2004.78.1

2004
14.5 in HIGH x 8.75 in WIDE
(36.83 cm HIGH x 22.22 cm WIDE)
Gift of Khai H. Duong
2004.78.1


Restaurant Menu from Ana Mandara Restaurant on Beach Street in San Francisco. It has a rust color raw silk cover, trimmed with ocre silk; inside it has two printed pages attached with a bamboo stick and an elastic band, with a sticker on the inside back, "made in Viet Nam." On the front cover there is a symbol printed in orange of four leaves intewoven in a flower like pattern. The restaurant offers "modern Vietnamese cuisine."

From the web-site:The words Ana Mandara translate as "beautiful refuge," specifically one described in a 700 year old Vietnamese story as the tropical sanctuary enjoyed by a courageous warrior and a princess whose love for each other caused them to be shunned by their family and peers. Of great solace to them was the culinary bounty of the land and sea that was to be found in Ana Mandara. The ancient story behind Ana Mandara, or "beautiful refuge," is one of love and loss, courage and honor, romantic rage and sacrifice. Look around you at the intricate carvings, ancient pottery, and delicate bamboo, and be transported to a special time in Vietnam. A time when life was as fragile as the lotus flower, but also powerfully rich with passion and culture.The story tells of lovely Princess Huyen-Tran, who lived with her father, King Tran-Nhan-Ton, in North Vietnam 700 years ago. Her captivating beauty and endless grace caught the attention of a visiting king from the neighboring Cham kingdom. The king, Che-Man, asked for her hand in marriage, and the princess' father agreed that she would marry in exchange for land. But the princess was already in love with a general named Tran-Khac-Chung, a remarkable man of strength and courage. She reluctantly married the king, but was not welcome in her new home. The king's other wife, Tapari, bitterly jealous of the princess tried to poison her. Tapari eventually ordered her husband killed - a selfish, gruesome request, for tradition required her own death, along with all his wives. The princess' family, fearing her fate, sent the courageous general to rescue her, and the princess and her lover joyfully reunited. The two traveled among the lush islands of South Vietnam and thrived in pure delight, enjoying the ocean's splendor and feasting on delectable island foods- seafood, bamboo, and sweet mangoes. But this happiness was short lived for they both knew they had broken the law by not returning. After a romantic year, they chose the honorable road home and left their tropical sanctuary. The story ends tragically, with the execution of the general, eternally dousing the passionate flame of the two lovers. The heartbroken princess lived the rest of her life in sadness at a Buddhist convent, comforted only by the vibrant and sensual dream of their "Ana Mandara."Description of the logo; in Vietnamese culture, the turtle and crane each symbolize enduring power and longevity. The two, standing together, represent a healthy long life of happiness, the wish for visitors to Ana Mandara.Using family recipes, Executive Chef Khai Duong has created original modern Vietnamese cuisine that he's showcasing at the newly open Ana Mandara Restaurant in San Francisco. His success has come from his ability to prepare classic Vietnamese recipes using French technique and reflecting American style. Duong combines culinary inspiration from his native village of Nha Trang (on the south central coast of Vietnam) with world-class experience. Khai Duong, is among the many Vietnamese refugees who settled in California in the years after the Fall of Saigon, Vietnam in 1975.

Used: Ana Mandara | San Francisco | Restaurant | Dinner | Vietnamese | Immigrant | Refugee

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