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Chinese restaurant food: What's not authentic?
The fortune cookie isn't the only food that is not authentically Chinese. There are others--some I knew about just because many dishes served at Chinese restaurants in the U.S. didn't originate in China, or if they did, have been altered to suit American palates. Most of the Chinese food I ate in Taiwan or Singapore didn't look or taste similar to the food we pile on our plates at the China Buffet near our house in Columbus, Ohio. Although, it is a perfect place to eat with young children, unless you're Anthony Bourdain, and, in that case, the food barely resembles food at all, authentic it's not.
Back to Chinese food that didn't hail from the "old country" meaning China. In this photo essay, Jennifer 8 Lee, New York Times reporter and writer of the book Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food, presents info about food related items associated with China, but they aren't really Chinese. Broccoli, for example, is not Chinese. That broccoli-chicken dish is an American version, although broccoli has made its way to Taiwan. I imagine there's probably an altered American/Chinese version there. I don't recall. I was too busy stuffing my face with other dishes.
Lee also knows a lot about what is Chinese culture and not Chinese culture about other food related topics, such as food containers. Cardboard cartons for Chinese take-out were created and popularized in the U.S., but Taiwan has a love affair going with Styrofoam. Environmentally friendly habits are not Taiwan's strong suit. I do know that from experience. The few details presented in the photo essay, besides making me feel a bit hungry, put me in the mood for checking out Lee's book.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Singapore, Taiwan, Books
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bobby Mar 31st 2008 12:13AM
"Cardboard cartons for Chinese take-out were created and popularized in the U.S., but Taiwan has a love affair going with Styrofoam. Environmentally friendly habits are not Taiwan's strong suit."
Only to a certain extent now but definitely before 2003.
http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/q&a/page_12.htm
See point 4.
Taiwan has gradually phased out Styrofoam. Businesses are fined if they use Styrofoam for food [in Taipei]. Of course, there are loop-holes. ie An abundant number of Styrofoam cups litter the streets, plastic bags widely used for everything, etc.
Sorry I can't find the exact source b/c there's a newspaper fee. I just know that every time I return to Taiwan, it is cleaner and cleaner!
Jamie Rhein Mar 31st 2008 12:17AM
Great to hear that Bobby. I hope that Taipei's clean up the environment mentality is moving throughout the country. What do people use for take out? I remember loads of plastic tray containers.
Eva Mar 31st 2008 12:45AM
Hey Jamie,
Julia Ross had a really cool post over at World Hum about watching Taiwan's recycling regime in action. Sounds like things are definitely getting cleaned up!
http://www.worldhum.com/speakers_corner/item/talking_trash_in_taiwan_20080319/
-Eva
Jamie Rhein Mar 31st 2008 12:47AM
Thanks, Eva!
I'll check it out. One of these days I need to write a post about Taiwan-style garbage collecting.
Bobby Mar 31st 2008 12:55AM
Jamie, now a days, they use paper containers. It's sort of like bristol board folded up - with the glossy side on the inside so the food doesn't soak the through. I found that some boxes are lined with plastic on the inside, which is another loop-hole. In any case, it's a step forward. Less petroleum use, the better.
Eva, great read. The article doesn't do Taiwan justice. Near the Taipei 101, as pictured in the article, it is immaculately clean. It's incredible to watch the cleaning crew work after New Years celebration. By 6 AM on Jan 1st, you would never have ever guessed thousands of people have congregated there before. But the air quality sucks.
Jamie Rhein Mar 31st 2008 12:57AM
When I lived in Taiwan, people there insisted that the haze was fog. "cough, cough."
teenagertc Mar 31st 2008 8:44PM
I realized during my trip to China, that almost none of the food that we eat in Chinese restaurants in America, are authentic Chinese. The majority of the foods we ate in China were vegetables, and we had more fish than meat, as meat (chicken, pork, shrimp, and beef) are extremely expensive and not economically viable enough for most Chinese people.