I recently finished Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee. I can't remember where I first read about her, but I had noted her book's release on my iGoogle and anxiously awaited its release. Long live my library!
I found the book rather interesting. Mostly it follows the trail of the origin of fortune cookies while sidetracking on different information about American items that are presumed to be Chinese.
For instance, the white takeout containers that are known to all of us as the mark of incoming Chinese take out. They were originally called oyster pails and served, not surprisingly, to carry oysters. Somewhere along the line, they were used to deliver Chinese food. On the east coast of the US, the wire carry handle crosses the short side of the container. On the west coast, it crosses the long side. In Texas, they have both styles. About 75% of these containers are made by a company called Fold-Pak. They make other types of containers too that other restaurants are now buying. However, non-Chinese restaurants appear that they will not purchase the typical Chinese food container. I find that really fascinating.
She follows the trail of the ubiquitous General Tso's chicken as well as the discusses the nationwide consistency of these Chinese-American standards as sweet and sour chicken with a bright red sauce, beef with broccoli, and chop suey.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and found the food stories fascinating.
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