I just dragged my luggage out from the garage and am getting ready to fill it up. Later his week, I'll be hitting the road for an incredible book tour. I can’t remember how all of this
started but it was some time in late spring.
Food writer and stylist Nathan Fong asked me, “When are you
coming to Vancouver?” Seattle chef and restaurateur Eric
Banh called and said, “Let’s plan an event for your new book at Monsoon.” Lara Hamilton of Book Larder (a Seattle store
dedicated to cookbooks) and Philip Lee of Readers to Eaters (a pop-up book store) told my publisher that they'd love a tofu event in the
fall.
We began conversations about what to do, people who'd be interested in helping me put together an interesting book tour. One thing literally led to another and I was suddenly having conversations with
old and new friends to mastermind some terrific food events.
Hell, yes. Any reason to travel to some of my favorites places: Vancouver's Chinese food scene is one of the best in North America. Seattle is brimming with charming and terrific restaurants and markets. Portland has fabulous food carts (I'm heading to Nong's for chicken and rice), wonderful restaurants and no sales tax.
So we went a little crazy and the result is a packed schedule
of amazing events spanning about 2 ½ weeks. There are non-profit fundraisers
and signings as well as TV demos,
cooking classes and a restaurant luncheon. Some of these are free while others
have a nominal charge. Here's the city-by-city lineup:
- 9/10-12: Asian Masterclasses, Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks - each class registration fee includes a
book; I'll be teaching Vietnamese, dumplings and tofu, respectively - 9/12, 4pm: Asian Tofu signing and tasting, Barbara Jo’s
Books to Cooks - free - 9/10, 8:20am-ish: Breakfast TV
Show, CityTV - 9/11, 8:30am-ish:
CTV Morning Live - 9/12, 8:30am-ish: Global TV Morning News
- 9/15, 4pm: Tofu 101 Talk & Signing, Kobo art space, Higo location - free
- 9/16, 5:30-6:30: Signing, Helping Link Gala – part of the event
ticket - 9/17, 9:30am-ish: King 5 TV, New Day
Northwest - 9/17, 6:30-8:30pm: DIY tofu demo & tastes, Book Larder - sold
out, waitlist available - 9/19, 12pm: Asian Tofu luncheon and wine pairing, Monsoon Restaurant in Capitol Hill
- Books will sold by Readers to Eaters; the 4-course menu
is awesome
PORTLAND
- 9/22, 4pm: Tofu Talk & Tasting, Powell's Burnside - free
Additionally, look for articles
in the Vancouver Sun
and Oregonian’s Food Day, and
tune in to Seattle’s KPLU for a radio
segment with Dick Stein and Nancy Leson.
I’m delighted because the Pacific Northwest has always been an region with deep Asian culinary roots. Plus, I have fabulous friends in those places that I get to hang out with too.
If you live in these areas,
I hope to meet you soon! If you don’t, wish me luck.
And, if you have restaurant, market, food, etc recommendations, bring them on. I'll add 'em to my hit list and try to check them out.
Scotty Harris says
You know you have fans in Buffalo too. Just saying. 🙂
Andrea Nguyen says
Thanks, Scotty. I get to NYC and then stop there. I need to go a bit further, eh? All of this costs so darn much. I need to find a good way to do a virtual tour.
Spinning Cook says
So glad you're including Portland - enjoy our fabulous tax-free food carts! Hope to see you, am excited about the new book.
Cheers,
Ryan
Andrea Nguyen says
Ha, Ryan. I am always more inspired to shop in Oregon knowing that the tariff is lower. Now it's lower for booze too, vs. prices in WA.
sunflowii says
My husband and I were recently in Seattle and had omakase at Shiro's Sushi (2401 2nd Avenue, Seattle). It may be omakase (chef's choice) but don't forget to request the dungeness crab handroll. It's so good and you won't find it anywhere else.
Good luck! and thanks for answering my question in a previous post. 🙂
Nate @ House of Annie says
Good luck!
maluE says
yAy for you, andrea! .. i'll be sharing this with my gal pals in seattle and vancouver - i hope they make it to your fun events.
i often wish i still lived in beautiful verdant green seattle (instead of god's country, the san francisco bay area 😉 .. i loved my years in the pacific northwest in the '70s .. the gorgeous drives or romantic train or ferry rides between seattle and portland or vancouver .. for me it wasn't rain - just a refreshing, cleansing spray from above .. and OH! how the cities came alive when indian summer brought the sun - picnics and concerts in lovely parks by lakes, scantily clad bicylists getting their tans as they went up and down the hills.
Karen Himmer says
Think you'll ever make it as far as Nashville?????
Andrea Nguyen says
Thanks for the Shiro's Sushi tip! Got it on the handroll -- bet it's super fresh crab too.
Andrea Nguyen says
Thanks, Nate.
Andrea Nguyen says
The Bay Area ain't bad, MaluE! However, the yucky chilly weather this week has me looking to leave soon. Thanks for sharing the info with your friends.
Andrea Nguyen says
I'd LOVE to go to Nashville, Karen. Book tours are costly and time consuming. Oye. Thanks for askin'!
Amy says
Check out Shiro's book too! Great pictures and stories from Seattle's favorite sushi chef. Looking forward to your class at the Book Larder.