<strong>The Pepper Thai Cookbook: </strong>On bookstore shelves now, Vilailuck "Pepper" Teigen's new cookbook is an 80-recipe collection filled with gorgeous photos and touching anecdotes highlighting her experiences in Thailand and the US.
The Pepper Thai Cookbook: On bookstore shelves now, Vilailuck "Pepper" Teigen's new cookbook is an 80-recipe collection filled with gorgeous photos and touching anecdotes highlighting her experiences in Thailand and the US.
Jenny Huang/Clarkson Potter
<strong>Chrissy and John: </strong>Today, Pepper lives in Los Angeles with daughter Chrissy and her husband, John Legend. "He's a very good sport," says Pepper of her Grammy-winning son-in-law when asked whether he can handle spicy food. "He tries everything."
Chrissy and John: Today, Pepper lives in Los Angeles with daughter Chrissy and her husband, John Legend. "He's a very good sport," says Pepper of her Grammy-winning son-in-law when asked whether he can handle spicy food. "He tries everything."
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<strong>Pepper's Fried Chicken Larb: </strong> The book features dishes from several areas of Thailand, including its northeast region, where Pepper was born and raised.
Pepper's Fried Chicken Larb: The book features dishes from several areas of Thailand, including its northeast region, where Pepper was born and raised.
Jenny Huang/Clarkson Potter
<strong>Thai boat noodles: </strong>What's the first thing Pepper eats when she returns to Thailand? "Me and Chrissy gotta go get boat noodles!" she says, referring to kuai tiao ruea -- small bowls of beef or pork noodles with a hearty broth.
Thai boat noodles: What's the first thing Pepper eats when she returns to Thailand? "Me and Chrissy gotta go get boat noodles!" she says, referring to kuai tiao ruea -- small bowls of beef or pork noodles with a hearty broth.
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<strong>Years of practice: </strong>Pepper says the biggest challenge she faced when compiling her recipes was documenting how much of each ingredient she was actually using.
Years of practice: Pepper says the biggest challenge she faced when compiling her recipes was documenting how much of each ingredient she was actually using.
Courtesy Vilailuck Teigen
<strong>Shopping for ingredients: </strong>Today, Pepper says Thai ingredients are widely available. But when she first moved to the US in the 1980s, she struggled to replicate the flavors of home.
Shopping for ingredients: Today, Pepper says Thai ingredients are widely available. But when she first moved to the US in the 1980s, she struggled to replicate the flavors of home.
Courtesy Vilailuck Teigen
<strong>Cooking with Yai:</strong> Pepper's five-year-old grandaughter Luna often lends a hand in the kitchen.
Cooking with Yai: Pepper's five-year-old grandaughter Luna often lends a hand in the kitchen.
Courtesy Vilailuck Teigen
<strong>Encouragement at home:</strong> Pepper says Chrissy has been a huge source of support and comfort through the cookbook publishing process. "She's just so proud of me," says the grandmother.
Encouragement at home: Pepper says Chrissy has been a huge source of support and comfort through the cookbook publishing process. "She's just so proud of me," says the grandmother.
Courtesy Vilailuck Teigen