The Little Saigon Cookbook

Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, TX
May 3, 2006

Mail Tribune, "Life" Southern Oregon
April 26, 2006

Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH
April 26, 2006

Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama
April 19, 2006

Nevada Appeal, Carson City
April 19, 2006

The Fresno Bee
February 15, 2006

The Press-Telegram, Long Beach
March 9, 2006

Canton Rep, Canton, OH
April 19, 2006

Denver Post
April 17, 2006

Northwest Herald, Chicago, IL
May 1, 2006

"Maury's Market" 710AM Cleveland, Ohio

PRESS RELEASE (January 1, 2006)

THE LITTLE SAIGON COOKBOOK
Vietnamese Cuisine and Culture in Southern California’s Little Saigon

There's a rule followed by savvy diners looking for the ultimate in ethnic authenticity: Eat where the locals eat. THE LITTLE SAIGON COOKBOOK (The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT) takes you inside the local restaurants in Southern California's Little Saigon, the site of the largest single population of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam. Joel Rubin of The Los Angeles Times describes this enclave as "a tour through the extraordinary." From the French-inspired bakeries, the lunch delis, and the food courts, to the weekend mayhem of the Pho house and wedding receptions at the boisterous seafood restaurants, these are the extraordinary meals that Vietnamese diners and others in the know enjoy every day.

This book offers dozens of family recipes, many surviving through oral history alone, that Vietnamese cooks brought to America in the massive emigration that occurred after Saigon fell to Communist forces in 1975. It takes readers on a tour of culinary landmarks and introduces them to the abundance of authentic dishes found in Little Saigon: hot and crispy Vietnamese crepes down Bolsa Avenue; crunchy, tangy chicken and cabbage goi salad from the Asian Mall; picture-perfect arrangements of rice-paper spring rolls (goi cuon) from the Buddhist Temple; and plump prawns stir-fried with long beans—just to name a few!

Interwoven among the recipes is a detailed history of Little Saigon, with an insider's look into the second fastest growing Asian minority group in the United States. A helpful introduction to the basics of Vietnamese cooking—discussing traditional ingredients, seasonal produce, proper combinations of herbs and spices, and sauces—demystifies this wonderful cuisine so readers can create their own Vietnamese dishes, just like the locals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ANN LE has lived most of her life in the area of Southern California known as Little Saigon, where her family moved in 1975 right after the fall of Saigon. She grew up eating and cooking Vietnamese food and is acquainted with many of the people and restaurant owners in the Little Saigon community. She speaks and writes Vietnamese fluently.

THE LITTLE SAIGON COOKBOOK
Vietnamese Cuisine and Culture in Southern California’s Little Saigon
By Ann Le; with photographs by Julie Fay
ISBN 0-7627-3831-6 • $15.95 paperback • 8½ x 8 • 204 pages • JANUARY 2006