Ricelands: The World of South-east Asian Food

9781861893789, 2010. Paperback. Very Good. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting.The spine remains undamaged. Pad thai, pho, bao: the cuisines of Southeast Asia have ardent enthusiasts far beyond their native lands, and are now among the most-consumed dishes i n the world. But the familiar take-out menus and thriving storefronts rest atop a compelling history of food, culture, and modernity. Award-winning ph otographer and writer Michael Freeman now offers here an all-encompassing g uide to the cuisines of eight Southeast Asian countries. Ricelands takes the reader on a colorful and engaging tour of these popular tourist destinations through the richly layered cultures surrounding the v arious food traditions. Traveling across the landscapes of Thailand, Vietna m, Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines, Freeman explores the origins of their respective cuisines, the defining characteri stics of authentic dishes, and the evolution of the cuisines as they entere d foreign cultures. From birds' nests gathered in Thailand's coastal caves to the less familiar dishes of Burma and Cambodia to the pungent durian fru it (and Westerners' often aghast reactions), the author unearths unexpected treasures and tantalizing facts about Southeast Asia and its social histor y. The book also examines the cooking techniques, complex spices, and agric ultural economies that underpin the countries' food cultures, and considers how the informal nature of Southeast Asian eating fits into the rhythms of modern-day living. Vibrantly illustrated and elegantly conceived, Ricelands takes us into the he.