“Crackling with energy and ambition . . . a tantalizing read.”

“Using Chinese culinary history, language, and tantalizing descriptions of fine cuisine, Mones shows how food can both nourish the body and the soul.”

“Maybe you’re not hungry. Maybe you’ve never considered the imperial heights of Chinese cuisine. Nicole Mones can change that with the flip of a page . . . The Last Chinese Chef brims with vividly rendered meals and stories about the cooks who have created them for centuries.”

“Outstanding and beautifully written . . . a great story about the discovery of one’s self.”

“Remarkably, Mones entrances both the serious cook and those of us belonging to the ‘How long do I microwave this?’ school. In her care, the lovingly prepared meal is both a conscious act of culinary craft, meticulously described, and a metaphor for meaningful spiritual exploration. As a wise uncle of Sam’s reflects: ‘Almost anything could be recalled or explored through food.’ ”

“You may have had Chinese food; you may think you know it well. However, this novel will transport you into the world of a hidden culinary culture rarely experienced outside China . . . Mones’s characters are genuine. You will care for them so much you won’t want to put the book down until you’ve learned their fate.”

“An entertaining and erudite novel cleverly interspersed with mouthwatering details on one of the world’s greatest cuisines.”

“Mones’s latest achievement appeals not just to devotees of fiction but equally to anyone interested in Chinese cooking, its theory, and its craft.”

“Mones has a subtle touch when portraying growing affection between genuinely nice people . . . Warning: Avoid reading while hungry.”

“Sumptuous . . . Early in her visit, Maggie scoffs at the idea that ‘food can heal the human heart.’ Mones smartly proves her wrong.”