Delicious telling of a history both sweet and sour. I love the way the author reminds us of the racial injustices of the past and present but manages to makes us feel the warmth of her Grandmother’s kitchen and the tenderness of her kiss. Thanks again ffj.
Great read! I particulary enjoyed learning how so many Chinese came to owning restaurants and laundries. Women's work...it was dismissive and undervalued as compared to men's work. I think we still have a way to go in this respect.
I absolutely love this story! I also owned a Chinese restaurant in the Bronx, on City Island called Taipan Diane in the late 1980s. It's a long story that has to do with my mother (Diane), who had no restaurant experience and no one in our family is Chinese. I, on the other hand did have extensive restaurant experience and ended up being sucked into this project if only to try to salvage it. Of course, we produced exactly what you're talking about: Chinese food for an American palette. It was only when I traveled to China that I understood the amazing cuisine that I had never tasted but thought I knew! Thank you so much for sharing.
We're so happy you liked it and that it resonated with you! It sounds like your story also points to just how popular/important Chinese American cuisine is to the fabric of NYC and I'm sure could also tell us something really interesting about the dynamic the politics of "authenticity". Thanks for sharing!
Delicious telling of a history both sweet and sour. I love the way the author reminds us of the racial injustices of the past and present but manages to makes us feel the warmth of her Grandmother’s kitchen and the tenderness of her kiss. Thanks again ffj.
Sweet and sour - what a great way of putting it, Jodie. We need to hire you for some copy editing! Lots of love. - IV
A bittersweet tale, beautifully bookended with the striped awning.
Great read! I particulary enjoyed learning how so many Chinese came to owning restaurants and laundries. Women's work...it was dismissive and undervalued as compared to men's work. I think we still have a way to go in this respect.
I absolutely love this story! I also owned a Chinese restaurant in the Bronx, on City Island called Taipan Diane in the late 1980s. It's a long story that has to do with my mother (Diane), who had no restaurant experience and no one in our family is Chinese. I, on the other hand did have extensive restaurant experience and ended up being sucked into this project if only to try to salvage it. Of course, we produced exactly what you're talking about: Chinese food for an American palette. It was only when I traveled to China that I understood the amazing cuisine that I had never tasted but thought I knew! Thank you so much for sharing.
We're so happy you liked it and that it resonated with you! It sounds like your story also points to just how popular/important Chinese American cuisine is to the fabric of NYC and I'm sure could also tell us something really interesting about the dynamic the politics of "authenticity". Thanks for sharing!
An excellently written, and highly absorbing piece. I thoroughly enjoyed it, could almost smell the aroma's.
Us too! Editing it made us hungry for Cantonese home cooking and greasy American Chinese too!
A beautifully written and insightful piece!
Thanks for your kind words!
Excellent family history> I always thought New York was more 'authenically Chinese' in its cuisine than SF, with Boston being a pale imitation.
Exquisite! Powerfully done!
Thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed it.