Using Jit Poumisak's The Real Face of Thai Feudalism Today (1957), Reynolds both rewrites Thai history and critiques relevant historiography. Discussing imperialism, feudalism, and the nature of power, Reynolds argues that comparisons between European and Thai premodern societies reveal Thai social formations to be "historical, contingent, and temporally bounded."
With a uniquely balanced combination of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, Thai food burst onto Los Angeles’s and America’s culinary scene in the 1980s. Flavors of Empire examines the rise of Thai food and the way it shaped the racial and ethnic contours of Thai American identity and community. Full of vivid oral histories and new archival material, this book explores the factors that made foodways central to the Thai American experience. Starting with American Cold War intervention in Thailand, Mark Padoongpatt traces how informal empire allowed U.S. citizens to discover Thai cuisine abroad and introduce it inside the United States. When Thais arrived in Los Angeles, they reinvented and repackaged Thai food in various ways to meet the rising popularity of the cuisine in urban and suburban spaces. Padoongpatt opens up the history and politics of Thai food for the first time, all while demonstrating how race emerges in seemingly mundane and unexpected places.
This book is a true memoir written during summer 2019 - weeks after author and his Burmese girlfriend were released from Thai prisons. What started as a chronicle of our travails, ballooned into larger issues such as; overcrowding of Thai prisons, and articulating how America's DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) pays Thai authorities to imprison as many men and women as possible - on trumped-up, victimless charges. The title, '1 Pill = 28 Years' refers to one old Asian man who got sentenced to 28 years plus 3 months for getting caught, first offense, with one speed pill in his shirt pocket. He had no lawyer, no option for bail or appeal, ....not even a phone call. For two thirds of Those 247,318 hours behind bars he is confined six square foot concrete floor space, compelled to drape arms and legs over/against inmates on either side. He will die in prison. His predicament is not an anomaly. There are thousands of men and women similarly mistreated in Thailand, which ranks number 5 worldwide regarding percentage of its citizens incarcerated. The lion's share of those men and women are behind bars for bogus charges and/or victimless crimes.
The Gold Standard for Authentic Thai Cuisine In this showstopping collection of must-try Thai dishes, culinary mastermind and bestselling author Jet Tila opens up the world of his Thai heritage for today’s home cooks with recipes that are authentic, accessible and ultra-craveable. Jet partners up with Tad Weyland Fukumoto, longtime friend and fellow chef, to channel their years of Southeast Asian culinary prowess into mouthwatering recipes, such as Street-Style Basil Pork, Glass Noodle Stir-Fry, Hung Lay Northern Pork Curry, New Thai BBQ Chicken, Fried Tilapia with Three-Flavor Sauce and so many more. They’ve tirelessly perfected these recipes to ensure that their flavors, techniques and quality rank number one across the board—the true gold standard. With dishes ranging from tantalizing classics and popular street foods to unsung heroes spanning the regions, this cookbook is your one-stop guide to the rich culinary traditions of Thailand. Jet also presents an exciting collection of plant-based takes on popular dishes to welcome everyone to the table and show the range of possibilities in the modern Thai kitchen. Fire up your wok and get hungry for 101 of the best damn Thai dishes you’ll ever have.
"I felt like the luckiest person on earth when I not only met Chawadee, but had her as my personal food navigator through Bangkok. We walked, boated, and ate our way through some of the best food I've ever had, all thanks to Chawadee, her warmth and expertise. And now you get to have the next best thing: her fantastic book. Enjoy every delicious bite." —Phil Rosenthal ("Somebody Feed Phil") Learn the secrets of Thai cooking that only local foodies know about! Real Thai Cooking is a labor of love by Thailand's leading food blogger and street food expert, Chawadee "Chow" Nualkhair and Lauren Lulu Taylor who did the recipe testing and editing and provided many of the photographs. Her book presents the full range of iconic Thai recipes together with fascinating back stories that enable you to truly appreciate what you are cooking and eating! This book presents insider recipes and secrets about Thai food that only local foodies know about: Chef Black's famous Sriracha Sauce recipe (from Blackitch Artisan Kitchen) and the story of how this hot sauce was invented (most people think it is Vietnamese, but it is really 100% Thai!) The world's best Pad Thai and how this dish has come to define Thailand's national identity Minced Chicken Kanom Jeen and the Portuguese Influence on Thai Food Mee Krob (Fried Rice Noodles)—the dish that saved Siam from colonization And many more delicious recipes and nuggets of Thai food lore! With over 75 recipes and 225 color photos, this is the cookbook every Thai food lover will want!
