Includes over 400 color photographs.
"An encyclopaedic resource for lovers of Lao food everywhere!"
The little known cultures and cuisine of Northern Laos (Lao PDR) are showcased in the recipes of its local ethnic groups and Luang Namtha Province's premiere ecotourism lodge. Eighty-eight dishes from Lao, Khmu, Tai Dam, Tai Yuan and Akha are presented in clear, simple recipes. The stunning photography of life and food preparation in village homes and at The Boat Landing Guest House and Restaurant ties the dishes to their indigenous setting.
This unique cookbook includes:
80+ recipes from Laos, a 28-page photo-illustrated glossary of Lao ingredients with suggestions for their Western substitutes, a detailed description of Lao preparation and cooking techniques, information about traditional Lao cooking equipment and substitutes, a bibliography, including weblinks, and a comprehensive index in English, Lao transcription and Lao script.
Winner of two Goumand World Cookbooks awards:
Runner up Best Asian Cookbook (World) 2010, Best Cookbook for Lao PDR 2010.
Since 2002 I have been documenting northern Lao food preparation, Lao ingredients, and Lao recipes, which has culminated in the book "Food from Northern Laos: The Boat Landing Cookbook". Prior to this I produced 9 postcards of Lao recipes as a trial to show local people what I was doing and assembled a Lao (phoetics and Lao script) and English guide to the vegetables of Laos.
BL (Before Laos) I had an extensive professional background in public sector human resource and organisational change management in New Zealand and also worked for international consultancies in change management and career counselling. But I got tired and disenchanted with working with large organisations and the stress wrought on staff by repeated restructuring. It was also getting increasingly difficult to manage a case load of clients and make regular trips to Laos to do what I really wanted to do: Lao food anthropology and the promotion of Lao food and Lao recipes in the West. Kees, my husband, also loved Laos and had his own passionate interest: photography. So in 2004 we rented the house to friends and moved to Lao PDR as volunteers with New Zealand's VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad) supported by NZAid. My role was training and publications advisor for the Rural Research and Development Training Centre, in Vientiane. The three and a half year assignment rapidly grew into a wider management coaching and mentoring role. It was fun, and constructive work with wonderful people. Throughout that period Kees and I continued to make trips to Luang Namtha documenting food and ethnic religious ceremonies. We now live in Thailand by the beach and visit Lao PDR regularly, promoting our cookbook, adding to our information on Lao food and cultures and working on the next project.
