San Mateo County Libraries is excited to welcome Clarissa Wei, author of Sitting the Month, with her recipe collaborator and herbalist Stella Wang for an engaging conversation at Foster City Library on Saturday, September 19, from 1:00-2:00 PM.
Event attendees will have the opportunity to receive a free copy of Sitting the Month at the discussion. Giveaway copies are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. A book signing will follow the talk.
Whether you are a new mother-to-be, interested in learning how to support a loved one through their postpartum journey or simply curious about a modern approach to this ancient tradition, this talk is for you.
About Sitting the Month
When Clarissa Wei gave birth to her first child, she was living in Taiwan, where the postpartum period is considered one of the most important phases in a woman’s life. The practice of “sitting the month” (zùo yùe zi) includes therapeutic herbs and warming meals believed to help repair the womb and reenergize the new mom.
Inspired by her own experience, Clarissa’s new guide Sitting the Month offers readers a holistic outlook on food specifically intended to nurture new mothers back to health during three stages of recovery. In addition to providing historical context, personal stories and a guide to postpartum pantry and herb essentials, the book includes 88 recipes adapted for home cooks.
Meet Clarissa and Stella
Clarissa Wei is the author of Made in Taiwan, winner of an IACP Award and finalist for a James Beard Award. Her writing has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times and Bon Appétit. The cofounder of single-origin soy sauce brand HEYDOH, she lives in Taiwan with her husband and two children.
Stella Wang is a second-generation Taiwanese herbalist, mom and owner of EDD Herbs, an herbal dessert and tea shop that she operates out of her father’s Chinese medicine shop in Taipei.
Praise for Sitting the Month
"While in the West giving birth often means the focus shifts almost entirely to the baby’s care, the ancient Chinese tradition of ‘sitting the month’ reminds us that the mother must also rest and recover. That said, the traditional foods, practices and herbs facilitating this healing process have been a bit of a black box―passed down verbally, mother to daughter or left to out-of-reach professionals. Now, we have this beautifully written, deeply personal compendium of recipes and ancestral knowledge, and I’m so grateful for it."
―Sarah Leung, New York Times best-selling author and cocreator of The Woks of Life
“Immersing myself in the pages of Sitting the Month felt like a gentle balm during the final weeks of my pregnancy. Not only are the recipes deeply nourishing and informative, but Clarissa Wei’s thoughtful prose offers a comforting guide for this tender transition in life. It reminded me of the quiet strength required in preparing for motherhood and how important it is to prioritize rest, good food, community and self-care.”
—Kristina Cho, James Beard Award–Winning author of Mooncakes & Milk Bread and Chinese Enough
“In Sitting the Month, Clarissa Wei does a brilliant job of bringing the Chinese traditions of postpartum nourishment to a new generation in an accessible, appealing and joyful way. The delicious recipes will be enjoyed by everyone, well beyond the first month of new motherhood. I wish I had had this book when I was a new mother!”
—Dr. Linda Shiue, MD, chef and author of Spicebox Kitchen
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