Vatcharin Bhumichitr invites readers to join in the Thai street food 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. Food stalls are an essential part of Thai life and can be found on countless streets, market courts, roadside drive-ins, harbor walls and railway platforms across the country, and provide the freshest, most authentic Thai cooking. Covering soups, noodles, salads, stir-fries, grilled dishes, curries and desserts, this tantalizing collection includes such favorites 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. The 'Before You Begin' section, introducing ingredients and cooking techniques, provides all you will need to take up Thai cooking with confidence!