Thompson devotes a chapter in *Thai Food* to the Thai tradition of fruit and vegetable carving — the malak (carving) tradition associated with the palace cuisine that transformed watermelon, papaya, carrot, and even chilli into elaborate floral and animal forms. This entry provides the philosophy context rather than the carving instructions — the understanding that Thai food's visual presentation, particularly in formal and ceremonial contexts, is considered as important as its flavour. The malak tradition reflects the palace cuisine's insistence on the complete experience: the smell, the taste, the texture, and the visual beauty of the prepared food.
*Thai Food* (2002); *Thai Street Food* (2010)