Irene Kuo facts for kids

Irene Kuo (born Irene Hsingnee Yuan, June 12, 1919 – July 19, 1993) was a famous author and chef. She helped make Chinese cuisine very popular in the United States and other Western countries during the 1960s and 1970s.

Irene wrote a very important cookbook called The Key to Chinese Cooking. She also appeared on popular TV shows like Johnny Carson's and Joan Rivers'. Her successful restaurants also helped many people learn about delicious Chinese food.

Irene Kuo's Early Life

Irene Kuo was born in 1919 in Shanghai, China. Her family was wealthy and well-educated. They had close ties to the old Qing dynasty government. Her uncle, Yuan Li-jun, even taught Puyi, who was the last Emperor of China.

Growing up, Irene was surrounded by the best Chinese food. She loved learning about cooking. She became friends with the cooks in her home. They taught her how to prepare many fancy dishes. Her family's wealth also allowed her to travel all over China. She tried many different kinds of food, from hearty meat dishes in the north to fine vegetarian cuisine at Buddhist retreats.

Adulthood and Restaurants

Irene went to Barnard College in the United States for her university degree. After graduating, she returned to China. However, a civil war was happening in China. Because of this, she moved back to the United States shortly after her 22nd birthday.

In 1943, she met her future husband, Chi-Chih Kuo, in Washington, D.C.. He was a general. They got married the next year and had two sons. After living in Washington and Italy, they finally settled in New York City.

In New York, Irene and Chi-Chih opened two very successful restaurants:

• Lichee Tree, which opened in 1960 in Greenwich Village.
• Gingko Tree, which opened in 1966 near Lincoln Center. The Kuos lived in apartments above their restaurants.

The Kuos became quite well-known in American culture. They hosted famous events, like Barbra Streisand's 20th birthday party at the Lichee Tree. They also had exciting Chinese New Year celebrations. Famous people like boxer Rocky Marciano visited their restaurants. Irene also taught cooking classes at the China Institute in New York during the 1960s.

Writing The Key to Chinese Cooking

In 1971, Irene Kuo suggested writing a Chinese cookbook to editor Judith Jones. Jones had heard about Irene from her TV appearances and mentions in the news. Jones was very impressed by Irene's deep knowledge of Chinese food. She also liked Irene's clear writing style and honest voice.

Irene worked for over five years on the book. She worked with copy editor Suzi Arensberg and illustrator Carolyn Moy. They made sure the book was easy for Western readers to understand. The book also gave readers a peek into Chinese culture. It was a guide and a recipe book for Chinese cooking. Irene's husband designed the Chinese seals that are in the book. The book was finally published in 1977.

Irene wanted to create "something permanent" with her book. And she did! The cookbook was very successful and was printed many times. It became the main resource for Chinese cooking in North America and other countries for the next ten years. It still inspires many food writers and cookbook authors today. Some of these include Barbara Tropp, Eileen Yin-Fei Lo, Fuchsia Dunlop, Anne Mendelson, and Grace Young.

Later Life

After selling her restaurants and finishing her cookbook, Irene Kuo stepped away from public life. She moved to Glendale, California. She had planned to write another cookbook with 175 new recipes. In 1982, she told Judith Jones that it could be finished within a year. However, this second book was never completed. Irene eventually stopped contacting Jones for reasons that are not known.

Irene Kuo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 1993. She passed away in July 1993, just a few weeks after her husband died.