"Pad thai, pho soup, mohinga: the cuisines of Southeast Asia, are now among the most consumed dishes in the world, with ardent enthusiasts far beyond their native lands. Award-winning photographer and writer Michael Freeman offers here a guide to the cuisines of eight South-east Asian countries and provides a compelling history of their food cultures, which are all based on the staple dish of rice." "Ricelands takes the reader on a colourful and engaging tour of the richly layered cultures surrounding the various food traditions. Travelling across the landscapes of Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia and the Philippines, Freeman explores the origins of their respective cuisines, the defining characteristics of authentic dishes and their evolution as they entered new lands."--Jacket.