I wanted to like this cookbook more than I did. The illustrations were lovely, and the authors present a variety of recipes for those wanting to make dishes from countries such as Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and Laos in Southeast Asia. I just did not connect that much with the travel narrative section, and I did not find many recipes I would want to try in my own home. I'll probably stick to occasionally enjoying these cuisines in specialty restaurants. ( )

Beautifully illustrated, wonderful recipes. Some ingredients you might not find in your local grocery store, but it's worth it to try to track those ingredients down via the Internet or through specialty stores. ( )

A big gorgeous coffee-table travelogue-cookbook, and a fascinating introduction to Southeast Asia, but not really practical to cook out of unless one copies the recipes out onto separate pieces of paper. ( )

I adore this book for its blend of cooking and travel writing. I have purchased all of their books (or begged them as Christmas gifts... or given them as wedding presents). I have to acknowledge, though, that I haven't been successful with all the recipes, and that sometimes, the techniques don't quite translate to my own home kitchen.

Nevertheless, highly recommended. ( )

Gorgeous, mouth watering coffee table book. It isn't clear how many of these recipes one can actually make without access to unobtainable ingredients, but the photography and travel commentary alone are worth the price of admission. The authors have a dream job! ( )