Feasts of Good Fortune - by Hsiao-Ching Chou & Meilee Chou Riddle (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

75 recipes for a full year of celebrations with family and friends the Chinese American way in this deeply personal intergenerational cookbook, cowritten by mother and daughter.

Covering everything from traditional Lunar New Year menus with recipes passed down generations to Thanksgiving get-togethers celebrated with tantalizing side dishes, Feasts of Good Fortune invites you to take a seat at the Chou's warm family dinner table.

Author and former James Beard Foundation cookbook committee chair Hsiao-Ching Chou (Chinese Soul Food) brings her on-ramp approach to Chinese cooking full circle with fresh, uncomplicated home cooking for celebrations typical of the Chinese American experience. Master dumplings, scallion pancakes, and more, to contribute to "tuan yuan" (the act of coming together) that define family meals in these 75 tried-and-true recipes anyone can tackle.

Cowritten with Hsiao-Ching's 17-year-old daughter, Meilee, on reconnecting with her Chinese American heritage as a young adult, this deeply meaningful cookbook is an exploration of what it means to grow up in a "forever hyphenated culture" and celebrates the joy of the mother-daughter bond in cooking together.

Organized chronologically with menus that'll take out the guesswork, including:

• Lunar New Year (Sticky Rice with Chicken and Chinese Sausage)
• Lantern Festival (Glutinous Rice Balls with Black Sesame Paste)
• Honoring the Dead/Qing Ming (Steamed Spinach Dumplings)
• Dragon Boat Festival (Zong Zi)
• Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncakes)
• Birthdays & Party Bites (Stir-Fried Long-Life Noodles)
• Side Dishes for East-meets-West Menus (Braised Kale with Dried Cranberries)
• Hot Pot Parties

Review Quotes

Praise for Feasts of Good Fortune:

"This joyful journey through a year of Chinese American celebrations will inspire anyone to make these holidays their own. Family is at the heart of this cookbook, and it's full of warm stories, traditions, and recipes from Hsiao-Ching and her daughter Meilee."
--Kaitlin, Sarah, Bill, and Judy Leung, New York Times--bestselling authors of The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family

"Hsiao-Ching Chou has a unique ability to distill our favorite Chinese American dishes into approachable and workable recipes with delicious results. Feasts of Good Fortune exemplifies my favorite food writing: rituals and recipes passed down through generations in a rich and informative way."
--Lucinda Scala Quinn, cookbook author and founder of Mad Hungry

"As someone who grew up in a Chinese American home, Feasts of Good Fortune deeply resonates. Many of these holidays, traditions, and recipes give me visceral memories of growing up Chinese in America. Even though I grew up celebrating many of these holidays, Hsiao-Ching and Meilee go deeper to explain the roots and traditions of these days that I did not even know myself."
--Tim Ma, chef and restaurateur

Praise for Hsiao-Ching Chou's Chinese Soul Food:

"Hsiao-Ching Chou delves into the heart of Chinese cooking, understanding its power to provide sustenance and comfort."
--Grace Young, James Beard Award-winning author of Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge

"Soulful. Smart. And hunger inducing. This is the sort of food you eat if you're lucky enough to have a Chinese grandmother cook for you."
--Steven Raichlen, author of the Barbecue Bible cookbook series and host of Project Smoke on PBS

"Chinese home cooking isn't as scary as it seems."
--The Seattle Times

"The definitive primer on Chinese home cooking."
--Seattle Magazine

"Chinese Soul Food is a primer of authentic meals that trace [Chou's] family's background and movements throughout the provinces of China, Manchuria and Taiwan.... In its conception and execution, Chinese Soul Food embodies not only mastering the journey, but the destination as well. It's a stellar choice for anyone's cookbook shelf!"
--International Examiner

"If you are new to Chinese cooking, Hsiao-Ching's Chinese Soul Food is the perfect starting place and Hsiao-Ching the perfect teacher."
--Books for Better Living

"Chinese Soul Food is definitely a friendly guide to cooking your favorite Chinese dishes at home...[an] abundance of [recipes]...gorgeous photos and clear descriptions... a testimony to family, food and tradition."
--Third Coast Review

About the Author

Hsiao-Ching Chou is an award-winning food journalist and author of three cookbooks on Chinese home cooking. Known for her potsticker classes, she has taught hundreds of students over the years. She is the past chair of the James Beard Foundation's Book Awards Committee and serves on the board of directors for the Ballard Food Bank. When she's not wearing her culinary hat, she makes a living as an editorial director in the tech industry. Chou lives with her family in Seattle.

Meilee Chou Riddle is a student of filmmaking, writing, and music. She comes from a family of storytellers, including her TV producer dad, Eric Riddle; cookbook author mom, Hsiao-Ching Chou; and lifestyle blogger grandma, Ellen Chou. Meilee is always looking for ways to express her creativity. Her award-winning films have been featured in regional and national film festivals. She lives in Seattle with her family.