Secrets of the Red Lantern: Stories and Vietnamese Recipes from the Heart

A family's journey told through food

"In my family, food is our language. Food enables us to communicate the things we find so hard to say." —Pauline Nguyen

Secrets of the
Red Lantern

Overflowing with sumptuous but simply prepared dishes that have been passed down through generations of the Nguyen family, Secrets of the Red Lantern: Stories and Vietnamese Recipes from the Heart (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $40.00) is part Vietnamese cookbook and part family memoir.

More than 275 traditional Vietnamese recipes are presented alongside a visual narrative of food and family photos that follows the family's escape from war-torn Vietnam to the founding of the Red Lantern restaurant in Sydney, Australia.

At the heart of each recipe is the power of food to elevate and transform. From a recipe of Cari De that sparks a memory to the distinctly bitter melon soup that says, "I'm sorry," Secrets of the Red Lantern shares the rich culinary heritage of the Nguyen family and their personal story of reconciliation and success.

Recipes such as Bun Rieu (Crab and Tomato Soup with Vermicelli Noodles), Goi Du Du (Green Papaya Salad with Prawns and Pork), and Che Khoai Mon (Black Sticky Rice with Taro) unlock the family's secrets and see the family persevere through homesickness, heartache, and the upheavals of change to finally experience growth and celebration. The result is a beautiful journey through Vietnamese history, culture, and tradition that cooks everywhere will embrace.

Secrets of the Red Lantern Family Portraits

About the Authors

Pauline Nguyen and recipe writers Luke Nguyen and Mark Jensen are the proprietors of the acclaimed Sydney restaurant Red Lantern. They hold in their hearts and heads the Nguyen family's amazing stories and food secrets.

Contact: Tammie Barker, (800) 851-8923, tbarker@amuniversal.com