The Woman Who Changed Chinese Cuisine in America

Just as Julia Child revolutionized French food, so did Cecilia Chiang with Chinese cuisine. After moving to the United States in 1959, Cecilia launched the Mandarin in San Francisco. The restaurant introduced foods like Peking duck, pot stickers and hot and sour soup to an American audience, and began to attract celebrities and foodies from across the country. Her cooking has set a standard for Chinese food in America, and has influenced everyone from Alice Waters to James Beard.