Review by C.J. Bunce

Comic book cookbooks are the next way to educate and entertain foodies.  We looked first at a comic book cookbook about bread (reviewed here) and now we’re moving to Thai food in Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice, available now here at Amazon.  Cookbooks have been around for centuries, with their popularization globally taking off in the middle of the 19th century.  By the advent of television cooking shows, beginning in England and the U.S., they hit a high point with Julia Child, only to have a Renaissance when the Food Network provided 24-hour TV for foodies at the end of the century.  An entire generation has learned cooking from the Internet, but chefs are returning to the print format–partnering with comic book artists to try a new way to teach cooking.  Unless you’re already into Thai food, then as you might imagine, a Thai cookbook requires more than just a book of recipes to pull you over the fence to give them a try.  This book uses fun, history, and culture to make it happen.

Christina De Witte and Mallika Kauppinen take readers on a culinary trip throughout the different regions of Thailand.  Although it isn’t made clear who is doing the drawing and who is doing the writing, they begin their story recounting their relationship with Thailand and how they came together to make a book like this.  Like any niche of cooking, Thai cooking requires a bit of an overhaul to your kitchen pantry, and they explain what you need, how to select it, and where to get it all.

The illustrations are lighthearted and fun, and the design and layout were created in a smart way to introduce cuisines tied to different parts of the country.  As much as it is an introduction to Thai food, it’s an introduction to your local Asian store.  The book presumes readers are unfamiliar with buying goods there, probably mostly targeted at European and American readers.  Get ready for some ingredients you may not be as familiar with, like papaya, coconut cream and milk, chiles, and new flavor profiles, including intentionally bitter dishes.

Readers will find their suggestions for making the best noodles and rice, but they really dig into the spice part of the book’s title.  Look for tips about peppers, sauces, curries, and soups, as well as dessert dishes.

One of the book’s best features is translating the meaning behind the dishes–maybe you’ve been to a restaurant and haven’t known where to start.  This book is as much a guide on giving Thai food a try from step one as much as making it yourself.  Altogether it includes set-up and prep instructions and full recipes for 50 dishes, from Som Tam (papaya salad) to Satay Gai (grilled chicken skewers), to noodle dishes like Khao Soi (coconut curry soup), as well as some lesser-known regional favorites to pair with rice such as Pad Sator (stir-fried bitter beans) from the south of Thailand and Nam Prik Ong (a spicy pork and tomato chile dip).

If you’ve tried online cooking videos and traditional cookbooks and you’re ready for something new, or you’re interested in expanding your noodle profile and just want to try your hand at Thai cooking, check out Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice, available now here at Amazon.

Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice is the latest comic book cookbook from Ten Speed Graphic.  Order it from Elite Comics or your local comic shop!