Cover Image: Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice

Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice

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Member Reviews

This is such a unique format for a cookbook! I loved the artwork and backstories, and the recipes all sound amazing!

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This is a fun comic book style Thai cookbook written by two people. their stories of childhood food memories make the book fun to read. Easy-to-follow recipes have some substitutions or resources for harder to find Thai ingredients. It has fun drawings. Not all of the recipes have photos, I do wish there were more actual food photos, but then again how many photos can you add to a comic book? All in all a charming book that I would gift to a fellow foodie.

I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Description
An approachable, fun comic book cookbook tour of Thai culture and cuisine with 50 recipes and stories from the country's main culinary regions

From an exciting all-female, all-Thai team, Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice combines easy-to-follow comic book panels with pops of vibrant food photography to perfectly capture the bright, colorful flavors and ingredients that are crucial to Thai cuisine.

Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice showcases real Thai food from the country’s distinct culinary regions. Journey to the northern Lanna region and dine “khan tok”–style with small bowls of chile dips, curries, sticky rice, and vegetables on a gilded pedestal tray for sharing; sit cross-legged on a bamboo mat around a spread of tangy salads and grilled meats in the northeast Isaan region; roam the bustling markets of central Bangkok for iconic street food treats; and lounge on a beach in southern Thailand with dangerously spicy seafood.

With recipes divided into six delectable sections for any meal or mood of the day, discover how to make world-class snacks and starters such as Som Tam (papaya salad) and Satay Gai (grilled chicken skewers), or iconic noodle dishes such as Khao Soi (coconut curry noodle soup) and Pad Kee Mao (drunken noodles), as well as some lesser-known regional favorites to pair with rice such as Pad Sator (stir-fried bitter beans) from the south and Nam Prik Ong (Ong’s spicy pork and tomato chile dip) from the north. The book also teaches helpful cooking and preparation techniques such as how to properly grate a papaya, make sticky rice in the microwave, fry an egg to crispy perfection, and more.

In celebration of the warm, welcoming spirit of Thailand, Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice shares the secrets to making these dynamic Thai dishes at home, whether as a quick one-plate meal or a showstopping spread of multiple dishes for enjoying communally.

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Such a unique twist on a classic cookbook format! As someone who knows very little about Thai cooking, I consider this to be a really good introduction to it. It contains not only recipes, but explanations on essential ingredients, concepts and staples. And on top of that, everything is illustrated in a very cute way!

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I received this DRC from NetGalley.

The artwork was cute, and I liked that a few actual pictures were included. But, I think the recipe book/comic book combo didn't work out as well as it could have. In terms of being a comic, there was a lot of exposition in the beginning before even getting to any talk about food. As for a recipe book, some of the layouts, which are fine for comics, aren't as clear if you're trying to concurrently read directions while cooking. As such, it seems more like an illustrated tour of Thai food as opposed to a full on comic. Perhaps adding more structure like an actual comic would have been helpful. On the cookbook side, also adding a few more actual pictures could have been nice. I did like that they added illustrations on top of the photography to make it more fun. Overall, I thought this was a fun idea, but the elements taken from the two genres could have been chosen better.

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Noodles, rice and every spice was a very cute, informative resource about everything noodles. If you are like me and enjoy Japanese cuisine and want to know how to serve some staple recipes this is the book for you. I enjoyed the visuals as well as ample information to take away on all things noodles and rice.

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"Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice" is such a fantastic cookbook that shows the Thai culture by sharing an extensive list of recipes featuring Thai food and cuisine. Not only were the comic illustrations a fun and engaging addition, they also acted as visuals to accompany the anecdotes, recipe steps, and ingredients featured in the book.

I was so impressed by how well-thought out this book was. The creators took time in including not only Thai dishes, but also went into detail about the different ingredients, brands, and chef's tips/tricks needed to make these Thai dishes as informative and easy-to-follow for any home cook learning or relearning Thai cuisine.

As a home cook who loves the flavours of Southeast Asian cuisine, I of course have already bookmarked a bunch of recipes:
- Satay Gai (Grilled Chicken Skewers)
- Por Pia Thord (Deep-fried Spring Rolls) & Nam Jim Por Pia (Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce)
- Khao Soi (Egg Noodles in Curry Broth)
- Pad Khee Mao (Drunken Noodles)
- Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Galangal Soup with Coconut Milk)
- Khao Niaw Mamuang (Mango Sticky Rice)
- Khao Niaw Sangkhaya (Sticky Rice with Steamed Custard)
- Cha Yen (Thai Tea)

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What an absolute gem of a cookbook. I think more cookbooks should be in graphic novel form. I loved the introduction to the creators and the explanation of the different regions of Thai cooking. This book included a lot of helpful step by step illustrations as well as where you might find the proper ingredients. The list of tools, equipment, and common ingredients is thorough as well as the explanations for including them. This book will delight the person who loves Thai cuisine and has access to a good Asian supermarket.

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The pantry section is super helpful, The recipes are detailed and easy to follow even for someone like me who struggles with cooking. The art is a cute touch.

4 stars

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Thai food is one of favorites and I hope to make a trip to Thailand in the next couple of years! This cookbook is so much more than a cookbook and is absolutely adorable. I can't wait to try some of these recipes. They all have very clear instructions and have pictures for every step.

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An interesting and fun book with authentic recipes and comic-style images that were fun on their own.
I enjoyed the information about the food and the style of writing. it felt like sitting with a friend and talking about food and recipes. i found the images of the recipe steps to be cute and clear instructions - which as a novice cook are very important as I can easily get lost in a recipe and get overwhelmed.
Recommend this book if you are looking for recipes done in a fun way.

