Chicken flavored with lemon grass and ginger; a fish stew, aromatic with dill; okra in a sambal sauce; slices of duck pan-fried with scallops; iced cucumber meade...these are just some of the flavors of the Far East that Madhur Jaffrey brings to her classic evocation of the region's food and drink. On a gastronomic tour that starts in Thailand and takes us through Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines to Indonesia, she delves deeply into local traditions and history to describe with knowledgeable enthusiasm, the cultural and culinary influences that have shaped each nation's unique cuisine. The 150 recipes Jaffrey has selected reflect this diversity, with introductions that describe local traditions and produce, mouth-watering in themselves, they include suggestions for accompaniments and advice on serving. There are also separate sections on equipment and techniques and descriptions of ingredients called for in the recipes (with substitutions where necessary). Illustrated in full color throughout, with specially commissioned photographs, rich in anecdote, Madhur Jaffrey's A Taste of the Far East beautifully captures the atmosphere and color of the region, its scenery and its people.