“When I first went to Thailand, in the 1980s, there was certain opprobrium surrounding people who regularly brought dinner home for their families, rather than cooking it themselves. They were consi­dered irresponsible, and their family was considered quite unfortunate to have to rely on the cooking of strangers ... However, times have changed and now there are few people, at least in Bangkok, who spend all day at home preparing food. Most urban Thais work outside the home and have little time to prepare food as their grand­parents once did. But few are to be pitied as they partake of the bounty of the streets. In any provincial town, and in many crowded areas of Bangkok, there is always a place ... that is brightly lit well into the night. These are the night markets of Thailand and they are filled with people, food and noise, as flames lick around woks and wood smoke from charcoal grills lingers in the still night air ... These precincts are all about eating and pleasure. They contain everything that lures a Thai out: good food, people, atmosphere and laughter – the Thai world on a plate. It really is all about the food.”