By Kasma Loha-Unchit It Rains Fishes: Legends, the Traditions and the Joys of Thai Cooking

The author of this cookbook goes out of her way to present not only traditional recipes, but enough knowledge and technique to help you achieve traditional taste. This is no mere recipe book, it's more of a guide to Thai cooking.From the very start, Loha-Unchit explains everything about the essential components of Thai cuisine and exactly what they do to each dish. Interspersed amongst her recipes are stories related to the dishes that may seem sappy to some, but generally help explain what the cook is trying to achieve with each recipe.This book will definitely challenge and enhance your cooking skills. After preparing a few of the selections she presents, you won't just know how to whip up several dishes by rote- you'll have a very good understanding of the essentials of Thai cooking.

AAA+++ / The absolute best two “Thai Coobooks - along with “Dancing Shrimp 🦐 “ by the same author...If your interested in real “Thai” cooking 🥘 along with the background of the “Thai” cooking culture these books are for you and if you spend time in them they will be worth more then whatever you have to pay to get your hands on them!

Other reviewers have said that there is not much in the way of recipes in this one and it's true. There may be a total of 15 - 20 recipes - all good btw. But the commentary...that's the real gem of this book. I read the entire book, front to back and was greatly enlightened on the culture and art of Thai cooking. I bought other Thai cookbooks at the same time that I bought this one which had more recipes in those, but I always come back to this one for her (the author's) words of wisdom, explanations, and descriptions.

Actually the best book on cooking I've read, Period. This isn't a "cookbook" where you just get a collection of recipes, this is a comprehensive textbook on the theories and history of Thai flavors and cooking. Well written and fun to read! There are recipes, but that's not the main focus. You learn why and how to use the ingredients, how the flavors interact. I've been able to replicate and improve upon the dishes at my favorite Thai restaurants thanks to this book.

This is an amazing Thai cookbook written by an amazing Thai cooking teacher. Anyone who wants to try their hand at cooking Thai food at home would do well to buy this book. The lovely illustrations and stories that go along with the recipes are icing on the cake.