A big thank you to Chronicle Books for giving me an advanced reader copy of “Mango and Peppercorns: A Memoir of Food, an Unlikely Family, and the American Dream” written by Tung Nguyen, Katherine Manning, and Lyn Nguyen in exchange for an honest review via Net Galley. This book is available March 16th, 2021

“Mango and Peppercorns” is a first-person memoir told from the perspectives of our three authors. Tung Nguyen is a Vietnamese refugee who came to America in the 1970s, Kathy Manning was Tung’s American host-turned-business partner and lifelong friend, and Lyn Nguyen (previously Phuong Lien Nguyen) is Tung’s biological daughter, but truly a daughter to both Tung and Kathy, which we learn more about as the book unfolds.

Who doesn’t love a memoir that makes us feel like we are really there with the author, getting our hands dirty and overcoming the impossible obstacles that have come our way? This book is all of that and more. Not only did I finish “Mango and Peppercorns” feeling amazed at what hardworking, determined women can do with what hand they are dealt, but I also felt a call to action myself.

All three narrators talk about how powerful true connection with humans can be- Tung opens herself up to strangers and learns to trust them and build a life with them, Kathy embraces a calling to support and care for all who cross her path, and Lyn speaks on her realization that our family members are people, too, that we can connect with on new levels as we grow older.

Yes, this was a memoir about women who take what they have and turn it into a flourishing business that brings joy and mouth-watering food to others, but it’s also a lesson on opening yourself up to experiences, and to other humans. If anything, I would have wanted even more from Tung, Kathy, and Lyn about the events they described in this memoir: Tung’s marriage in America as well as her time on the boat leaving Vietnam, for example!

I ate this book up- pun, of course, intended! I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of “Mango and Peppercorns” when it is officially released on March 16th- you’ll feel a new sense of purpose to both be open to others AND make their delicious recipes that correspond with each chapter!

Picking up Mango and Peppercorns I was not sure what I would make of the cookbook, only that I was curious about southeast Asian dishes. As it turns out, I do not think I could have been in for a better treat! I really loved the narrative shared throughout this cookbook--how it bounces between Kathy and Tung, and later Phuong Lien.

I found it brilliant and beautiful that each recipe was shared through a form of storytelling--this cookbook wasn't just recipe after recipe followed by glossy photos. It was grit, challenge, and love. More than anything I enjoyed reading about the story of these three women and their journeys over the years, in different locations, and how this lead to a mingling of Vietnamese, Scandinavian and American dishes.

The only thing I would have enjoyed more, would be to see each recipe plated in a photo next to the corresponding recipe. However, this did not at all take away my experience from reading Mango and Peppercorns.

Really, if you can get your hands on a copy of this, I highly recommend that you do! 5 stars for Mango and Peppercorns!

An engaging story about starting over, 'Mango and Peppercorns' is the story of an unconventional family learning how to build a life together. When Tung arrived in America, learning to speak English was as vital as learning to navigate both the American reality, and the seemingly inescapable class struggles of her former home. So often when talking about immigration, there is an overwhelming focus on either cultural stereotypes or the ease of building a new life. Yet here, the authors tear apart these rose-tinted world views, crafting an unflinching account of learning to live in a world changing faster than the narrators could keep up with.

'Mango and Peppercorns' explores multiple narrative threads flawlessly, and is a fantastic exploration of the art of finding yourself, finding your feet in a new and challenging environment, and finding a family in the unlikeliest of places. It is a perfect read for anyone who loves to learn the stories behind beloved recipes, and the stories behind iconic restaurants.

This memoir is a great reminder of the opportunities that America can provide. I really appreciated the alternating points-of-view between Kathy and Tung (and even occasionally Lyn) — it made the story whole and helped to demonstrate that even in great relationships there is conflict and miscommunication. I loved that the recipes were included. All the food descriptions made me hungry, and I can't wait to try some of them!

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is more of a memoir than a cook book, even though it did contain a recipe at the end of each chapter.

I actually tested out two of the easier receipes, three if you count the Vietnamese dipping sauce as a recipe as well. The squash soup is just delicious, the curry, coconut milk and the crispy shallot combined wonderfully together. I will be using this recipe for a long time.

The chicken curry with sweet potato is also quite nice, the sweet potato made the curry very thick and chunky while providing a natural sweetness.

I will be trying out other recipes if I ever get the other ingredients.

One thing I found funny, is so many recipes contained this mysterious ingredient called "Flavour enhancer".... haha

It was so good! I liked the food element and how it tied a lot of things together. I liked the relationships and the story just flowed!

