Vatch's Thai street food - Vatcharin Bhumichitr

Food stalls are an essential part of Thai life and can be found on countless city streets, market forecourts, roadside drive-ins, harbour walls and railway platforms across the country. Most Thais perch on tiny stools as the traffic hurtles by, and eat at these open air, one-dish specialist stalls, at least once a day, because they provide the freshest, most authentic Thai cooking. Now Vatcharin Bhumichitr invites his readers to join in the Thai streetfood experience, introducing key street dishes from across Thailand - beginning in Bangkok and its surrounding areas, then moving on to the southern seashores, the isolated northeast and finally the far north. Covering soups, noodles, salads, stir-fries, grilled dishes, curries and desserts, this tantalising collection includes such favourites as Som Tam, a fiery grated raw papaya salad and Khao Niew Mamuang, a mango and sticky rice creation - easily the most popular Thai dessert. Vivid location shots will satisfy every armchair traveller, and the 'Before You Begin' section, introducing ingredients and cooking techniques, provides all you will need to take up your wok with confidence!