Cookbooks 'House of Nanking' and 'Boustany' honor rich family legacies through food
NPR's Book of the Day explores two cookbooks that interweave family legacy with culinary tradition. The first focuses on House of Nanking, a San Francisco restaurant started by Peter Fang in 1988, and his daughter Kathy's journey to becoming his business partner. Their story illustrates how they adapted Chinese cooking to local tastes while maintaining the warmth of home-style dining.
The episode also examines Sami Tamimi's cookbook "Bustani," which documents Palestinian cuisine and culture through recipes and personal narratives. Tamimi's work goes beyond just sharing recipes—it serves as a way to preserve Palestinian culinary heritage and connect younger generations with their cultural roots. Through both stories, the episode shows how food and family traditions persist and adapt across generations and circumstances.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Oct 17, 2025 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
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1-Page Summary
House of Nanking: History and Success in San Francisco
Peter Fang opened House of Nanking in San Francisco in 1988 after immigrating from Shanghai, starting as a solo chef with just one wok. Following a glowing San Francisco Chronicle review in 1989, the restaurant saw tremendous success. His daughter Kathy Fang, who grew up helping in the restaurant, later joined as a full partner, carrying on the family legacy despite her parents' initial hopes for her to pursue other opportunities.
The Fangs have built their success on adapting Chinese cooking to local tastes and ingredients. Peter Fang emphasizes customer satisfaction over strict traditional methods, while both father and daughter strive to create a home-like dining experience for their guests.
Sami Tamimi's Bustani: Reflections on Palestinian Food and Culture
Sami Tamimi's new cookbook "Bustani" celebrates Palestinian cuisine and culture through recipes and personal stories. Linda Holmes notes that the book, written before the recent conflict escalation, serves as a tribute to Tamimi's childhood and his grandparents' culinary legacy. Tamimi emphasizes the importance of accurate recipe preservation and hopes younger generations can glimpse Palestine's more peaceful times through his work.
Food Preserving Cultural Identity and Legacy In Hard Times
Tamimi's cookbook serves as both a recipe collection and a memoir of growing up in Palestine. While he acknowledges the difficulty of promoting a cookbook amid widespread hunger in Palestine, Tamimi sees sharing Palestinian cuisine as crucial to preserving cultural identity. Through detailed recipes and stories, he aims to connect young Palestinians with their culinary heritage and keep Palestinian traditions alive during challenging times.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can explore your own family's culinary traditions by creating a recipe book that includes personal stories and the history behind each dish. Start by interviewing older family members about their favorite recipes and the memories associated with them. Document these recipes along with anecdotes and photos to create a personal culinary legacy that can be shared with future generations.
- Host a cultural potluck dinner with friends where each person brings a dish that represents their heritage or a culture they admire. Encourage participants to share the story behind their chosen dish and its significance. This fosters a deeper appreciation for diverse culinary traditions and the stories they carry.
- Try adapting recipes from different cuisines using local ingredients to discover new flavors and cooking techniques. For example, if you enjoy Italian food but live in an area where seafood is abundant, experiment with incorporating local fish into traditional pasta dishes. This can lead to unique variations that reflect your own culinary creativity and the resources available to you.
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House of Nanking: History and Success in San Francisco
The Fang family's journey in establishing the iconic San Francisco restaurant, House of Nanking, is a compelling tale of culinary success and adaptation. From humble beginnings through critical acclaim to a legacy continued by the next generation, House of Nanking has become a staple in the city's dining landscape.
Fang Family's Journey In Establishing Iconic San Francisco Restaurant, House Of Nanking
House of Nanking Opened by Peter Fang In 1988 After Immigrating From Shanghai
Peter Fang opened the doors to the House of Nanking in 1988 shortly after his immigration from Shanghai. Starting as the sole chef, Fang cooked every dish in a single wok. The restaurant's fortunes skyrocketed following a 1989 glowing review in the San Francisco Chronicle, leading to long lines of patrons eager to taste his offerings.
Popular Restaurant Surged After 1989 San Francisco Chronicle Review, Leading To Long Lines
Recalling the surge in popularity as both exciting and stressful, Peter Fang faced the daunting challenge of serving a rapidly growing customer base with the same small-scale operations he began with.
Kathy Fang Joins As a Full Partner, Continuing the Family Legacy
Kathy Fang grew up in the bustling environment of the restaurant, initially helping by folding napkins and filling chili oil jars. Despite her parents' ambitions for her to pursue other opportunities, the draw of the family business proved strong, and she returned to House of Nanking after finding corporate America lacked inspiration. Now, as a full business partner with her father, Kathy takes pride in carrying on the legacy and is recognized by Peter as being potentially even more proficient in the business than he is.
Adapting Chinese Cooking To Local Ingredients and Preferences by the Fang Family
Peter Fang Adapts to Customer Tastes Using Local Ingredients Over Traditional Methods
Peter Fang's cooking philosophy centers around customer satisfaction and the integration of local ingredients, which indicates a keen adaptation to local tastes rather than strictly traditional methods. He takes pride in making people happy with his f ...
