Title: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food
Author: Jennifer 8. Lee
Jennifer 8. Lee seeks for the true lineage of the fortune cookie while exploring the history of Chinese food in America.
Did you know that there are nearly twice as many Chinese restaurants in the United States as McDonald's franchises? While Chinese takeout is in the rotation for our Saturday date nights (which take place on the couch, sometimes with a movie, but more often with whatever sporting event Eddie can't tear his attention from), I didn't realize that Chinese-American food is nearly as standardized as the food from the Golden Arches, even though most Chinese food establishments are of the mom & pop variety. This is a really interesting, fast read (I think I started it yesterday). My only criticism is that sometimes the jumps between the fortune cookie story and the rest of the book (more generally about Chinese food in America) were sometimes kind of jarring. I also thought Lee was summing up and ending her book about two chapters before it actually ended.
3 comments:
Haven't read this. But my own disappointment with local Chinese is its standardization and "Americanization", i.e. the assumption that Americans like their food bland and thus the spices and heat must be toned down as to be almost indiscernible.
But Chinatowns are never too far away so thereto for food and shopping. Had an great conversation yesterday (one of those unexpected gems) with the car lady about checking out the trends in the department store and then heading to Chinatown for the inexpensive knock-offs.
Some cookbooks I like are by Ming Tsai (more fusion actually but good flavor). He used to be on FDTV but may be on PBS now.
Chiao. Still trying to fit in a run today. How do you do it with 4. I struggle with 2 (3 with DH in mind :-)
She actually talks extensively about Tsai in one of the later chapters. One of the main themes of the book is American Chinese food v. Chinese Chinese food and how to reconcile those two ideas. She goes on a search for General Tso's Chicken in China and comes up empty-handed. Good luck with the running!
Lately, I've heard some urban myths about how the crispiness in Chinese take-out is achieved and maintained. Still I like and trust my local places.
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