Dishes from 'Thailand's Best Street Food', by Chawadee Nualkhair. Photo / Supplied
Dishes from 'Thailand's Best Street Food', by Chawadee Nualkhair. Photo / Supplied
There's nothing like a little local knowledge - someone who can point a visitor in the direction of the best pub or offer the inside word on where to find the least crowded beach spot and how to get a good price on tickets for the museum or gallery.
ChawadeeNualkhair's new book, Thailand's Best Street Food, is the little local friend you can carry in your shoulder bag when looking for the best deal on the streets of Bangkok.
Many visitors to the Thai capital want to try the legendary street stalls - in fact, you could feel like something of a failure if you returned from Thailand without at least one good recommendation on a cart selling fabulous pad thai or duck noodle soup (preferably with a selfie to add authenticity). This no-frills guide is the place to start.
In it, Nualkhair provides crisp directions (you'll find Jae Ouan Rad na Yod Pak on Yaowarat Rd "in front of a Rado Citizen watch shop, on the Plang Nam Rd side of the street"), tips on the best offerings from each stall (the pork noodle soup at Guay Jab Nam Khon Sam Kasat looks good) and key info on the facilities (the aforementioned place offers a "squat toilet, no flush, no paper").
Nualkhair, a Bangkok local, has produced a book of simple ingredients, with no florid garnish. There's a detailed map and the bare bones of each cart are laid out, from beverages to specialties. It's a recipe for success.
The author details 35 food carts across Bangkok, with dozens more from other regions of Thailand and a few nice recipes thrown in for good measure.
Some of the places look to be pretty haphazard operations and, obviously, many of them aren't going to be permanent fixtures. Others are pretty well-established cafes, but the quality may dip or rise in pretty short time, so it's a book to grab sooner rather than later.
If you have a friend passing through Thailand, this is the guidebook they need.
When the book has passed its use-by date, have a look at Nualkhair's website, where you can follow her blogs about Thai food stalls, a subject that is clearly her passion.
This book made me want to get over to Bangkok and race around the stalls in it, ticking them off with a red pen and a few good selfies.
Thailand's Best Street Food Author: Chawadee Nualkhair RRP: $19.95
