I'd ordered Vatch's Thai Street Food a couple of weeks ago, and it finally arrived yesterday. And while I obviously haven't had enough time with it to offer up a full review yet, I can say that it's a really gorgeous book. Nice photographs both of Thai street vendors in various areas, as well as of many of the dishes for which recipes are provided.
The real reason I wanted to write about this immediately rather than waiting until I'd had enough experience with it to review it fully, however, is this: there's a recipe for salad kaek in here! I was so excited to see this! While it's quite likely that this might be served in Vatch's own restaurants (he's got a few), I haven't ever seen it in a Thai restaurant around here. I suspect it's rarely seen in Thai restaurants here, actually, which is too bad---it's so simple. The translation he gives is simply "Southern Salad," and it's a very nice, refreshing treat---also completely vegetarian, for those so inclined.
The really cool thing is, this recipe for salad kaek is almost EXACTLY the way I remember my mom fixing it for me when I was little! I've been tempted many times to ask her how she made the peanut sauce---I remembered that it involved coconut cream and peanut butter and there was lime juice on top, but I thought there were other things involved that I wasn't remembering. They're listed in this recipe. Everything that I remember is---down to the crumbled potato chips on top (it's advised that you can make your own potato chips, or use store-bought ones). Finding this recipe completely and utterly made my day. Next time I talk to my mom, I might have to ask her for her recipe if I remember and post it here---salad kaek is WONDERFUL, especially on turgid, steamy, evilly hot summer days. Ice-cold bean sprouts, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, and tofu sliding down your throat, and topped with a sweet-hot peanut sauce and potato chip bits. Or crisps, if you're UK-minded. Nyum. This is definitely one of my favourite childhood memories. :)
Expect a fuller review of this book coming sometime in the future. Everyone should try salad kaek, though---and Thai food in general.