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Original thread: https://twitter.com/XiranJayZhao/status/1284285007041671169?s=19
https://linktr.ee/xiranjayzhao
Kightzeareau
I think this is really cool aswell. Respect to Chinese Americans. I didn't know that History.
gewalt
alright, im gonna get me some chinese this weekend. I am a huge sucker for that comfort food.
Nlchacon
Had fried chicken wings and egg fried rice today. Have the leftovers for tomorrow. Good living.
miklethertrac
I think Chinese chicken wings are consistently best quality wings, across all restaurants
TheFastpaws
I love history and there is truth here but I also feel a bias brush on a few parts of it. Which is sad because history is history.
25schmeckles
Like the part where the fools were TRICKED into liking a certain kind of food? Felt a little nasty to me :( if it’s delicious it’s delicious
yifin
I need a new hole in the wall Chinese place.
shimmernshine
look for a turnkey-style operation with the name Mr Cook or Hot Wok
BadgerSims
Strange this didn't mention the MSG health myths that were spread by racists to undermine chinese food and is still perpetuated to this day
ramarins
Very interesting story about this myth: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/668/the-long-fuse
Sentay
I love Chinese food, this was a great read
goodisunpopular
The post forgot to mention how much Jewish Americans helped Chinese American food become normalized among White ppl. Chinese restaurants 1/2
goodisunpopular
2/2 where usually the only places American Jews could go out for dinner on Sundays & during holidays like Christmas.
Larirari
I loved those restaurant interiors, so beautiful!
MementoMoriMotherFucker
@butchmckenzie
loserTrying
Guys check out Ugly Delicious, Fried Rice episode as well on Netflix
harbingerjo
+1 loved it.
NonnieNic
For more info read Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States.
fuckthisshitwebsite
Chinese American food is good. Real Chinese food is also good. People don't usually eat things that taste bad.
DoctorateDoom
I've always been of the opinion that its difficult to maintain racist hate if you maintain a world spanning palate
Hipcrostino
TIL chop suey isn't just the name of a song.
ALeafOnTheWindWatchHowISoar
Same. It’s nice to learn new information
Vergenbuurg
Baelnorn
I'm kinda curious as to the life you lead in which you didn't learn this up until now. Serj is eating chop suey in the video.
Necc0
i still blow people's mind with the whole 'unfold takeout box into a plate' thing
IDontWannaBeACowboy
Dude that's cool as hell
IFoldlyGo
I agree, this post was in good taste
ArtSparkle
I love people posting real shit
LetsShall
As a Singaporean Chinese who used to visit the US often, the Chinese cuisine there is really very different, too sugary and salty tbh.
destinoz
Types of food that spring up because of unique circumstances present in specific areas, is part of how culture works. Texmex US Chinese are
destinoz
part of America’s culture and story, but people resist this because they want to view immigrants as other and somehow not really American.
Xedi22
I’ve never really thought of us having American food. It’s just a mix of what everyone brought over, that became our huge menu. (Plus NA!)
destinoz
Foods on the American continents are all largely fusion of the old world and new. It's funny that Americans consider things like Mexican
destinoz
food authentic, but their American counterparts like the flour tortilla a knock off. They all happened for the same reasons, cultural
destinoz
mixing caused by the unique circumstances of western colonization and immigration.
tzahtman
While I have no doubt others have said it, the only person I ever heard say "It's not real Chinese food" was a Chinese professor of mine.
asconsistentasamodahahahaha
Thank you... i'm always willing to learn.
definitelynotawolf
Especially if it’s about the origins of delicious food
Shitheid
Have you seen “the search for general tso”? Fantastic documentary trying to trace the origin of the dish
tinydog
I'm all about that General Tso. He may be a fabrication, but he's mine.
Counterfit
The guy who invented that dish died fairly recently.
uponstrangeshores
Ok but why did Chinese people from not America bring this Chinese American food to every other non-Asian country there is? ->
Yupurineutah
IKR? Every paella place I tried in Barcelona was the same tasteless crap. Found a great chop suey joint and ate there a lot. Just like home.
JuanSigrid
Maybe because paella is from Valencia, not Catalunya... Even there it is best in country side /small town restaurants not the city centre.
uponstrangeshores
> You have to really look to find any Chinese food that Chinese people actually eat in China outside of Asia, but chop suey? Everywhere. //
DedWexMyth
Check out "The Search for General Tso." It's pretty interesting. It was on Netflix at one point, not sure if it still is though.
