Travellers have often relied upon The Lonely Planet guide books to make their holidays memorable; finding just the right spot for their interests and their budget.
If you can’t get to the countries which create your favourite dishes, there is now a new series of cookbooks, courtesy of the travel gurus at The Lonely Planet – From the Source. These beautiful hard covered recipe books present the word’s favourite and most authentic dishes – direct from the kitchens where they were perfected.
There is nothing like learning from a local, and these books speak directly to local cooks, be they street-food vendors or top restaurants’ chefs.
The first two titles in the series are out now – From the Source: Italy and From the Source: Thailand.
Written by Sarah Barrell and photographed by Susan Wright
Italian food originated in the kitchens of the amazing Italian women – mothers and grandmothers (mainly – the lads were often busy elsewhere!) and handed down through the generations. Creating dishes ‘just like mama used to make’ is a great compliment in Italy. From The Source; Italy has 60 amazing recipes, kept alive over generations. The book is split into geographical areas, so if you have an ‘area’ of Italian cuisine you dearly love, it’s easy to find.
Written and photographed by Austin Bush and Mark Wiens
In this part of the world, Thai food is extremely popular, but as is often the case, has been defined by a few popular takeaway dishes. For good cooks, the challenge when creating creating beautiful Thai food is about achieving balance. Whether it’s a creamy green curry, steaming soup neua or zingy som tam, all Thai dishes strive for that perfect balance of hot, sweet, sour and salty flavours, each one clear, without overpowering the others. Thai people have a very emotional connection to their food. Wherever they’re found, the dishes shared in From the Source: Thailand signify history and heritage: a family recipe, created in the same way for generations, or a regional tradition, evolving with the twists and turns of geography and social history.
LONELY PLANET’S FROM THE SOURCE: ITALY and FROM THE SOURCE: THAILAND
Published August 2015 , hardcover / RRP: $34.99 ea.