Some of it was invented by Japanese-American restaurateurs (fortune cookies are one example), who were in the same business as the Chinese ones: using their knowledge to make cheap, satisfying food that the locals would like, authenticity being no consideration. It all got labelled as “Chinese”, because that’s where they assumed the cooks were from.
Well it’s not like Japanese or Chinese (or Italian or British or French or Danish or Mexican) chefs stopped inventing new dishes. Tonkotsu ramen was invented in the 1930’s. The original Kung Pao Chicken was invented sometime in the mid 19th century, in China. And General Tso’s was probably invented in Taiwan and brought to the United States shortly afterward.
Whether a dish is invented in its ostensibly “home” country or by emigrants from that country doesn’t actually change the legitimacy of the dish. There’s no rule against chefs inventing new dishes, whether they are immigrants or not.
That makes me think of Lomo Saltado. It’s a beef and veggie stir fry you can get at Peruvian restaurants and considered a Peruvian dish. It’s delicious, one of my favorites. But it was actually invented by Chinese immigrants in Peru. So if you follow those same rules, if General Tsos was made by Chinese immigrants in Taiwan, then in other countries, it would be considered a Taiwanese dish. Or if was actually made it America it would be an American dish. Or is that all wrong and I should be able to get Lomo Saltado from a Chinese restaurant?
Some of it was invented by Japanese-American restaurateurs (fortune cookies are one example), who were in the same business as the Chinese ones: using their knowledge to make cheap, satisfying food that the locals would like, authenticity being no consideration. It all got labelled as “Chinese”, because that’s where they assumed the cooks were from.
Well it’s not like Japanese or Chinese (or Italian or British or French or Danish or Mexican) chefs stopped inventing new dishes. Tonkotsu ramen was invented in the 1930’s. The original Kung Pao Chicken was invented sometime in the mid 19th century, in China. And General Tso’s was probably invented in Taiwan and brought to the United States shortly afterward.
Whether a dish is invented in its ostensibly “home” country or by emigrants from that country doesn’t actually change the legitimacy of the dish. There’s no rule against chefs inventing new dishes, whether they are immigrants or not.
That makes me think of Lomo Saltado. It’s a beef and veggie stir fry you can get at Peruvian restaurants and considered a Peruvian dish. It’s delicious, one of my favorites. But it was actually invented by Chinese immigrants in Peru. So if you follow those same rules, if General Tsos was made by Chinese immigrants in Taiwan, then in other countries, it would be considered a Taiwanese dish. Or if was actually made it America it would be an American dish. Or is that all wrong and I should be able to get Lomo Saltado from a Chinese restaurant?
Doesn’t matter, it’s all delicious to me.