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Menus document history of Chinese eateries in US
by noteworthy at 7:33 pm EST, Dec 19, 2004

dmv wrote:
] I thought that, in today's column, I would heal the
] nation.
]
] The nation suffered a wound during the recent
] presidential election as a result of the rift between the
] red states -- defined as "states where 'foreign cuisine'
] pretty much means Pizza Hut" -- and the blue states,
] defined as "states that believe they are smarter than
] the red states, despite the fact that it takes the
] average blue-state resident 15 minutes to order a single
] cup of coffee."

I know Dave is trying to be funny, but those characterizations are just dead wrong.

Here's an excerpt from a New York Times article published on September 22, 2004.

There are now close to 36,000 Chinese restaurants in the United States, according to Chinese Restaurant News, a trade publication, more than the number of McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King franchises combined. What began in this country as exotic has become thoroughly American. A study by the Center for Culinary Development, a food product development company, found that 39 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 13 who were surveyed said Chinese was their favorite type of food, compared with only 9 percent who chose American.

"It has become part of our consciousness."

"It is quintessentially American."

RE: Menus document history of Chinese eateries in US
by dmv at 8:41 pm EST, Dec 20, 2004

noteworthy wrote:

] I know Dave is trying to be funny, but those characterizations
] are just dead wrong.

That's a great link, thank you. Debating on a point of a snide Dave Barry comment is to miss point, true.

I find the history of Chinese food in this country to be fascinating. Actually, Chinese food internationally is a new measurement I have been using with various countries and their cultures. Specific examples were the Chinese/Mexican bistro scene in Mexico City, which has a very different feel but is equally well established culturally.
In fact, the first real meal I had in Panama City recently was cheap chinese. The elements of the food informed the rest of my gastronimical experience (no fear of Meat and Fried Meat, rice and beans).