"Using Chinese culinary history, language and tantalizing descriptions of fine cuisine, Mones shows how food can both nourish the body and the soul. Her extensive research takes readers into the philosophy and artistic ambitions of Chinese cuisine - and leaves them hungry for recipes."

-NPR (Liane Hanson, WEEKEND EDITION) 

"A masterpiece for Chinese food."

-Edouard Cointreau, Jury Chair, World Gourmand Awards

“A dazzling journey, which unlocks the deepest mysteries of legendary Chinese culinary arts, to produce a feast for the human heart. Nicole Mones has written a page-turner both exciting and wise, one to nourish the head, the stomach , and the soul.”

-DAVID HENRY HWANG, author of M Butterfly

"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."

-SEATTLE TIMES

"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 is neither history nor cookbook; Sam and Maggie's stories are its heart. Mones knows there are many ways to sustain and nourish the people we love."

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

"Outstanding and beautifully written... A great read for anyone interested in learning more about one of the world's most complex and historically significant cuisines... also a great story about discovery of one's self."

-WILLAMETTE WEEK

"Crackling with energy and ambition, The Last Chinese Chef will delight readers.  Nicole Mones's erudite details and butter-smooth prose make for a tantalizing read."

-DIANA ABU-JABER, author of The Language of Baklava and Crescent 

"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. (And) 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."

-NW ASIAN WEEKLY

"Sumptuous... Mones's descriptions of fine cuisine are tantalizing, and her protagonist's quest is bracing and unburdened by melodrama.  Early in her visit, Maggie scoffs at the idea that food can heal the human heart. Mones smartly proves her wrong."

-PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"This is food and travel writing at its best. Last Chinese Chef  tells the story of the cultural & historical aspects of Chinese cooking within a story about an American food writer,  Maggie McElroy, who is desperately trying to figure out her own life. At one point she describes a soup she will remember all her life... "it nurtured every part of me." This book is engaging, inventive, and incredibly informative. It nurtured every part of me, as well."

-DEBBI BURTON, Rediscovered Bookshop, Boise, ID  (Book Sense commendation)

"In Mones' skilled hands, Sam's grandfather's memoir becomes a book within the novel. Mones' latest achievement appeals not just to devotees of fiction but equally to anyone interested in Chinese cooking, its theory, and its craft."

-BOOKLIST  

 "Mones has a subtle touch when portraying growing affection between genuinely nice people. Meticulously researched gastronomy will entice foodies, even those whose familiarity with Chinese food is limited to takeout. Warning: Avoid reading while hungry."

-KIRKUS REVIEWS

NPR Interview and Review. 

       w/ audio: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9969063
       second article: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9989025

Kelvin Han Yee reading an excerpt from The Last Chinese Chef, presented by Stories on Stage, Denver, CO, 10/15/06
       has the mp3, can see it at his page: http://www.myspace.com/storiesonstage
KQED has Nicole Mones reading a different excerpt: http://www.kqed.org/arts/writersblock/episode.jsp?id=16980

Seattle Times: http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=mones06&date=20070504&query=nicole+mones

Author essay on Powell's website: http://www.powells.com/essays/mones.html