Product Description

A pioneer in the food world, Cecilia Chiang introduced Americans to authentic northern Chinese cuisine at her San Francisco restaurant, the Mandarin, in 1961, earning the adoration of generations of diners, including local luminaries such as Marion Cunningham, Ruth Reichl, and Chuck Williams. In THE SEVENTH DAUGHTER, Chiang presents a classic collection of recipes framed by her gripping life's story. Beginning with her account of a privileged childhood in 1920s and 1930s Beijing, Chiang chronicles a 1,000-mile trek on foot in the wake of the Japanese occupation, her arrival in San Francisco, and her transformation from accidental restaurateur to culinary pioneer. The book's recipes feature cherished childhood dishes and definitive Mandarin classics, while showcasing Cecilia's purist approach to authentic Chinese home cooking.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #178249 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
A foreword by legendary chef Alice Waters hints that this volume is filled with authentic recipes, cultural stories and food memories. And indeed, Chiang, the one-time proprietor of San Francisco's famed Mandarin restaurant—which is widely credited with introducing Americans to real regional Chinese cuisine—presents a rich, heartfelt volume filled with recipes and stories from her life. There are recipes from the original Mandarin, of course: its Pot Stickers, Sichuan Spicy Eggplant, and Beggar's Chicken, which Chiang says is a favorite of Williams-Sonoma founder Chuck Williams. There are also recipes from the Mandarin in Beverly Hills (such as Sesame Shrimp) and many recipes from Chiang's family. Of Yun Hui's (My Mother's) Red-Cooked Pork, Chiang says, I've had dreams about this dish that have been so vivid that I thought I could actually smell the aroma of the meat as it was being carried from the kitchen to the dining room of our family home in Beijing. Interspersed among the recipes are tales of growing up in China, leaving there after the Communist takeover in 1949 and founding her landmark restaurant in the U.S. Foodies intrigued by Chinese food and culinary history—and the life of a remarkable restaurateur—will relish the journey through this book. (Oct.)
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O Magazine
"delicious, doable recipes...a wonderful book...a moving memoir of a plucky woman who grew up in a Beijing palace"

From the Publisher
* The signature recipes and extraordinary story of Cecilia Chiang, the grande dame of Chinese cooking in America. * Includes more than 80 recipes, 20 full-color styled food photographs, and archival photography from Chiang's private collection. * Recipes feature in-depth notes on sourcing ingredients and tips on simplifying the recipes. * Features menus for putting together Chinese banquets and dinners at home.

Customer Reviews

Seventh Daughter
A fascinating book, full of history and culinary delights, "Seventh Daughter" is an autobiography of a Chinese woman, who, on a visit to San Francisco, started a restaurant that became a legend in the city. She had never been allowed in the kitchen as a young daughter in a traditional Chinese home. It combines her story along with recipes and hints for a well-stocked kitchen. The photography is beautiful.

More than just a cookbook!!!
The recipes are definitely clear, simple and straightforward. They include a number of classic dishes, as well as the author's take on a few new ones. But this book is so much more than just a simple bookbook -- and to call it a cookbook does it a disservice. It's a wonderful biography of the author, a historical look at how events changed the lives of Cecelia and her family -- and probably culinary history in this country. I have never cried when I read a cookbook -- but I certainly did at the end of this one! If you do a lot of Chinese cooking, at some point you start to look for books that go beyond the kitchen. This is most definitely it. And if you like this one, you might also want to try and find a copy of her first book - The Mandarin. It's just as wonderful.

A compelling story and great food
In addition to some fine recipes, Madame Chiang's story as told throughout the book, is a compelling and moving story. I was fortunate to have enjoyed dinning at her fabulous Mandarin restaurant in San Francisco, and now reading about how it came to be, makes this more than just a book of recipes. These recipes have now become a legacy, like those handed down to us by our mothers and grandparents; reading this book makes us part of a family. Experience the joys, trials, and triumphs of Madame Chiang; The Seventh Daughter is a treasure.