Member Reviews: Thai Food

Thai Food, by David Thompson, is easily one of the most magnificent food books I have come across in some time. To call it a "cookbook" is an understatement. At more than 600 pages, a good portion of the book (close to 200 pages) explains the history, culture, and ultimately, the cooking methods of Thailand. It is fascinating. On page 38, for example, the author explains in detail the importance of Buddhism in Thai culture, and then goes on in following pages to describe traditional food of the monks, traditional faiths of the Thai people, and even specific taboos of a famous Thai King. The recipes that follow are excellent. While some of the recipes are exceedingly simple (Prawn Soup...