Mother Tongue is written by Akiko Kurematsu, photographed by Harry Were, and shot in interior designer Katie Lockhart's home kitchen.
The recipes have been passed down through generations of women in Akiko's lineage, each generation contributing and adapting to it. The food featured in Mother Tongue is simple, without too many ingredients or lengthy cooking times. Mother Tongue asks you to consider cooking using local produce, and shop from small businesses who practice sustainable food sourcing.
Mother Tongue does not include recipes using meat.
Working with Auckland-based art direction and graphic design studio Fount--via, Akiko has considered recycled materials and environmentally aware production and printing solutions for Mother Tongue. The book is softcover and 160 pages, printed and bound in Italy by Musumeci S.p.a., Quart.
A percentage of the proceeds from US customers will go towards organizations and initiatives such as NAPAWF (National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum), a nonprofit that elevates and builds power among AAPI women and girls.