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Christy Valentine, June 24, 2009 (view all comments by Christy Valentine)
It's natural for people to be interested in learning the where, why and how of where food originates, and while authors like Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser are arguably more intellectual than Jennifer Lee, Ms. Lee brings an intimacy and personality to her debut book that is often absent from more scholarly tomes.

Sections of this book first appeared in the New York Times, which is where I first heard of it, but the complete work expounds on a lot of the concepts present in that article: where fortune cookies and General Tso's chicken originated, how little Chinese restaurants resemble authentic Chinese dining experiences, the challenges of being an Asian immigrant in the United States. It is, perhaps, a bit ambitious for Ms. Lee to attempt to address all these issues on one book, but she touches on enough of the history and humanity behind Chinese cooking in the West that it's forgivable.

Having grown up in and around Chinese restaurants, frequently running through the kitchens and begging for prawn crackers and fortune cookies as a child, it was very illuminating to read about the realities behind those golden memories, and I imagine anyone who frequently eats Chinese takeout will have a similar experience. The hardships and the luck behind Chinese restaurants are well-expressed, and the book gave me a new appreciation for the food I eat on holidays, on the run, while studying for finals, and with my extended family. It's a must for anyone interested in the story behind the food we eat and the history of American immigrants.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780446698979

Subtitle:

Adventures in the World of Chinese Food

Author:

Lee, Jennifer

Author:

Lee, Jennifer 8

Publisher:

Twelve

Subject:

Regional & Ethnic - Chinese

Subject:

Essays

Subject:

Ethnic Studies - Asian American Studies

Subject:

Cookery, chinese

Subject:

Gastronomy

Publication Date:

March 2009

Binding:

Paperback

Language:

English

Illustrations:

Y

Pages:

309

Dimensions:

8.02x5.19x.82 in. .66 lbs.