Bangkok

Starred review from January 2, 2017
Punyaratabandhu, the woman behind the popular She Simmers cooking blog and author of Simple Thai Food, expands on her previous work in this outstanding collection of toothsome Thai fare. Where her previous effort favored ease, Punyaratabandhu here focuses on authenticity. She fondly recalls some of her favorite food memories, many of which can be traced to her grandparents’ collection of cookbooks, and shares classic dishes and family favorites such as steamed dumplings with chicken-peanut filling and fried chicken with crispy garlic. A spicy beef soup with sweet potatoes and basil is just as appealing here as in the early-19th-century cookbook where it was discovered, as is the story behind the classic Boat Relish, an ever-changing mélange of leftovers originally prepared for the king. Punyaratabandhu does an admirable job of including recipes for all skill levels and geographies, but readers interested in recreating jade noodles with barbecued pork or a 24-hour massaman curry may run into some sourcing issues if they don’t live near a well-stocked Asian market. This is a truly remarkable collection of cleverly selected recipes. Punyaratabandhu is a gifted storyteller, and her work is an outstanding addition to the Thai cooking canon.

Starred review from March 15, 2017

Punyaratabandhu (Simple Thai Food) is the creator of the award-winning Thai food blog SheSimmers.com. Her second cookbook blends vivid memories of family and travel with recipes for iconic foods from the city of Bangkok. Fragrant dishes such as watermelon with fish dip, slow-cooked chicken in coconut-galangal cream sauce, and lychee in iced syrup with young ginger and green mango invite leisurely cooking and will draw home cooks who want to advance beyond quick and easy Thai recipes. Access to an Asian grocery store is a must--otherwise, it will be challenging to obtain ingredients such as pandan leaves, durian pulp, fried tofu puffs, and pork blood cake. VERDICT Let this stunning, transporting cuisine carry you away.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.