CiGr
Saw a show on TV about Chinese immigrants in Canada building the railroad & the development of Chinese-Canadian food from that. I haven't 1/
CiGr
Been able to find it again. Was that in Search for General Tso?
UnrustleYerJimmies
It's not anymore, I just looked for it, but it is on YouTube!
Demikmj
I love this! And I love myself some Panda Express! Imagine a world where cream cheese Rangoons didn’t exist!
shimmernshine
Those were actually an American invention from Trader Vic's.
Demikmj
The point of the post is all Chinese American food is an American invention!
shimmernshine
By Chinese Americans.
shimmernshine
The Crab Rangoon was invented by Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr.
baloothead
Who gives a shit
19somethingand5
Damn, now I need some sweet and sour chicken and pork fried rice - second dinner it is.
strangeassfiction
Just had sub gum hous fried rise and some amazing fried dumplings ofay
strangeassfiction
Today- oof
ShoogettyBoogetty
Salt-n-pepper wings and wonton soup for me.
Vergenbuurg
Well-prepared pork fried rice is such an amazing comfort food. It's even good after being reheated.
MooseSK
Reheat that shit in a skillet. You'll never go back.
RosencrantzNGuildensternNeverLived
Microwaves are for amateurs.
Winowill
It is literally what we have coming from Uber tonight. Funny finding this post as we wait for our dinner. Love Asian food (:
UnicorninBanff
I could eat egg foo yong and dumplings until I looked like them.
witchykitchen
Now I want Chinese food for breakfast...
Undrave
I haven't had Chinese in a long time even before the lockdown started... now I need some...
Nelmathel
https://youtu.be/dLXeL4HbPr4
geosynthetic
Oh, so that's why almost every mom & pop chinese I get has essentially the same dishes. They're like a chain. But not.
Counterfit
There's always those little variations in the recipe and overall menu that makes the difference.
Counterfit
My favorite place in Providence had a beef chow foon with a black bean sauce. I was pretty bummed when it closed, but another spot opened >
Counterfit
across the street with basically the same recipe (probably owned or run by someone involved with the previous place)
thethingthatwentsplat
This. Every place has their own recipes.
elementcarbon12
While it’s not authentic, it is good. Authentic Chinese food is good too (but I would wish for some Americanization with boneless dishes).
uhohstop
Yea, it’s not authentic Chinese, but it’s authentically American!
NOYLL
Their Chinese broccoli thing that's sauteed with garlic is amazing
blumpk1npie
There are many authentic & delicious vegan Chinese dishes you can have. That said there's nothing worse than fish bones in the throat.
elementcarbon12
I’m not a fan of getting poked in the mouth by chopped chicken bones either. Szechuan mala chicken without bones was great!
idontwanadothispart
I was so excited to get panda express where I live, and then was promptly let down. Grew up with mom n pop/hole in the wall places, too good
Shitheid
I find it’s kinda like Olive Garden or red lobster. You don’t eat there often but when you get the craving, nothing else is quite right
HoSlappa
orange chicken. nothing else really matters at panda.
lordofthedice
There's like a hundred Chinese restaurants in my town. My favorite is called Shanghai Inn.
Counterfit
The lo mein is like 50% grease at Panda Express
Pokegeologist
I miss the smaller family run places in Phoenix. PF Chang's and Panda are NOT the same.
onesickpuppy3000
Love me some hole in the wall places! But I enjoy Panda Express too. Sorry it was a let down for ya.
Cheesecakecrush
We had a panda express come in across the street, the kid LOVES chinese but we barely go there. Everything is undercooked
Pokegeologist
I see both as valid for what they are. Panda is to Chinese food as Taco Cabana is to Mexican.
HoSlappa
taco bell?
Pokegeologist
I can't full up at Panda on $5.
babykiller5000
Watch the search for general tso. It’s an amazing documentary that goes into the anthropology of Asian cuisine in the US.
elreeneey
.
Counterfit
Spoiler alert: the dude in the striped shirt knows the answer to the title and he's in the entire movie. He holds out for an hour!
UnrustleYerJimmies
Thanks for the recommendation!
dennyson
.
skios
The Ugly Delicious episode on fried rice (s01e07) is a good complement to that for a more contemporary look at American Chinese food.
