A Banquet for Cecilia: How Cecilia Chiang Revolutionized Chinese Food in America

by Julie Leung Narrated by Cindy Kay

Overview

Relish in the savory, tangy, and sometimes spicy dishes of Cecilia Chiang, a revolutionary who changed the way Americans viewed Chinese food.

From an early age, Cecilia Chiang could be found delighting in the sounds and smells from her favorite room in her home-the kitchen. Little did Cecilia know that she would one day have to escape war and travel to a faraway country, destined to change Chinese cuisine in the United States forever.

Experience the dishes Cecilia Chiang enjoyed throughout her life as the seventh daughter in a large family to the owner of the famous Mandarin restaurant in San Francisco.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"A Banquet for Cecilia is a visual and textual feast for the senses and an important story of yet another way immigrants contribute to society."—Booklist

"Interspersed with images of Cecelia’s life and travels, loosely rendered mixed-media artwork places dishes atop maps to situate their origins. The result is a lively food atlas that spotlights care as the finest ingredient."—Publishers Weekly

"Leung’s straightforward and thoughtful prose never glosses over Chiang’s difficult life but lingers instead on the poetry of cooking, which is expertly paired with Iwai’s watercolors that offer heartwarming and mouthwatering details on every spread. An author’s note provides photos of Chiang and additional information in this story steeped in foodways and family."—Horn Book

"Close-ups of the various dishes paired with sumptuous descriptions, along with maps of the regions where they originated, emphasize the richness of Chinese cuisine. Inspiring and delicious."—Kirkus Reviews

"Words and illustrations provide an excellent introduction to how one woman brought her love of fine Chinese food to the United States."—School Library Journal

Praise for The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee:

* "Through clear and concise text aimed at younger fluent readers, author Leung conveys Lee’s verve and passion for both flying and life while also conveying the full import of Lee’s accomplishments to both America and Americans of color.... The crisp lines and bright colors of Kwon’s illustrations simply and gracefully depict a bygone era.... Another welcome biography of an Asian American contributor to U.S. history." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"[An] unsung hero from Chinese American history....  A moving tribute to this groundbreaking aviation pioneer." —Booklist

"A little-known Chinese American pilot is brought to life in this picture book biography.... Illustrations vibrantly complement the text.... A must-have." —School Library Connection

"Kwon’s illustrations emphasize Lee’s sparkle and determination." —BCCB

"Leung's poetic text vividly conveys Lee’s fascination with and passion for flying and breaking boundaries without fear as well as her perseverance and optimism for a better world. Kwon’s clear, earth-toned, full-bleed illustrations expand on the story....  An excellent portrayal of a fearless flyer." —Horn Book

"Inspiring.... Engaging.... An excellent picture book biography." —SLJ

Kirkus Reviews

2025-02-15
Leung and Iwai offer an account of the woman who changed the way Americans regard Chinese cuisine.

The seventh daughter in a wealthy Beijing family, Cecilia Chang (1920-2020) loved peering into the kitchen to watch the chefs preparing pork dumplings and sweet soup. At dinner each night, her father drew the family’s attention to subtleties of the meals—words that Cecilia eagerly drank in. When Japan invaded Beijing (and then the rest of the country) in 1937, Cecilia left the city, embarking on a harrowing wartime journey that took her throughout China as she learned about each region’s culinary specialties. In 1949, after civil war broke out, Cecilia escaped to Tokyo and then settled in San Francisco. She was disappointed by the Chinese food in restaurants, which was often cheap and greasy. “Chinese food is not just chop suey,” she complained. In 1961, she opened her own restaurant, the Mandarin, which boasted a menu of over 200 dishes that highlighted flavors from all over China. The Mandarin soon became a fine-dining destination that redefined Americans’ perceptions of Chinese food. Iwai’s muted watercolor-and-ink artwork relies on a mixture of vignettes and full- and half-page spreads to capture the details of Cecilia’s trek. Close-ups of the various dishes paired with sumptuous descriptions, along with maps of the regions where they originated, emphasize the richness of Chinese cuisine.(This review has been updated for factual accuracy.)Inspiring and delicious. (author’s note, photos)(Picture-book biography. 5-10)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191020761
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	04/29/2025
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

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