Chef and owner Thoa Nguyen of Thoa's Restaurant introduced Seattle to the original Chinoise Cafe on Queen Anne. It quickly became a success and three more locations followed. In 2003, she opened The Islander, which departed from the pan-Asian cuisine/sushi of Chinoise to offer upscale "island" cuisine from Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Her newest restaurant focuses on her personal interpretations of contemporary and classic Vietnamese dishes.

Chef Thoa will share some of her culinary secrets with market shoppers at the Magnolia Farmers Market on Saturday, July 10 at 11:30 am.  She says: "Vietnamese cuisine is light and refreshing, using crisp, uncooked vegetables, subtle seasonings, fresh herbs, and unique flavor combinations." Her contemporary approach to classic Vietnamese dishes combines fresh, seasonal Northwest ingredients with traditional Vietnamese flavors.  Her demo will feature fresh market ingredients and recipes will be provided.