JOAP
Loved that program
graehall
Great documentary! I very much enjoyed it.
buddytheelfwhatsyourfavoritecolor
.
astrangehop
Does it explain why the west coast doesn't have lo mein? I have a vague idea of different waves of immigration from different areas, but
astrangehop
Those wheat noodles are my jam.
IMGURN3WB
What do you mean? Where are you? I can assure you there is lo mein on the West Coast.
kakari
Lo mein is different on the west coast and is what is called chow mein east of the Mississippi. There they have crunchy noodles, not soft.
IMGURN3WB
Again, I assure you, we have all of that on the west coast.
kakari
Just noting the difference in names, kind of like Edy's/Dreyer's, Hardee's/Carl's Jr, Hellman's/Best, but generic ??/?? food.
disodiumbenzoate
I recall reading that Chinese take out is the most American food since it’s the most widely available in the country
MexicanTrainer
It's actually not Chinese food at all. Source - my friend in Asia
TheS4ndm4n
Same with "Chinese" food in the Netherlands. Except it wasn't even made up by Chinese. It's immigrants from Indonesia.
IservetheMorrigan
That and Toyota vehicles
Frostycopper
Taco bell wants a word with you
YesYouJustLostTheGameAgain
Fun fact: the “ginger chicken/beef” as you all know it, was invented in my city. Calgary, Alberta, Canada:)
HotsauceIsLethal
I would like to try some authentic Chinese foods. Is that a thing?
UrbanSatyr
Like buddy says, find a Chinese neighborhood. Look for the places with cooked animals hanging in the windows. Usually duck & pork. So good.
buddytheelfwhatsyourfavoritecolor
find a China Town near you and find highest reviewed. Personally not a fan but it’s worlds apart (pun intended) than American Chinese food
buddytheelfwhatsyourfavoritecolor
Not a fan only because it’s made with various pork in almost every recipe. Not because of taste.
disodiumbenzoate
I think the best way to look is to try for regional Chinese food, like a restaurant that references a particular province a lot in the menu
tinybluedot5
What the other guys said, but China is also a ginormous country, with different cuisines in different areas.
MadameDex
Well, isn't England's national dish curry? Similar idea.
shimmernshine
If you were to count independently owned american chinese restaurants as a single chain, they outnumber McDonald's.
diehardlance
And they all use the same menu
shimmernshine
A lot of them are turnkey operations using a common business model and supply chain from a company called "Mr Cook"
lazerfrog
I’d love to see a wordwide stat on that, although doubt is possible. Subway is the biggest chain with 45K locations, that’s nothing really.
shimmernshine
there are over 50k american chinese restaurants.
lazerfrog
I would assume so. And worldwide stats would smash it out of the water.
Sturdycrotch
I would argue that Mexican food is either tied or not far behind.
laboon
Have you been to the north?
KingOFrod
The Chimichanga is the most American food ever. We took a foreign cuisine, turned it into something else, and then deep-fried it.
DazzelingToad
Where would pizza place?
teahouseoftheaugustmoon
One dope thing about living now is having relatively access to different, tasty, and safe foods.
Higure
You mean Mexican-American?
saberfecco
You guys realize Texas used to be Mexico?
imcurrentlyatabar
Shout out to the Tejanos!
Xedi22
If you lump TexMex, MexiCali, Mex taquerias, etc...then yeah.
ZOMGNO
Genuine question.. Is it as readily available/common on the Northern and Eastern coasts as it is along the Mexican border? (Not an American)
scJazz
I can walk 1 block to a Guatemalan or Salvadoran for Mexican-American 2 miles. Connecticut.
FallenJester
In Minnesota, i have 3 taquerias, 2 Mexican restaurants, and 3 fast food taco places all within like 10 miles of my house.
UrbanSatyr
In Chicago you can't got more than a block or two in any direction without hitting a Mexican restaurant. Open really late too. It's great.
ZOMGNO
Thanks! I did wonder if it was just a proximity thing, like... close to Mexico has more!
dadtheinhaler
Can’t say the same about NYC. There’s a Chinese or Italian place every couple blocks in my neighborhood (Yorkville, Manhattan). We’re lucky>
dadtheinhaler
If there’s 1 or 2 half decent Mexican places in the neighborhood. And a place with that great New Mexico green Chile sauce, forget it!