The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food
by Jennifer 8 Lee (Goodreads author!)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 433)
This is a very tasty book.
Jennifer 8 Lee is a first generation Chinese-American who became obsessed with the interface between Chinese restaurants and American culture after learning that over 100 people had gotten five out of six winning Powerball numbers by playing the lucky numbers that came with their fortune cookies. Her obsession has resulted in a delightful cultural history with a tiny bit of personal memoir thrown in.
Before reading this book, I had no idea that there are twice...more
Jennifer 8 Lee is a first generation Chinese-American who became obsessed with the interface between Chinese restaurants and American culture after learning that over 100 people had gotten five out of six winning Powerball numbers by playing the lucky numbers that came with their fortune cookies. Her obsession has resulted in a delightful cultural history with a tiny bit of personal memoir thrown in.
Before reading this book, I had no idea that there are twice...more
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Read in March, 2008
Everyone knows I like Chinese food. This delightful book explores the history of American-Chinese food, from chop suey to fortune cookies to General Tso's chicken.
What might appear to be a rather dry topic, turns out to be hysterical. For example, not long ago, over 100 people won Powerball all over the country. How could this statistically impossible thing happen? Fraud? Nope--people were betting using the numbers suggested on fortune cookies! (Something I will begin to do, I might add :-)...more
What might appear to be a rather dry topic, turns out to be hysterical. For example, not long ago, over 100 people won Powerball all over the country. How could this statistically impossible thing happen? Fraud? Nope--people were betting using the numbers suggested on fortune cookies! (Something I will begin to do, I might add :-)...more
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Read in February, 2008
People don't seem to have very good opinions about author blurbs. I, personally, love them. Some of the best and most unexpected books I've read in the past year, I've been drawn to by seeing that one or more of the blurbs on the jacket was from an author I enjoy. Same with this one. Granted, I was almost through the book before I glanced at them, but when I saw that the two Blurbs on the back were from Sasha Issenberg and Mary Roach, my feelings about blurbs were validated yet again.
Wow, I ...more
Wow, I ...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Lincoln by:
NPRrecommends it for: Chinese Americans and Anyone who questions the "stuff" they sell at Panda Express and Stix
Wow... It was such an interesting read. I will recommend this book to anyone who is 1) Chinese American 2) ate at Panda Express or Pick-up-Stix 3) wonder who actually wrote the fortunes in fortune cookies. I started reading the book with limited expectation as to how much it could enlighten me. After reading it, I realized that the book has actually taught me a lot about the origin of things that we don't understand about "american-chinese" food that sometimes may not be important ...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone
Not as much info on egg foo young as I'd like (just kidding) but this casual cultural history of American-Chinese food offered entertaining insights not only into the origins (often American) of dishes like chop suey and general tso's chicken but into the life of Chinese immigrants in general and Chinese immigrant restaurant owners in particular (not an easy life... especially for the kids.)The author travels all over the world (from small-town China to small-town Georgia) to try to better under...more
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Read in April, 2008
My husband is the foodie in the family but I was the one to buy this book and found it highly entertaining...and it made me hungry for kung pao chicken (authentic, I was pleased to learn). Determining the source of the ubiquitous dessert takes this Chinese-American writer down alleys in Japan, from NYC to San Francisco, and to the discovery of a distinct cuisine: Chinese-American, loved the world over as American. From chop suey to kosher duck to soy sauce and take-out menus, Lee examines Chines...more
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Read in May, 2008
I am not by any stretch what you'd call a "foodie". Most people who know me, know this. But I do like Chinese food, history, learning about things and harbor a not-so-secret hope of winning the lottery.
So I was intrigued by the book who found that a number of people had won the lottery playing the numbers from a fortune cookie. This book was a delight in many ways-the author's friendly writing style and insights, the small window into the world Chinese-Americans, the mention of my...more
So I was intrigued by the book who found that a number of people had won the lottery playing the numbers from a fortune cookie. This book was a delight in many ways-the author's friendly writing style and insights, the small window into the world Chinese-Americans, the mention of my...more
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Read in April, 2008
Lee begins her journey into American Chinese food after she reads an article about the 110 Powerball lottery winners who all played the same numbers written on the back of their fortune cookie slip. She asks how did Chinese food become so pervasive in American culture from fortune cookie to chop suey to General Tso's chicken, staples found on most menus, at once exotic and familiar. I found her investigation on the origins of the dishes, the allure of American Chinese food as opposed to Chines...more
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Read in April, 2008
Fun read about the evolution of/culture surrounding American Chinese food and restaurants. The author traveled the world to explore the cuisine's roots, other countries' interpretations, and stories of the distinctive American restaurant items (fortune cookies, white box carry-out containers, General Tso's Chicken, massive amounts of broccoli, etc.) that are hard to find elsewhere. There's also an interesting chapter concerning the battle between lobbyists, governments, and food advocates over l...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Travel and Food Enthusiasts
I received a copy of this book for a review website I am "writing" for. It's wonderful. I really enjoy it. I'm about a quarter of the way through and happily look forward to sitting down and experiencing bits and pieces of it when I can.