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House of Nanking: History and Success in San Francisco
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can start a family recipe journal to preserve and adapt culinary traditions, much like the Fang family's approach to their restaurant. Begin by collecting family recipes, then experiment with local ingredients to give them a contemporary twist. For example, if you have a traditional stew recipe, try using seasonal vegetables from your local farmer's market to enhance the flavor and make it unique to your region.
- Create a personal project that celebrates your heritage and adapts it to your current environment, inspired by Peter Fang's journey. This could be a blog, photo series, or even a small community event where you share stories, art, or dishes that combine elements from your cultural background with aspects of the place you now call home.
- Foster a sense of commu ...
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Sami Tamimi's Bustani: Reflections on Palestinian Food and Culture
Sami Tamimi's new cookbook, "Bustani," serves as a rich celebration of Palestinian cuisine, culture, and the resilience of Palestinian traditions amid adversity. Through his recipes and storytelling, Tamimi links the past and present while fostering connections to Palestinian heritage.
Tamimi's Bustani: Celebrating Palestinian Cuisine, Culture, Traditions
Bustani, Written Before the Palestine Conflict, Is a Tribute to Tamimi's Childhood and His Grandparents' Culinary Legacy
Linda Holmes highlights that Tamimi's "Bustani" showcases vegetables in Palestinian cooking and shares cherished family memories. Sami Tamimi wrote "Bustani" before the recent escalation in the Palestine conflict as a tribute to his childhood and the culinary legacy of his grandparents.
Tamimi Aims to Capture and Preserve Palestinian Food Flavors and Stories Accurately
Tamimi stresses the importance of presenting recipes accurately to preserve the authentic flavors and stories of Palestinian food. He likens "Bustani" to a memoir, illustrating his personal experiences and connection to Palestine.
Glimpse of Peaceful Times in Palestine For Youth
Emphasizing the generational aspect, Tamimi notes that it is significant for the younger population to access the book, to behold a different perspective of Palestine and cherish the memories from a more peaceful era.
Palestinian Cuisine and Culture's Role Amidst Adversity
Tamimi Laments That Hunger Impedes Palestinians From Celebrating Their Cuisine
Reflecting on current struggles, Tamimi voices a deep sadness over the fact that the hunger experienced by Palestinians impedes their ability to celebrate their rich culinary traditions. Robin Young describes "Bustani" as not only a celebration but also a poignant reminder of what might be lost amid conflict, ranging from breads and spices to sauces.
Tamimi: Palestinian ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Sami Tamimi's Bustani: Reflections on Palestinian Food and Culture
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore your own family's culinary heritage by creating a recipe scrapbook that includes personal stories and memories associated with each dish. Start by interviewing family members about their favorite recipes and the stories behind them. Write down the recipes and the anecdotes, and compile them into a scrapbook. This not only preserves your family's culinary legacy but also creates a personal connection to your heritage, much like Tamimi's "Bustani."
- Host a cultural potluck dinner with friends where each person brings a dish that represents their heritage or a culture they admire, along with a story or fact about the cuisine. This encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures through food, similar to how "Bustani" connects people with Palestinian culture. It's a way to celebrate diversity and learn about the resilience and richness of various culinary traditions.
- Volunteer at or donate to organizations ...
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Food Preserving Cultural Identity and Legacy In Hard Times
Sami Tamimi illuminates how food serves not only as sustenance but also as a narrative that preserves and passes down cultural identity, particularly in his homeland of Palestine, even during challenging times.
Food as a Vessel for Personal and Cultural Memories
Tamimi’s cookbook is much more than a collection of recipes; it’s a memoir that captures the essence of his upbringing in Palestine. His goal is to forge a connection between young Palestinians and their culinary roots through the book.
Tamimi's Bustani Recipes: A Memoir Of Growing Up In Palestine
Tamimi’s cookbook, which he likens to a memoir, is filled with Bustani recipes that encapsulate his experiences of growing up in Palestine. With each recipe, Tamimi not only shares a dish but also personal and cultural memories that tell stories of Palestine’s history and traditions.
Book Connects Young Palestinians To Culinary Heritage
Tamimi emphasizes the importance of his book for the newer generations of Palestinians, intending to connect them with their culinary heritage. He wants readers to not just cook the recipes but to understand the depth and implications of each dish, recognizing the traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Celebrating Food Traditions in Adversity
However, Tamimi is aware of the current plight many Palestinians face, recognizing the difficulty in promoting a book about food culture against the backdrop of widespread hunger.
Tamimi Admits Difficulty In Promoting His Palestinian Cookbook Amid Widespread Hunger
He acknowledges how challenging it is to spread e ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Food Preserving Cultural Identity and Legacy In Hard Times
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore your own family's recipes to connect with your heritage and create a personal recipe journal. Start by asking relatives for traditional dishes, document the recipes, and note any associated memories or stories they share. This not only preserves your family's culinary legacy but also strengthens your sense of identity and connection to your roots.
- Host a cultural potluck dinner with friends where each person brings a dish that represents their cultural background. Encourage participants to share the history or personal significance of their chosen dish. This fosters a deeper appreciation of diverse heritages and the role food plays in cultural identity.
- Create a virtual cookbook club with a focus on cuisines from ...
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