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KETTERING — Author Nicole Mones wants to introduce Miami Valley residents to some authentic Chinese cuisine after a book-signing event Tuesday, July 1.

Mones, author of "Lost in Translation," began working — and eating — in China in 1977, and has written features on Chinese food for Gourmet magazine for the last nine years. She will introduce the soft-cover edition of her book "The Last Chinese Chef" (Houghton Mifflin, $13.95) on Tuesday, July 1, at 6 p.m. at Books & Co. at Town & Country, 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering.

By 7 p.m., Mones will depart for China Cottage's Centerville restaurant, where guests who have made reservations will be served a meal inspired by the foods discussed in the novel, prepared as it would be in China. The cost of the meal is $30, not including tax or tip; call by Saturday, June 28, to (937) 429-6302 to make a reservation.

In an e-mail interview, Mones said she is trying to arrange such a dinner in every city she visits as part of the book's publicity tour, "in part because so many readers e-mailed me to ask where they could have the kind of food experience" described in detail in her book.

Most Americans "have never even glimpsed" the world of fine Chinese cuisine, Mones said.

Mones contacted Books & Co. spokeswoman Sharon Kelly Roth, who approached China Cottage owner Tiger Wang about hosting the dinner, and Wang quickly agreed.

"This will be a challenge for me, but it's something I really want to do," Wang said.

Wang said he's still working on the menu, and he promised that while the ingredients and preparations will be authentic, "We won't do anything too dramatic, anything that will scare people away."

WHAT: Nicole Mones, author of "Lost in Translation," will introduce the soft-cover edition of "The Last Chinese Chef," to be followed by a special Chinese dinner.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1; departure for dinner no later than 7 p.m.

WHERE: Books & Co. at Town & Country, 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering; dinner at China Cottage, 6290 Far Hills Ave. in Centerville.

HOW: The book-signing event is free; reservations are required to attend the dinner, which costs $30, not including tax or tip. RSVP by Saturday, June 28, to Sharon Kelly Roth at (937) 429-6302 to make a reservation.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2258 or mfisher@DaytonDailyNews.com.