Culture News
Dishing on Chinese, the great American comfort food
by cynthia yoo | March 10, 2008 at 12:01 am | 892 views | 13 comments
First of all, love the name--Jennifer 8. Lee--8 is a lucky number for the Chinese. Not to mention, there's the factoid about the rise of 'American'-Chinese food joints in Baghdad following the U.S. occupation.
I love food, and ideas on cross-cultural fertilization; both ingredients found in this debut concoction by Ms. 8 Lee--"The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food."
Chinese restaurants are more American than apple pie, says Jennifer 8. Lee in “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food.” There are twice as many of these restaurants as there are McDonald’s franchises, and the food they serve is every bit as predictable. “What Chinese restaurant menu doesn’t offer beef with broccoli, sesame chicken, roast pork lo mein, fried wontons, egg rolls and egg drop soup?” asks the author, an “American-born Chinese” who cheerfully admits to an obsession with Chinese restaurants.Source: nytimes.com
Oh, and for a time during final year at college, I had a huge addiction to General Tsao Chicken from this particular Chinese joint on Dundas, TO. So it was with great relish (okay, must stop this cheesiness, full stop) I read that for her book, Ms. 8 Lee dug deep to detail the origins of this most delectable dish.
Lee travels to Hunan to see if the actual General Tso had anything to do with the chicken dish that bears his name, only to discover it most likely began as General Ching’s chicken, named after General Tso’s mentor. She also reveals that the white cardboard Fold-Pak cartons for takeout food, originally used to hold shucked oysters, are unknown in China, where Chinese takeout food is virtually nonexistent. But there’s a demand for them elsewhere — because European and African television viewers want the product they see on “Seinfeld” and “Friends.”Source: nytimes.com
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Comments (13)
This image was taken at the EDGE ART NOW show at the IAO Gallery in Oklahoma City. The group show was nothing short of awesome. An 8.5 x 11 auction took place, which was unique in the way they structured it. Great crowd, captivating content and one hell of a good time.
kanalydesign has contributed a photo to this story.
Fortune cookies used here for cupcake decoration... what says farewell and goodluck better than good fortunes?
hellofortune has contributed a photo to this story.
somebody asked me if they could use a fortune cookie picture i took. it has little to do with the fortune i guess, it says, "get away from home a while to restore your energy" i think.
i implore you to live out your days as a technomad superhero
thanks, I'll try my best to dispel that fembot rumour~
It's all abouth hopes and belives isent it!
Facinates me so much this little cookie.
nilly2008 has contributed a photo to this story.
Yes, a fortune cookie covered in white chocolate and sprinkles. How Chinese is that?
thinklia has contributed a photo to this story.
I make these little fortune cookies out of yarn. The little message is removable. What's better than a re-usable fortune cookie?
fiftyacorns has contributed a photo to this story.
These are great. And I didn't realize that there were so many knitting communities out there! Great stuff! What other things do you knit?
I was just got home from school and saw some fortune cookies on the counter and decided I'd eat one. Popped it open, and out came this message, I thought it was rather cool so I grabbed my camera and took this picture.
SilirShots has contributed a photo to this story.
Fortune cookies aren't as big down here (Australia) but they still have that awesome cult feeling about them. However, they just don't last forever and sometimes the sayings in them are somewhat lame. So I thought... why not make my own?! So I did!
These are made out of felt with a hand-embroidered ribbon as the saying - fully customisable, will last forever, and have zero calories!
Two Cheese Please has contributed a photo to this story.
for cynthia...
photo.monkey has contributed a photo to this story.
I love making plushies and fortune cookies are so much fun to make!
sewlovinit has contributed a photo to this story.
Out of the dozens of fortunes I have read, this was the first one that meant something to me. Hence the picture. Go figure?
I do appreciate the story though; very intriguing.
citylovelikewoah has contributed a photo to this story.