When high school graduate Gina Campanello wins a trip to Thailand, the last thing she wants is to visit a bunch of temples and museums with her gung-ho older sister. Luckily, before Gina leaves Tucson, a neighbor gives her the mission of delivering a small stone elephant to a long-lost relative. When Gina and Rachel hit Bangkok, Rachel carts her sister from Wat Pho to the Grand Palace, but all Gina can think of is Koon Somchai, the estranged engineer she has promised to track down. By the time she leaves Bangkok, she's no closer to her goal. In Chiang Mai, the second city of the girls' tour, Gina finally gets some leads after consulting with natives. She visits the local engineering school and writes furious emails to recent graduates. The problem is that by the time she narrows down her search, she's about to board a plane for the beautiful beaches of Phuket. While Rachel enjoys lovely ocean views and leisurely afternoons in the pool, Gina can't stop thinking about the mysterious man she was supposed to find. When the man's grandson is able to arrange transportation for her return to Chiang Mai, Gina can't turn down the offer, no matter the personal cost.
The Ramayana is one of India's foundational epics, and it demonstrates a continuing power to influence social, religious, cultural, and political life. Brought to textual life in Sanskrit by the legendary "first poet," Valmiki, over the ensuing centuries the tale has been recycled with extraordinary adaptability and diversity through the varied cultural heritages of India and other parts of Asia. The basic tale of the Ramayana is continually adapted to new contexts, forms, and media. It is read, recited, sung, danced, and acted in one form or another, and renewed so constantly by changing times and values that it demands constant revaluation. The Ramayana Revisited presents the latest in Ramayana scholarship. Fourteen leading scholars examine the epic in its myriad contexts throughout South and Southeast Asia. They explore the role the narrative plays in societies as varied as India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. The essays also expand the understanding of the "text" to include non-verbal renditions of the epic, with particular attention to the complex ways such retellings change the way the narrative deals with gender. This volume will be invaluable to students and scholars interested in mythology, Hinduism, Asian studies, and anthropology.
"Light, fresh, exotic, and delicious! Tangy, sweet, and savory traditional dipping sauces. Mouthwatering soups. Innovative stir-fries. 'The Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking' offers just that -- the very best! Weaving a fascinating memoir amidst her splendid recipes, Mai Pham recreates the almost magical reverence with which food was prepared and enjoyed in the Vietnam and Thailand of her childhood. Inside she discloses the secrets to preparing her personal favorites -- delicious dishes such as : Firecracker Prawns ; Minty Thai Chicken Salad ; Crispy Spring Rolls ; Thai Green Curry with Chicken ; Hot and Spicy Chicken with Lemon Grass ; Perfectly Roasted Peanuts ; Rice Paper-Wrapped Salad Rolls ; Pho Bo : Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup ; Five-Spice Roast Duck ; Thai Chicken Soup with Coconut Milk and Galanga ; Vegetarian Pad Thai ; Eggplant and Broccoli in Ginger Sauce ; Warm Prawns on Cool Noodles ; Spicy Red Beef Curry ; Lemon Grass Stir-Fried Jasmine Rice ; Grilled Catfish with Hoisin-Peanut Sauce ; Sticky Rice and Fresh Mangoes ; Vietnamese Coffee, Thai Tea, and Lemon Grass Lemonade ; and more! Evocative, lyrical, and eloquent, 'The Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking' is more than a collection of great recipes -- it’s a pleasure to read."--
