It Rains Fishes: Legends, Traditions and the Joys of Thai Cooking

More than a cookbook--she takes you there!

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.

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.

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!

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.

I have Kasma Loha-unchit's other book. I love having both her books. I enjoy reading them. I have yet to try her recipes. I did email her and asked her what type of wok to buy and she responded. I bought the American made wok and love it. I have had it for about 5 years now.

If you can find d a copy this book is the one book everyone must have. Its not fancy and doesn't have nice pictures or a lot of recipes. Why is it a must to own a copy you ask? Because this book teaches you how to maximize flavor by understanding the ingredients and techniques to maximize flavor. Its an easy to understand but in depth explanations about understanding, choosing, preparing, cooking to extract maximum flavor. I love thai food and own probably 30-40 thai cook books. Find a copy of this book its like no other and pair it with your other cookbooks for amazing thai food. Most thai cookbooks give you recipes and basic cooking instructions with a few simple tips. This books teaches you how to actually cook like a thai chef by explaining the choosing of the ingredients for max flavor, the preparation of ingredients for max flavor and the cooking of ingredients for max flavor 8ncluding a thorough understanding of the ingredients. She has another cook book for seafood called dancing shrimp I think.

love the recipes in this book -- truly authentic.