The following books are highly recommended as a means of furthering one’s knowledge of Thai cuisine and culture. Look for these titles at your local bookstore, or order online from http://www.amazon.com.
- Cracking the Coconut: Classic Thai Home Cooking, by Su-Mei Yu (hardcover)
This book is highly recommended, both for its recipes as well as its antidotes and comments on Thai philosophy and culture.
- Thai Home Cooking, by Robert Carmack & Sompon Nabnian (hardcover)
This recipe book offers beautiful pictures alongside easy-to-follow recipes. The authors also teach readers how to season a wok, and how to carve vegetables into flowers for authentic Thai presentation.
- Real Thai: The Best of Thailand’s Regional Cooking, by Nancy McDermott (paperback)
This book explains the difference between home cooking and “palace-style” cooking. An excellent resource for understanding the various cooking styles and methods in Thailand according to the resources available in each region.
- Bangkok Inside Out, by Daniel Ziv & Guy Sharett (paperback)
This is a terrific book for armchair travellers, or those interested in getting to know the real Thailand. These two authors take you on a wild ride through Bangkok, including stops at outdoor markets, kickboxing gyms, convenience stores, slums, gambling dens, and even karaoke taxis—a ride not recommended for the faint of heart.
