Rose Petal Salad

As well as leaves from wayside shrubs and trees, the Thai use flower petals in their salads as this charming Yam Dok Gulab testifies. Having no garden, when I first made this salad in the United States, I bought the roses from a florist. To ensure there was no insecticide on the petals I told the girl behind the counter that I wanted the flowers for a salad. She showed no surprise. With a deadpan expression she said, “When you buy a dozen, you get a dozen free. Do you want to eat the