Nguyen Thi Thanh, chef and owner of the famed restaurant the Lunch Lady, died Monday.听
“Today, we鈥檙e mourning more than the loss of our founder,” said Michael Tran, creative director and co-owner of the Lunch Lady Canada, in a news release. “We鈥檙e mourning her warmth, her generosity 鈥 the way she lit up a room without ever needing to speak. Her smile said everything.
“Her impact went far beyond food,” he continued. “She taught us to lead with care, to cook with soul, and to stay grounded in where we come from. We鈥檒l carry her legacy forward with honour, with gratitude and with the same heart she brought to every bowl.”
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Thanh suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
“She was on her way to celebrate the grand opening of the Lunch Lady Toronto, to be part of this next chapter and share the story she began decades ago in a small alley in Vietnam,” the Lunch Lady team聽.
“She experienced cardiac arrest and, although medical personnel worked tirelessly for over an hour to resuscitate her, they were unable to revive her. She passed peacefully, with loved ones by her side.”
The post continued, “We were ready to welcome her. To honour her. To celebrate this moment together. And now, we are mourning an immeasurable loss.”
On a visit to Vietnam, Bourdain tried the food at her stall and loved it. He described it as 鈥渄iscovering new neighbourhoods every few mouthfuls.鈥 His visit brought global attention to Thanh’s nameless stall. The two struck up a friendship and Bourdain helped her pick a name for the restaurant: 鈥淭he Lunch Lady.”
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The Vancouver Lunch Lady location has received three consecutive Michelin and Bib Gourmand awards.
Thanh had planned to open a new location in 海角社区官网on June 3. Management has postponed the opening and will announce the new date sometime in the future.听
There will be vigils held in both 海角社区官网and Vancouver, the dates of which will be announced in the future.听
Thanh will be laid to rest in Vietnam.听
“C么 Thanh wasn鈥檛 just the heart and soul of the Lunch Lady,” reads the Instagram post. “She was a mother figure, a mentor, a quiet master of her craft. Her food told stories. Her presence made people feel seen. Her legacy lives in every bowl, every herb, every careful moment in the kitchen.
Marisa Coulton is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter
for the Star. Reach her via email: mcoulton@thestar.ca
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