Jen Lin-Liu

A food writer and founder of the Black Sesame Kitchen cooking school in Beijing traces her Silk Road investigation into regional culinary history and tradition, a journey marked by her visits to the kitchens of women from a diverse array of cultures.

From Beijing to Rome, with Love and Pasta

On the Noodle Road

An unforgettable culinary tour of modern-day China describes the author's decision to enroll in a local Beijing cooking school, her progress from cooking student to intern at a chic Shanghai restaurant, the colorful characters she meets along the way, and China's culinary heritage and modern-day cuisine, accompanied by thirty-two authentic recipes.

A Stir-fried Journey Through China

Serve the People

A food writer travels the Silk Road, immersing herself in a moveable feast of foods and cultures and discovering some surprising truths about commitment, independence, and love. As a newlywed traveling in Italy, Jen Lin-Liu was struck by culinary echoes of the delicacies she ate and cooked back in China, where she’d lived for more than a decade. Who really invented the noodle? she wondered, like many before her. But also: How had food and culture moved along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking Asia to Europe—and what could still be felt of those long-ago migrations? With her new husband’s blessing, she set out to discover the connections, both historical and personal, eating a path through western China and on into Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, and across the Mediterranean. The journey takes Lin-Liu into the private kitchens where the headscarves come off and women not only knead and simmer but also confess and confide. The thin rounds of dough stuffed with meat that are dumplings in Beijing evolve into manti in Turkey—their tiny size the measure of a bride’s worth—and end as tortellini in Italy. And as she stirs and samples, listening to the women talk about their lives and longings, Lin-Liu gains a new appreciation of her own marriage, learning to savor the sweetness of love freely chosen.

Sherisse Pham

Frommer's. The best trips start here. Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. * Insider coverage on Beijing's exciting restaurants, the most intriguing districts, and the Olympic Games. * Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not. * Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget. * Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Jen Lin-Liu

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