Thai Food Stories and Recipes (9780804858052)

The people, traditions and recipes that define Thai cuisine.

Thai food is a vibrant mosaic shaped by centuries of trade, migration, court traditions and regional styles. Through 224 recipes and 50 in-depth conversations with award-winning chefs, teachers, writers, street vendors and accomplished home cooks, Thai Food Stories and Recipes offers an extraordinary look at the people and traditions behind one of the world's most celebrated cuisines.

More than a cookbook, it explores how Thai people think about their food, preserving regional knowledge, family traditions and culinary history alongside authentic recipes for every kitchen.

A remarkable portrait of Thailand's culinary traditions, told through recipes and the people behind them, inside you will find:

• An engaging introduction to the history and evolution of Thai cuisine, from the contributions of the Mon people and early Thai settlers to the influence of the Royal Thai Court and Chinese immigration.
• A comprehensive selection of 224 recipes, including contributions from 31 Thai food experts, featuring essential sauces, relishes and dips, mouthwatering classics like Phla Goong (Thai Herbal Shrimp Salad) and Gai Yang (Isan Grilled Chicken) alongside many lesser-known dishes such as Nuea Dat Diew (Salted Dried Beef) and Chu Chee Eggplant (Southern Thai-style "Dry" Eggplant Curry)
• An illustrated guide to 85 essential Thai ingredients, including chilies, coconut milk, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, shrimp paste, tamarind, torch ginger, aromatic herbs and many others, with flavor profiles, cooking tips, and practical substitutes
• How to prepare, serve and enjoy a Thai meal, from basic cooking techniques and kitchen equipment to the sauces, dips and toppings that are absolutely essential for a satisfying meal!
• Fifteen carefully-curated menus with expert guidance on how to plan the perfect meal for any occasion
• An exploration of Thailand's "gastrodiplomacy" and the global rise of Thai cuisine.

Both an authoritative cookbook and a true cultural exploration, Thai Food Stories and Recipes is your essential guide to one of the world's great cuisines.


About the Author:
Chawadee "Chow" Nualkhair was born in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and grew up in western Pennsylvania, in the USA. She is married with two kids and now lives in Bangkok. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Stanford University, Chow works as a freelance journalist, mostly writing about food, and is the author of the popular "Bangkok Glutton" blog and the bestselling guide to Thai street food, Thailand's Best Street Food: The Complete Guide to Streetside Dining in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Other Areas. She also co-authored Real Thai Cooking: Recipes and Stories from a Thai Food Expert with Lauren Lulu Taylor.

Lauren Lulu Taylor is a photographer, cookbook author and food entrepreneur whose Asian heritage has given her a lifelong connection to the region's culinary traditions. She has lived and worked in the United States, Europe, Latin America and the South Pacific, immersing herself in local food lore. She is the founder of the award-winning food company Secret Kiwi Kitchen and co-author of Real Thai Cooking: Recipes and Stories from a Thai Food Expert with Chow.