Copyright theage
The term refers to people of Vietnamese ancestry living elsewhere. Sometimes used pejoratively, Le has embraced Viet Kieu as the title of her book and a descriptor of her restaurant. The cookbook-memoir showcases Le’s incredibly detailed, storied approach to cooking. It also reveals a childhood marked by abuse. “Thi has always been a fierce voice for anyone who feels caught between two cultures,” says Good Food Guide co-editor Emma Breheny. “Sharing her story through this book has been so powerful, a watershed for so many people cooking in Australia today. Even beyond food, many first-generation Australians will feel seen in that experience.” Le has been a chef that chefs watch ever since Anchovy opened. So why is she the Good Food Guide’s Chef of the Year for 2026? “There are three reasons it feels right,” says Rodell. “Anchovy opened a decade ago: it’s very small, very personal, a labour of love and it’s important to celebrate when a business like that makes it this long.