Part memoir, part cookbook, Mango and Peppercorns tells the story of two women coming together to create a successful restaurant in LA. We learn of Tung's journey leaving Vietnam and forming a business partnership with Kathy on LA. The chapters give insight into their lives and include recipies from their restaurant.
This book is AMAZING! It's pages are filled with delicious recipies and stories. The incorporation of photographs was wonderful. If you are a fan of non-fiction definitely a must read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Chronicle Books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting format to tell the story of two strong, but very different women, who forged an unlikely friendship and opened a flourishing restaurant together. After fleeing Vietnam after the war, Tung first meets Kathy when she opens her home to refugees. Kathy discovers Tung's remarkable skill in the kitchen and the two decide to capitalize on her talents while sharing her food with the community. We also learn about each of their backstories, where they grew up, and their personal histories with food. The recipes that accompany each chapter perfectly round out the reading experience and leave me craving Vietnamese fare.

Both Kathy and Tung have unique stories and a powerful voice, along with Lyn. These three women have an incredible bond and have accomplished so much, despite the challenges they had to face.

I have nothing but glowing things to say about Mango and Peppercorns. I loved it. Every bit of it. Some of it is uncomfortable to read. Some of it makes you laugh out loud. Much of it reminds us that being a decent human, being open to new experiences, and working hard are so important today. This is the story of how a refugee came to operate one of the hottest restaurants in Miami. It is the story of women who created a family outside of conventional norms for either of their cultures. It is about the village that created the people and the success of the restaurant. It is part memoir, part business book, part cookbook and every part is exactly what it needs to be.

Part memoir, part cookbook, this is the "improbable story" of a Vietnamese refugee and an American who took her in. At the end of the chapters, there is a related recipe.

It felt like some things in the memoir were surface-level. The relationship between Kathy and Tung, as well as their relationships with those around them, could make for a psychological study--it seemed more problematic (dysfunctional?) than described. Despite that, Tung's story was quite interesting, and I loved the photo section.

The recipes are largely from their popular Miami restaurant, so fans will love this. They look very tasty! However, they are, for the most part, more complex than many home cooks are going to try. Some of them would make good family weekend projects though.

What an surprisingly delightful read! Simplicity can be deceiving, and this unassuming memoir-cookbook combo has rocketed itself toward the top of my favorite nonfiction book list. Much like Hy Vong's kimchi, the essay-like chapters are simple but pack a punch. Fans of Food Network will enjoy the recipes and mouthwatering descriptions of food and lovers of story will love this unbelievable biography. If you like stories of unlikely heroine, of defying expectations, of overcoming the odds, of friendship and family, you should definitely pick this up...Just don’t read this on an empty stomach.

I would like to thank Chronicle Books for providing me with an advance reader copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program. Oh my goodness I loved this so much! I’d recommend it to everyone. One that I think everyone would love to have in their cookbook library.

It’s really a special book, unique with the merging of memoir and cookbook, done excellently.

When reading it I felt like a special friend was sharing a piece of their heart with me, something deep, almost sacred, along recipes that most restaurants hold tightly, and to share them at this point in time made me feel all that more fortunate to have them.

The Story
Depicting life journeys, business journeys, so honest in every which way. From fleeing Saigon as a refugee as the Vietnam War came to an end in 1975 to interpersonal relationships, struggles and celebrations.

It’s very personal as it depicts themes of cultural assimilation, customs, social class, restauranteurship, personal relationships, child-rearing, and everything along the way.

It evoked this strong sense of community, belonging, all while detailing what it also feels like to be an imposter, foreigner, lonely, lost, undeserving, all while having hope and living the best way you know how.

I loved the bluntness, newness, and vulnerability, bringing me in perspective not only as it was and but also how it was perceived.

The Writing
Incredibly well-written and well-organized. I loved how the stories were told in parallel, multiple POVs done really well.

I loved the photos.

The Recipes
I’m excited to try them all. So far I’ve tried two, absolutely delicious so far! Keep an eye on my website as I work my way through them.

A book that made me laugh, made me cry, I felt it to be very touching and I’m looking forward to getting a final copy.

Wow what am interesting life! It is always so fascinating to me to read about immigrants who truly discover the American dream life. This story is particularly inspiring because they create an entirely woman owned business in a time when that was certainly not the trend. Tung is an inspiration and together with Katherine they are a powerhouse team who will certainly inspire generations to come.

One of my most favorite reads for this year! I love the way that it is written, reading this book felt like I was having coffee and talking face to face with Tung, Kathy and Lyn.

