Understatement of the past few centuries. It is easy to forget that before trade routes were established to the Americas, Italian and Spanish folks had never laid eyes on a tomato. Likewise, until the Portuguese established trade routes through the middle east, India, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and the rest of those countries in Asia, so famous for their fiery cuisine, had never seen a chili pepper. Potatoes have a similar story, and now they are so associated with European cuisine.
For folks listing out countries where they believe have the most interesting and exciting cuisine, if you've never explored it, go to Peru, a place with a unique culinary culture with so many immigrant influences cross pollinated by their unique gifts of the sea, land, mountains, and jungle (viva the aji chili peppers!).