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Thank you Ten Press Speed and NetGalley for a copy of Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice.

Blurb: "An approachable, fun comic book cookbook tour of Thai culture and cuisine with 50 recipes and stories from the country's main culinary regions. Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice showcases real Thai food from the country’s distinct culinary regions. Journey to the northern Lanna region and dine “khan tok”–style with small bowls of chile dips, curries, sticky rice, and vegetables on a gilded pedestal tray for sharing; sit cross-legged on a bamboo mat around a spread of tangy salads and grilled meats in the northeast Isaan region; roam the bustling markets of central Bangkok for iconic street food treats; and lounge on a beach in southern Thailand with dangerously spicy seafood."

REVIEW:

I was honestly only expecting a comic book cookbook (and I would've been happy with just that) but this book delivered so much more! I love learning a little bit about Thai culture and the origins of each dish. The authors also added something personal and shared their stories which makes this cookbook heartfelt and passionate!

I know Mallika Kauppinen must be so happy to have so many readers learn about Thai culture! Plus, the art is quite adorable.

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I am obsessed with this book and so many of my family members will be getting this for Christmas. This is such a fun way to learn to cook and to connect with the recipes. I remember a lot of these recipes because the pictures were so fun! I have made the Peanut Dipping Sauce, the Por Pia Thord, and the Pad See Ew and they were all delicious. The peanut sauce was not difficult at all and is 100 times better than what you can get bottled at a grocery store. The Por Pia Thord was brought to a family party and was a huge hit! I highly recommend getting this unique and well written cookbook.

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This is a very nice cooking book, explain lots of the story of Thai dishes, and even where some ingredients came for, this could be an amazing present for someone who enjoys Asian food, because it teaches even how to find and buy the necessary ingredients in the Asian supermarket.

I cant wait for my next trip to the asian supermarket and get some things that I need to try some of the recipes, in here you go from a simple salad to decadent curry’s, ^____^ and don’t forget the deserts mwhahah, yeah like a pokemon trainer I want to try them all.

Thank you Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, Ten Speed Graphic for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

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This was an adorable cookbook. . The story about the 2 friends and how they became friends. I loved the comic touch to it and that the comics were drawn by one of the friends that the story is about. The cookbook is more than just that, it’s about a story of friendship and finding ones heritage. It was a very unique book with some delicious looking recipes. A lot of the ingredients would need to be purchased at a specialty store, or you would have to have some kind of replacement. I plan on trying out a few of the recipes. There are some tips and tricks scattered throughout. Would be a great cookbook to do with your kids.

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Just finished reading "Noodles, Rice and Everything Spice" and I'm absolutely blown away! 🌶️🍜 This Thai comic cookbook is a game-changer. 📚 The combination of mouthwatering recipes, captivating illustrations, and a dash of humor is pure genius. 😄👨‍🍳 Can't wait to try out some of these amazing dishes! 🤤🍽️ Highly recommend this book to all food lovers out there. #ThaiCuisine #CookbookLove #FoodieHeaven 🌟👌👏

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This graphic cookbook includes fantastic historical notes on Thai food. Food and culture are an intimate pairing, and I think this book does a wonderful job of creating a well-rounded cookbook. I especially enjoy the section on the flavor profiles of the different regions of Thailand. & The playful art style reminds me that cooking is a fun art form!

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This is a really unique and special comic cookbook! Such an incentive idea with really delicious looking recipes. I really enjoyed the personal stories and the histories. I can’t wait to start cooking!

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I’m new to Thai food, so I wanted to explore this culinary world through this adorably illustrated graphic cookbook. It’s extremely thorough with its information and recipes. I really enjoyed the cute illustrations, which also had some humor to them. There are also a few real photos of the dishes mixed throughout the book, which was a nice touch to actually see what the dishes looked like in real life.

The first part of this graphic novel explains why the authors wrote this book, which were touching and interesting stories. Then, they explained different parts of the country, the types of food that are cooked in each area, and what they are known for. I really appreciated this info because it felt like getting an insider’s scoop, and I liked learning about a different culture. Then, they move on to the history of certain foods. They also cover all the equipment, appliances, and utensils needed, as well as how to use them and why.

There are loads of delicious-sounding recipes that will make your mouth water. They cover everything from appetizers and snacks to main entrees and condiments and sauces to desserts and drinks. They also talk about the ingredients, where to find them, and how they are used in the dishes, which is helpful. Then you learn how to prepare the food and get cooking tips along the way. They even offer a list of Thai cooking staples to keep in your kitchen.

What really made this graphic cookbook special were the personal stories from the authors. It made me feel more connected to them. They did a great job explaining the world of Thai cooking to people new to this cuisine. For people interested in this type of food or for Thai food lovers, you must pick up this graphic novel. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

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The illustration combined with story telling of the recipes in this book are truly unique! I would love to own a copy of this book and try out the recipes. My favorite Thai food is pad see ew which uses wide flat noodles and soy sauce. The recipes are ready to follow and provide the ingredients and steps needed to make them.

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This is a cook book unlike any I have ever read before! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book is bright and colourful, with illustrations for every step in a recipe. The authors go over equipment needed, ingredients, and even shopping at the Asian grocery store. The back stories and introductions to dishes are very nice. I can't wait to test out some of the dishes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Graphic for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for review.

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