Ann Mah Books

Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family's ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II. To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine examination. She's failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last chance. Suddenly finding herself without a job and with the test a few months away, she travels to Burgundy to spend the fall at the vineyard estate that has belonged to her family for generations. There she can bolster her shaky knowledge of Burgundian vintages and reconnect with her cousin Nico and his wife, Heather, who now oversee day-to-day management of the grapes. The one person Kate hopes to avoid is Jean-Luc, a talented young winemaker and her first love. At the vineyard house, Kate is eager to help her cousin clean out the enormous basement that is filled with generations of discarded and forgotten belongings. Deep inside the cellar, behind a large armoire, she discovers a hidden room containing a cot, some Resistance pamphlets, and an enormous cache of valuable wine. Piqued by the secret space, Kate begins to dig into her family's history-a search that takes her back to the dark days of World War II and introduces her to a relative she never knew existed, a great-half aunt who was a teenager during the Nazi occupation. As she learns more about her family, the line between resistance and collaboration blurs, driving Kate to find the answers to two crucial questions: Who, exactly, did her family aid during the difficult years of the war? And what happened to six valuable bottles of wine that seem to be missing from the cellar's collection?

Set in postwar Paris, the narrative vividly captures the essence of the era through rich details and insightful reflections. The author skillfully channels the spirit of Kennedy, immersing readers in the cultural and historical nuances of the time. The portrayal of the city and its atmosphere is both captivating and evocative, inviting exploration of its complexities and vibrancy.

Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine Examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last. Suddenly finding herself without a job and with the test a few months away, she travels to Burgundy, to spend the fall at the vineyard estate that has belonged to her family for generations. There she can bolster her shaky knowledge of Burgundian vintages and reconnect with her cousin Nico and his wife Heather, who now oversee the grapes’ day-to-day management. The one person Kate hopes to avoid is Jean-Luc, a neighbor vintner and her first love. At the vineyard house, Kate is eager to help her cousins clean out the enormous basement that is filled with generations of discarded and forgotten belongings. Deep inside the cellar, behind a large armoire, she discovers a hidden room containing a cot, some Resistance pamphlets, and an enormous cache of valuable wine. Piqued by the secret space, Kate begins to dig into her family’s history—a search that takes her back to the dark days of the Second World War and introduces her to a relative she never knew existed, a great half-aunt who was teenager during the Nazi occupation. As she learns more about her family, the line between Resistance and Collaboration blurs, driving Kate to find the answers to two crucial questions: Who, exactly, did her family aid during the difficult years of the war? And what happened to six valuable bottles of wine that seem to be missing from the cellar’s collection?

The memoir of a young diplomat’s wife who must reinvent her dream of living in Paris—one dish at a time When journalist Ann Mah’s diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long post—alone. Suddenly, Ann’s vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Light is turned upside down. So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city. Journeying through Paris and the surrounding regions of France, Ann combats her loneliness by seeking out the perfect pain au chocolat and learning the way the andouillette sausage is really made. She explores the history and taste of everything from boeuf Bourguignon to soupe au pistou to the crispiest of buckwheat crepes. And somewhere between Paris and the south of France, she uncovers a few of life’s truths. Like Sarah Turnbull’s Almost French and Julie Powell’s New York Times bestseller Julie and Julia, Mastering the Art of French Eating is interwoven with the lively characters Ann meets and the traditional recipes she samples. Both funny and intelligent, this is a story about love—of food, family, and France.

"From the bestselling author of The Lost Vintage, a rare and dazzling portrait of Jacqueline Bouvier's college year abroad in postwar Paris, an intimate and electrifying story of love and betrayal, and the coming-of-age of an American icon - before the world knew her as Jackie"-- Provided by publisher

Isabelle Lee embarks on a transformative journey to Beijing, seeking to redefine her life after a career setback. As she navigates the challenges of extreme culture shock and reconnects with her estranged sister Claire, she takes on a job writing restaurant reviews for an expat magazine. This experience not only deepens her understanding of Chinese cuisine but also uncovers family secrets, prompting Isabelle to question her identity and the choices that brought her to China.

Use an electric pressure cooker to enjoy all the flavour and richness of classic French cuisine in a fraction of the time.

Kiedy mąż dziennikarki Ann Mah, Calvin, otrzymuje posadę dyplomaty w Paryżu, Mah - od zawsze pasjonatka kuchni i miłośniczka Francji - zaczyna planować gastronomiczne podr�że we dwoje. Jednak wkr�tce Calvin zostaje wysłany do Iraku na roczną misję, a wizja romantycznego życia w Mieście Świateł szybko się rozwiewa. Podobnie jak Julia Child, Ann postanawia znaleźć dla siebie miejsce w zupełnie nowym otoczeniu. W trakcie wycieczek po Paryżu i podr�ży po okolicznych miasteczkach Francji walczy z samotnością za pomocą symbolu francuskiego comfort food - cassoulet. Odsłania co się tak naprawdę kryje za daniami typowymi dla kolejnych miejsc, bada historię potraw i ich smak - od wołowiny po burgundzku do najbardziej chrupiących gryczanych naleśnik�w. A gdzieś między Paryżem i południem Francji odkrywa r�wnież kilka życiowych mądrości. Sztuka jedzenia po francusku to także bohaterowie z krwi i kości - szefowie kuchni, farmerzy i restauratorzy - oraz wypr�bowane przez autorkę tradycyjne przepisy. Lektura tej książki sprawi, że ruszysz prosto do kuchni i zapragniesz odwiedzić Paryż. Zabawna, inteligentna, bardzo przyjemna opowieść o miłości do jedzenia, rodziny i Francji. `Doskonałe składniki - przygotowane z wyczuciem i elegancko podane. Naprawdę smaczna książka.` Peter Mayle, autor `Roku w Prowansji`

Kate, eine Amerikanerin mit französischen Wurzeln, kehrt ins malerische Burgund zurück, um sich auf die Meister-Sommelier-Prüfung vorzubereiten. Dort trifft sie ihre große Liebe Jean-Luc wieder und entdeckt Hinweise auf ihre unbekannte Tante Hélène und deren dramatisches Schicksal während der deutschen Besatzungszeit.

Isabelle, Amerykanka chińskiego pochodzenia, nagle traci wszystko. Zaprzepaszcza szansę na awans w poczytnym magazynie dla kobiet, a wymarzony mężczyzna stwierdza, że nie powinni traktować swojego związku zbyt poważnie. Ale dziewczyna się nie poddaje i postanawia odmienić swoje życie. Wyjeżdża więc do Chin, aby zamieszkać z dawno niewidzianą siostrą. Tam czeka ją nie tylko odkrywanie korzeni, lecz także ekscytujące zawodowe wyzwanie oraz… nowa miłość. To książka o jedzeniu, rodzinie i odnajdywaniu siebie. Miłość w pięciu smakach to pierwsza i jak dotąd jedyna powieść Ann Mah, amerykańskiej dziennikarki o chińskich korzeniach i entuzjastki dobrej kuchni.