Grace Zia Chu


Grace Zia Chu was an author of Chinese cookbooks and a landmark figure in American Chinese culinary world. Chu introduced generations of Americans to Chinese cooking.

Personal life

She was born in Shanghai on 23 April 1899 to parents Zia Hong-lai and Sochen Sze, Grace Anna Zia attended the McTyeire School and later Wellesley College in the United States. Upon graduation, Zia returned to teach in China at McTyeire and Ginling College. In 1928, Zia married Chu Shih-ming, who was appointed military attache to the Chinese Embassy in Washington D. C. in 1941, representing the Nationalist government. She returned to China after World War II, only to resettle in the United States by 1950. Five years later, Zia naturalized as an American citizen, moving to New York City, where she taught cooking at her home, the China Institute, and the Mandarin House restaurant. Zia moved to Columbus, Ohio after Chu died in 1965. Zia died at the age of 99 in Columbus on April 15, 1999.

Notable works

The New York Times called her 1962 cookbook The Pleasures of Chinese Cooking. Chu authored Madame Chu's Chinese Cooking School in 1975, a detailed cookbook from the beginner to an advanced cook.
Grace Zia Chu was named Grande Dame of Les Dames d'Escoffier, New York Chapter in 1984.