Synopses & Reviews
For the first time in 40 years, renowned master chef Helene An of Crustacean Beverly Hills and the An Family restaurant dynasty is sharing the delicious dishes that got her inducted into the Smithsonian Institute for her culinary contributions to America, and the incredible stories behind them.
Along with her favorite recipes (which brilliantly marries traditional Vietnamese fare with French and farm-fresh Californian), An chronicles her personal transformation from pampered "princess" in French Colonial Vietnam, to refugee to restaurateur. It's a fascinating peek at a lost world...From Indochina's lush fields to family kitchen gardens in California, An tells of her harrowing journey and how it has influenced her cuisine.
Why is it called The Secret Kitchen? As An built her restaurant empire, she wanted to protect her family's legacy and keep corporate spies at bay, so she constructed a completely separate kitchen within each of her restaurant kitchens - only family members were allowed access. After a lifetime of perfecting her signature dishes, she has decided it's time to share her experiences and favorite recipes with everyone. Now every home cook is welcome to try her cuisine!
Synopsis
In Vietnamese, AN means TO EAT, a happy coincidence, since the An family has built an award-winning restaurant empire including the renowned celebrity favorite Crustacean Beverly Hillsthat has been toasted by leading food press, including Bon Appetit, Gourmet, InStyle and the Food Network. Helene An, executive chef and matriarch of the House of An, is hailed as the mother of fusion and was inducted into the Smithsonian Institute for her signature style that brings together Vietnamese, French, and California- fresh influences. Now her daughter Jacqueline tells the family story and shares her mother's delicious and previously secret recipes, including Mama's Beef Pho, Drunken Crab, and Oven-Roasted Lemongrass Chicken.
Helene's transformation from pampered princess in French Colonial Vietnam, to refugee then restaurateur, and her journey from Indochina's lush fields to family kitchen gardens in California are beautifully chronicled throughout the book. The result is a fascinating peek at a lost world, and the evolution of an extraordinary cuisine. The 100 recipes in An: To Eat feature clean flavors, simple techniques, and unique twists that could only have come from Helene's personal story.
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About the Author
Helene An grew up in French Colonial Vietnam where her aristocratic parents entertained nightly. It was there she learned to blend the cuisines of Chinese, Vietnamese, and French, which reflected the cultural traditions of Indochina at the time. When Indochina fell to the Communists in 1955, her family escaped to Saigon. Helene had to flee her homeland once again in 1975, and settled in San Francisco, where she opened the first Vietnamese restaurant in the city. She and her family now have five restaurants throughout California, including the Crustacean of Beverly Hills, which was named one of the "Top 10 Restaurants" in the US by
Esquire magazine.
Jacqueline An is one of Helene's five daughters and is CFO of the House of An, a rapidly growing hospitality, restaurant, and lifestyle empire.