Essentially, the author chose to investigate why one Powerball lottery had so many winners, many (if not all) of whom had chosen their numbers inspired by a fortune cookie. She travels the country and talks to the winners as well as historical figur...more
Essentially, the author chose to investigate why one Powerball lottery had so many winners, many (if not all) of whom had chosen their numbers inspired by a fortune cookie. She travels the country and talks to the winners as well as historical figur...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Elisa by:
heard about it on NPRrecommends it for: food lovers, people interested in culture
Jennifer 8 Lee is a great writer and journalist -- what I really enjoyed about her book was her ability to share the facts about Chinese food in America and around the world and keep her story personal with her own life experiences. My favorite chapters were about fortune cookies as well as her quest to find the Greatest Chinese Restaurant in the world.
Throughout this book I was feeling the wanderlust as well as the chinese food lust. I finished it Friday evening and when I talked to my boyf...more
Throughout this book I was feeling the wanderlust as well as the chinese food lust. I finished it Friday evening and when I talked to my boyf...more
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Read in March, 2008
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles is an excellent look at how Chinese food became one of the most All American cuisines ever. Jennifer 8. Lee covers the whole cultural & social spectrum of Chinese American food,from the origins of chop suey and General Tso's chicken to the unique cardboard containers it comes in(which are seen as souvenirs of the US) down to how folks emigrate thousands of miles to America for the chance to better their lives working in Chinese take-outs across the country.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Foodies and readers interested in Asian culture
I began reading this book with a slight bit of trepidation because, despite reading a couple of excellent reviews of this book, I couldn't fathom how Chinese food could warrant close to 300 pages. Lee's book quickly made my initial misgivings totally unfounded. This book was not only highly enjoyable but also full of interesting anecdotes and facts. Her thorough research on the fortune cookie was impressive and intriguing. I would definitely recommend this book to foodies and anyone interest...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Linda and Ann
I thought this would be more about Chinese cuisine. It is an interesting history of American Chinese food such as the origins of the fortune cookie(it's really Japanese). She also mentions the best Chinese Restaurant is in Vancouver which should make my relatives happy. It is a place called Zen. Please go and check it out for me.
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recommends it for:
anyone
Loved this book! It's about SO much more than just Chinese food. It's about different cultures mingling together, families, relationships between parents and children and tons of other things. I recommend this book to just about anyone. Very accessible writing style and it's fun to follow the writer on her journey. Loved it.
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1 comments
Read an advanced readers copy.
Fun, interesting read. The pace of the book slowed near the end, and that portion of the book wasn't as tight as the first 3/4s. Given that I read an ARC, this might have been tightened up in the published version. ...The latter section is also where some typos appeared.
Fun, interesting read. The pace of the book slowed near the end, and that portion of the book wasn't as tight as the first 3/4s. Given that I read an ARC, this might have been tightened up in the published version. ...The latter section is also where some typos appeared.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
people interested in chinese food
This was an enjoyable read and very quick. I learned a bunch of interesting things about so-called "Chinese" food. I love the author's description of "American food that looks Chinese" and her tracing the origins of some of the foods that we, as Americans, think of as Chinese.
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More light nonfiction, but less self absorbed than much that's being written. Warning - you WILL crave Chinese food while reading. Surprisingly informative and an interesting look at Chinese food and its role around the world - especially American style Chinese food.
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Read in March, 2008
I'm reading this and loving it! The history of chop suey (it isn't Chinese) and fortune cookies (guess what? they probably aren't Chinese either!), and a whole lot more. For anyone who likes food or social history, this is great!
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Read in March, 2008
An excellent and informative read on one of the most popular ethnic cuisines in America. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Asian and immigrant culture, food history and folklore, and American culinary history.
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