Flavors of Empire: Food and the Making of Thai America

“Flavors of Empire is a very modern history of a very recent immigrant group told through the pursuit of “yum,” that unique flavor profile of Thai food. Mark is, so far as I can tell, the first person to tell the history of Thai Americans and he does it through food. He shows how Thai people, particularly in Los Angeles, structure their lives around “yum,” which is simultaneously salty, sour, sweet, creamy and spicy.” Read more...

The best books on Food Studies

Matt Garcia, Historian