A playful collection of over 85 Vietnamese and Viet American dishes and immersive travel photography from Top Chef alum Tu David Phu that blends the Oakland native's modern culinary style with the food wisdom from his refugee family.

"Stripped of Oriental exoticism, this is a cookbook infused with theintense flavors of refugee kitchens and the inauthentic authenticity of the diaspora."-Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of Pulitzer Prize winner The Sympathizer

Tu David Phu trained in the nation's top restaurants only to realize the culinary lessons that truly impacted him were those passed on by his parents, refugees from Pho Qu c. In his hometown of Oakland, California, his parents taught him hard-won lessons in frugality, food-covery cooking, and practical gill-to-fin eating.

Centered around Tu's childhood memories in the diverse Bay Area and family stories of life on Pho Qu_x1ED1_c island, The Memory of Taste explores the Phu family's ability to thrive and adapt from one coastal community to another. With tried-and-true tips like how to butcher a fish, tastebud-tingling flavor combinations, and stunning photographs, Tu guides both novice and experienced chefs alike in his take on Viet cooking, including-

. Staples in every Vietnamese kitchen like Com T_x1EA5_m (Broken Rice), Dan S_x1EA3_ (Lemongrass Paste), and Nu_x1EDB_c M_x1EAF_m Cham (Everyday Fish Sauce)
. Seafood dishes that utilize the less "desired" parts like Huy?t Ca Tai Chanh (Tuna Bloodline Tartare), Canh Chua Ð_x1EA7_u Ca H?i (Hot Pot-style Salmon Head Sour Soup),and Xuong Ca H?i Ghian Gi n (Fried Fish Frames)
. Fine-dining dishes from Tu's pop-up days like G_x1ECF_i Cu_x1ED1_n Ca Cornets, M X o T_x1ECF_i N_x1EA5_m C_x1EE5_c (Truffled Garlic Noodles), and Banh Canh Carbonara
. Adapted recipes from new traditions like Banh t Tr_x1EA7_n (Sticky Rice Dumplings), Com Cua H_x1EA5_p (Dungeness Crab Donburi), and Ph_x1EDF_ V_x1ECB_t Nu_x1EDB_ng (Roasted Duck Ph_x1EDF_)

The Memory of Taste is Tu's story of returning to his roots and finding long-hidden culinary treasure. In his debut cookbook, Tu offers readers a chance to enjoy the bounty of his parents' lessons, just as he has.