Burma's minorities share their recipes in a flavourful cookbook from the editor

Books on Chinese cooking - or Italian, French or Thai - are automatic bestsellers. Getting one about Burmese cuisine on the bookstore shelves is a tougher sell.

Several publishers turned down Wandee Suntivutimetee before she was finally able to release the collection she compiled, "28 Colorful Ethnic Recipes from Burma".

The book people would say things like, "Who wants to cook like the Burmese minorities?"

And Wandee would say, "Have you any idea how to cook an ethnic Burmese dish?"

Southeast Asia Neighbors Press of Chiang Mai had a pretty good idea, knew there are great flavours involved, and will officially launch the book at a party on December 20.

The bash is part of the Ethnic Food and Costumes Festival being presented that day from 4 to 9pm by the Salween Post, a magazine that Wandee edits, and the Indigenous Women Network of Thailand.

It's at Chiang Mai University's Art Museum on Nimmanhemin Road, and will features great folk food, clothing, music and other ethnic products, as well as a cooking competition.

You can register a team of two or more for the contest by next Monday and vie for the Bt2,000 prize. You just have to whip up one of the 28 recipes in the book.

Wandee chose the recipes from among those featured in her bimonthly magazine, representing the tastes and techniques of 14 ethnic minorities in Burma, including the Karen, Kachin, Kayah, Chin and Dawei.

Most of the dishes are healthy, since they rely on herbs and vegetables. Among the treats are the Karen porridge called takapo, the Kachin dried-fish curry with herbs known as nga simai, and laso, the Paluang sour fermented-bamboo salad.

These aren't dishes you find in any market, so the book launch and fair offer a great chance for the uninitiated to sample them. Admission is free.

Buy the book at the fair or by calling (081) 530 1354.