Bangkok

“Deep-cut Thai recipes from a true expert.”—Bon Appetit“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.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review“Charming and illuminating.”—Eric Asimov, food and wine critic for the New York Times “As a Bangkok native who spent her formative childhood years in Thailand and her professional adult years in the United States, Leela Punyaratabandhu was uniquely positioned to write Bangkok. The recipes are accessible but not dumbed down. The stories are exotic but relatable. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of a multi-cultural, dynamic city. And most importantly, you’ll eat very, very well.”—J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, author of The Food Lab and The Wok “I was born and raised in Bangkok … This book does justice to the mélange of regional, ethnic, and socioeconomic influences that comprise the cuisine of the fascinating city that, for over 200 years, has been the beating heart of Thailand. The recipe instructions are clear and workable while not being at all coy about the complexities. I will recommend the book to anyone who asks me about a Thai cookbook.”—Pim Techamuanvivit, owner of Nari, Kamin, and Michelin-starred Kin Khao“When Leela Punyaratabandhu is your guide, you eat well. Leela is the rare writer who not only has a deep understanding, passion, and respect for the cultural and gastronomic history of her home country, but also an undying inquisitiveness into cooking technique and a desire to perfect that technique for the home cook. She has the soul of a Bangkokian and the mind of a recipe developer. Leela may have learned to cook from three generations of her family in a nineteenth-century Thai kitchen, but she is a ceaseless tinkerer, always looking to update, adapt, and improve. It’s what makes the recipes in this book actually work. In Bangkok you’ll find a book that is personal, accessible, and perhaps most importantly, jaw-droppingly delicious.”—J. Kenji López-Alt, author of The Food Lab “No one can argue that Bangkok is one of the world’s greatest food cities. Leela Punyaratabandhu—the award-winning food blogger and Thai food expert—captures the culinary magic of her hometown in this luscious new book, from snacks to curries to Thai iced tea. She has created an authoritative and essential compendium for anyone who cares about Asian food. The section on noodles alone is worth the price of admission.”—James Oseland, author of Cradle of Flavor and judge on Top Chef Masters “Bangkok is for the energized cook who will trek across town for a certain chile, collects specialized cookware, and plans vacations around eating as much as possible. Writer Leela Punyaratabandhu’s personal stories are scattered throughout to introduce each dish, and you can feel her passion for cooking even when describing the scent of jasmine rice.”—Bon Appetit, cookbook gift guide

Leela Punyaratabandhu is the author of the award-winning cooking blog She Simmers and the book Simple Thai Food. Her writing has appeared on CNN Travel and the food website Serious Eats. Dividing her time between Chicago and Bangkok, Punyaratabandhu writes about Thai food and Thai restaurants both in the United States and Thailand.