Ann Mah's newsletter / February 2021
February 2021 newsletter
Hello
We had been doing well in Vietnam, but unfortunately a recent Covid outbreak has closed all the schools a week early before the Tet holiday. Kids are back to distance learning, parents are moon-lighting as teachers, and everyone is wearing masks and canceling large gatherings. The government has thus far been successful at controlling the virus with contact tracing and testing, so hopefully this newest flare-up will soon be squashed. The situation will be reevaluated after the holiday, in mid February.
It's a shame because Tet – the celebration of the Lunar New Year – is the country's most important holiday, and the last few weeks have been filled with excitement. A few weeks ago, we visited Hanoi's special "decoration street," to buy special charms and decorations to ring in the year of the ox. Kumquat trees and peach blossoms are also popular – I love seeing the trees being delivered on the backs of motorbikes!
Here's what else I've been up to...
What I've been eating
–If you're curious about the special foods eaten at Tet, this is a great article by cookbook author Andrea Nguyen in the New York Times. I especially love the sticky rice packets filled with fluffy mung beans – and I can't wait to try the stuffed bitter melon soup.
–I finally made Dorie Greenspan's World Peace cookies – a chocolate shortbread studded with chocolate bits – and, indeed, they live up to their name!
–I know I mentioned my friend Cameron's cooking videos last month. But after watching them and making (and loving) several of his recipes, I finally bought a copy of his book, Vegetarian Viet Nam and... what took me so long?? It's fantastic. Among many wonderful dishes, the tofu in fresh tomato sauce is on repeat in our house.
–I made a cheese soufflé for a dinner party last week, but took it out of the oven too soon. It was a flop, but I followed Julia Child's maxim, served it, and *did not apologize.* Inside, however, I was mortified. Next time, perhaps I'll try this recipe from David Lebovitz.
What I've been reading
–My newest novel, The Lost Vintage, is currently on sale for $2.99 across all e-book platforms! It's perfect for winter reading by the fire – and also great for book clubs (especially at this price)! This version of the book includes my special recipe for gougère cheese puffs.
–I like to listen to podcasts while exercising and am currently loving Dolly Parton's America, which examines the life of the legendary music star through the lens of America's cultural wars.
–A friend recently introduced me to noted author Nguyen Phan Que Mai, and her novel, The Mountains Sing, is now on my reading list. The book is an epic, multi-generational story of the Vietnam war, told from the Vietnamese perspective. My husband read it and said it was one of the best books he read last year. You can read more in this NPR interview.
–We finished watching Lupin last night and I can't believe they left off with such a cliff-hanger! The second part of season 1 is set to come out this summer and I don't know how I'll wait that long. If you haven't yet watched this French mystery thriller, it's streaming on Netflix and you can watch the trailer here.
–My friend MJ Rose has a new book, out today! The Last Tiara is a provocative and moving story of a young female architect in post-World War II Manhattan, who stumbles upon a hidden treasure and begins a journey to discovering her mother's life during the fall of the Romanovs.
See you soon!
We were going to go away for Tet, but just canceled our vacation at the last minute. This holiday will be quiet for us, filled with movie nights, family walks and cooking, as most restaurants and shops will be closed. (Secretly I'm kind of excited to use this peaceful time as a writing retreat – the end is in sight for the new novel I'm writing!)
As they say in Vietnam, chuc mung nam moi! (Happy new year!) I'm sending my best wishes for a healthy and auspicious year of the ox – and if this is your zodiac sign, make sure to buy some red underwear :)
See you next month!
XO,
Ann
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