - which was the first Thai restaurant
 > in town. They serve very authentic Thai food. Including Thai heat levels
 > unless one chickens out and orders "mild".

 MP> We have a decent Thai restaurant here in town -- the Thai Smile -- that
 MP> will serve food at supposed Thai levels if you order it that way.  I
 MP> used to go up to 2.5 stars out of 5 but they have changed their rating
 MP> system since I was last in... they show pictures of people on social
 MP> media that have ordered star levels may times above 5 now.

My first experience with Thai cookery was at the Magic Kitchen I referred
to in my previous post. The cute redheaded waitress (also the owner and
wife of the chef) warned me when I ordered "Hot" that the heat levels
were "Thai hot" not "roundeye" hot. So I ordered "Medium" which was all
the spiciness my chilehead palate wanted. It became a regular lunch stop
for me. 

One day a couple of guys I knew from the racetrack came in and ordered
their food hot. Shari tried to warn them and I said, "You ought to try
the medium first, guys". Nope. "I know what I'm doing, I'll have th hot"
And a nod from his companion. So, I hung around a bit longer than usual 
to watch the show. It turned into a duel to see who couls out-macho the
other. I could almost hear their thoughts "He's going to take another
bite. Now I'll have to take another bite. Mommy help me!"

A couple days later I was in the workplace of one of the guys and he
said "Should have listened." 

Now there are a lot of venues which serve Thai food. Some even owned
and/or staffed by Thais. There are also Vietnamese, Laotians and a few
Cambodians in the mix.

 MP> At lunchtime, when they were real busy and had a lot of people ordering
 MP> the same dishes, I am convinced they made it up in large batches with
 MP> the same star level.  I always ordered 0 or 1 at lunchtime and it was
 MP> much more spicy than the same level at dinnertime!

 MP> That was with my usual order, the Basil Chicken on a bed of rice.

My favourite at Magic Kitchen (also Taste of Thai, Thai Basil and Thai
Kitchen 2)

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

      Title: Garlic Pepper Pork
 Categories: Pork, Vegetables, Herbs, Chilies
      Yield: 4 servings

  1 1/2 lb Lean pork; in small strips
      2 tb Oil
      3 lg Garlic cloves; chopped fine
      1 md Onion; diced
    1/2    Red bell peppers; diced
      2    Prik kaleang chilies, crushed
           +=OR=+
      6    Prik kee noo suan chilies;
           - crushed
      6 sl Fresh ginger; quarter-sized,
           - cut in matchsticks
      1 tb Fresh ground black pepper
      2 tb Nam Pla fish sauce
      2 tb Oyster sauce
      1 tb Soy sauce
    1/4 c  stock or water

  Heat oil to medium-high; stir-fry garlic, dried chile,
  and pork, about 3-4 minutes until pork is nearly done.

  Add onions, ginger, bell pepper, and stir-fry 3 minutes.

  Add black pepper and remaining liquids and stir-fry
  another 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

  Serve over white rice.

  Servings: 4

  RECIPE FROM: https://hot-thai-kitchen.com

  Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives

MMMMM

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