Comments on: Why American Chinese cuisine isn’t exactly Chinese

By: Humotropy

Humotropy — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:40:07 +0000

[...] version of the menu and a fork. I hate the American menu. 8Asians.com is diplomatic in their assessment of American Chinese food: Have you ever noticed how Americanized Chinese food, really isn’t so Chinese? I’ve found that [...]

By: Chas

Chas — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:51:12 +0000

I too recommend The Fortune Cookie Chronicles.

I remember when I was a Jewish kid growing up in Pittsburgh, my parents used to get La Choy Chow Mein from the supermarket. To this fussy kid it looked incredibly unappetizing. I didn’t try Americanized Chinese food until I was nearly 30.

I remember being introduced to authentic Cantonese food by a co-worker several years after my first Americanized experience, starting with jellyfish, cheung fun, and barbecue-sauce chicken feet at a dim sum place in SF Chinatown. I loved it.

Yeah, there are some dishes I don’t go for (sea cucumber, bitter melon, egg yolk in my moon cakes) or don’t even want to be in the same room as (stinky tofu). But I’ve gotten much fussier about the Americanized Chinese food I still sometimes eat.

By: ancient one

ancient one — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:59:01 +0000

I used to love bothering some Chinese friends by asking them, “where can I get some really authentic Chinese chicken salad?”

While I generally avoid Americanized Chinese (easy to do in Silicon Valley), blends of Chinese food with other ingredients and cultures can yield interesting results. Filipino food has Chinese influences. Malaysian and Singaporean restaurants are pretty popular now, the food there a blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences. I have been to a number of Chinese oriented Japanese restaurants. The one Chinese blend I want to try is Indian style Chinese food (Desi Chinese food). Does anyone know if there any desi chinese places in the Bay Area?

By: Toro

Toro — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:40:46 +0000

Who opts for the Western menu over dim sum? Were you dining with republicans?

And, the fortune cookie is indeed a Japanese creation.

By: =)

=) — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:38:46 +0000

Chinese culture is unique in that it spans the globe. Chinese diasporic communities in many countries, influenced and influencing many communities. It’s not like off shoots of a idealized TRUE Chinese food are tying to be ’so Chinese’. It’s just amazing that they can and do flourish in their own terms. I think people need to have a broader understanding of what so called Chinese food is. And coupled with that, what Chinese culture is.

By: Yvespaul

Yvespaul — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:11:25 +0000

Yeah, the thing about Chinese Food is that everything needs to be cooked, even iceberg lettuce. So Jen is right. There’s no Chinese salad ever.

American Chinese food is a cuisine all on its own and I would argue that Fortune Cookies are Chinese, just not traditional Chinese cuisine. I’m pretty sure it’s invented by a Chinese in San Francisco.

Another thing about Chinese cuisine, I think, is that everything is either good for you or brings you good omen. So that’s where American Chinese and Traditional Chinese cuisine differ.

I’m a Cantonese but I too stay away from chicken feet (BBQ or Vinegared) . Just not my style… lol

By: John

John — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:34:17 +0000

“Why American Chinese cuisine isn’t exactly Chinese” is sort of the whole premise of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, which I’ve blogged about. You should check out the book!

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:22:57 +0000

As my Chinese friend likes to say, “Chinese people DON’T eat salad”

i always think of his statement whenever I see the Chinese Chicken Salad option at the Cheesecake Factory…