I got this through from Pauline Nguyen this morning from Red Lantern in Sydney. I think it is really awesome.
I bought ‘Secrets of the Red Lantern’ long before I had heard of the restaurant or Pauline and since going there in late 2009, I find myself going back to this book again and again. It is a truly beautiful book not just outlining the a veritable stack of vietnamese recipes but also the story of how a migrant family fitted in to their new home with the associated trials and tribulations that come with such a move. She is a truly gifted gastronomic writer.
You can also find out more about her brother, Luke Nguyen’s various books, ‘Indochine’ and ‘Songs of Sapa’ and video travels ‘Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam’, and also her partner Mark Jensen’s book, ‘The Urban Cook’.
I strongly urge you to check it out and ‘Share the Journey’
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My first visit to The Red Lantern in Sydney was my last. I took guests and it was not just disappointing but embarrasing. The staff were unsympathetic even though they agreed one of our dishes was inedible because the chef had made a mistake with the chilli. The waitress even questioned if I was qualified to have an opinion!! Dry duck was also a problem. The only success was the green papaya salad. At $500 for 3 people (food only) it was a complete waste of money in my view. So no I wont support the business by buying their books.
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I’ve only had good experiences at Red Lantern and looking forward to Nguyen’s new venture in March. Big fan of his books, too. Have reviewed Indochine on my blog – http://thefoodsage.com.au/2011/10/31/indochine-exploring-a-culinary-legacy/, and also Mark Jensen’s Urban Cook – http://thefoodsage.com.au/2011/04/30/the-urban-cooks-sustainable-challenge/ – both good buys.
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Yep, my experience at Red Lantern was superb and I still stand by my statement that Pauline is an exceptionally gifted writer and produced a truly beautiful book.
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Well, all I can say is that the book “secrets of the red lantern” is a truly amazing read and signifies what being “on the other side” of any migrantion argument and shows the strength in character after living through so many adversities… The food at red lantern is a true testiment to this…. Everyone there was more than generous with their time and knowledge of the menu…. I now have all the books and will get some more to continue giving the gift of these remarkable and creative people….