Last night, I attended the book launch party at Barbara Joe’s Books to Cooks. Hot Thai Kitchen is by local writer Pailin Chongchitnant who grew up in Thailand where she spent her childhood with the kitchen as her playground. Years later, as a Cordon Bleu educated chef in San Francisco, Pailin vividly remembered the culinary experiences of her youth, these memories embarked her to create Hot Thai Kitchen and a YouTube channel and now this book.

Robert McCullough, Publisher of Appetite by Random House had a Q & A with Pailin Chongchitnant focussing on her life in food as well as her new book. Friends and those who love Thai cooking where in attendance having a chance to ask their own questions.

Pailin is now back in Vancouver, but she goes home to Thailand every year to see her family. Hot Thai Kitchen started off as a cooking show on YouTube with an educational approach to Thai cooking. A true understanding of the steps and the ingredients, and even the cultural background of the dishes can now be found in her new book.

You can purchase Hot Thai Kitchen at many bookstores including Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks in Vancouver.

You can also find Pailin Chongchitnant at Books to Cooks for an event on April 3 that features her book as well as a Thai food tasting.

Pailin is on twitter @HotThaiKitchen

By: Richard Wolak