Tung's life story is incredibly inspiring. Where most would just wallow in misery, she chose to fight for a place in a foreign land. Kathy's kindness is astounding. She willingly chose to let people live in her home. People who don't even know how speak her own native language.

Much to learn from this book! Tung's resilience, Kathy's loyalty, Bà Noi and Grandma Peterson's unconditional love and lastly, the event/s that bridged the gap between Tung and Lyn.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this free ARC.
This review is posted of my own accord and with no monetary compensation from those names mentioned above and/or the rightful owners of this ARC.

A cookbook written from different perspectives. Really interesting and knowledgeable to read. Never quite read a cookbook before but im already excited to request more cookbooks.

This book is gorgeous, first of all. Secondly, it's interesting, and it's engaging. I found it to be a good mix of the surprising and the familiar. This feels like a book foodies will love especially!

Mango and Peppercorn is a delightful cookbook for people like me, who prefer memoirs and stories over lists of recipes and directions. When I learned that this cookbook was a memoir about three women whose lives intersected due to a real life found family situation, I knew I had to read it. As a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, I was also excited to finally learn how to make some of my favorite authentic dishes responsibly. While I'm not a huge subscriber to "American Dream"-esque stories, this half-cookbook half-memoir is a charming story about an immigrant, her child, and a close friend who is essentially family.

Something I enjoyed was how fast paced the book was. There are so many recipe websites which go on for ages with unrelated stories glued before recipe lists. This book's anecdotes are always closely related to the recipes they build to, and help you really feel an attachment to the cultures that is celebrated within its pages. It was really touching to watch one of the authors grow up throughout the memoir, and how that affected the other two authors, who were co-parents to her. The recipes were varied and diverse, and some even had adjustments for people who wouldn't want to try certain traditional ingredients. I also appreciated how simple the directions were and how clearly organized they were for the reader. If you were to flip through the memoir for recipes, they would be incredibly easy to spot. Other design details I really appreciated were the book's beautiful cover and decals throughout the pages.

At times the fast pace of the story leads to choppy transitions, but this is incredibly minor. This cookbook only has a few recipes, but each one is significant and meaningful to the people who made them. I would take a few recipes with heart over a long list any day.

Make sure to preorder or buy this book from a local bookstore when it comes out on March 16th! Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

'Mango and Peppercorns' is the kind of culinary non-fiction that the USA publishing industry does so well with its melding of travel writing, memoir, social and political history and, of course, food. I particularly appreciated a narrative based around the experience of Tung who arrived in the USA as a refugee after leaving Vietnam in a boat, Phuong Lien (her daughter), who was born American, and Kathy, the woman who offered Tung a home in Miami and eventually went on to co-found their much=praised restaurant. The recipes are beautiful and the jacket striking.

This stunning book is part memoir, part cookbook - telling the story of how the iconic Miami restaurant Hy Vong came into being. I really enjoyed the multi-narrator storytelling, and learning about the resilient friendship between Tung Nguyen and Kathy Manning.

I was given access to the eARC of this book thanks to the authors, the publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mango and Peppercorns is a moving memoir of Vietnamese food, culture, and the search for family. The book tells the story of Tung Nguyen’s childhood in rural Vietnam, a hard life full of work and commitment to family. We journey with Tung from her small village, to the markets of Saigon, and her sudden escape as a refugee to America during the fall of Saigon where she meets Katherine Manning, who takes her in. The book is told through the eyes and voices of Tung and Kathy, and later, Tung’s daughter Lyn, and is an exploration of identity and belonging.

As much as this is Tung’s story, it is equally Kathy’s story, as we follow her journey from a small girl in Iowa to sharing her home with several Vietnamese refugee families and setting up a small restaurant with Tung - Hy Vong, ending as one of Miami's most celebrated and beloved restaurants. Tung’s voice is often harsh; her recollections and expectations painful. Kathy is ditzy and forgetful, and often criticised by Tung. Even with these hardships, it is food that serves as the glue for this unlikely chosen family. Tung’s culture shines through in the recipes scattered throughout the memoir; rich and unctuous flavours, salt, heat and spice. But this is not a typical cookbook. You won’t find fancy coloured pictures of the recipe outcome, but you will find pictures of the protagonists in the middle of the book (something I greatly appreciated).

This is a memoir told around and through Vietnamese cooking. It is the constant in everything, from every time, and every place in the book. The simple message is a reminder that food brings people together, transcends culture and language, and can build love, belonging, and community.

3.5 stars