General Tso’s chicken is s popular sweet deep-fried chicken dish that is served in North American Chinese restaurants. The dish is named after Zuo Zongtang (also romanized Tso Tsung-t’ang), a Qing dynasty statesman and military leader. However, there is no recorded connection to him nor is the dish known in Hunan, Zuo’s home province.
The dish is not found in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, or in Xiangyin County, where Zuo was born. Moreover, Zuo’s descendants in Xiangyin County, when interviewed, say that they never heard of such a dish.
****** ****** ******
There’s a clear difference between a Chinese restaurant in China and an Chinese-American restaurant. Bring people straight from China into the latter, and most likely they will be terribly confused by all the zodiac placemats, fortune cookies, and dishes smothered by an extremely generous amount of corn starch. Even amongst Americans, there is still plenty of confusion. “Hey do you want some cream cheese wontons?”
Most of the dishes are revised versions of what’s in China—or don’t exist at all.
Josiesvoice
Some even say that the beef and broccoli dish did not exist in China. The fortune BTW was invented in San Francisco,California—true story. A lot of Chinese dishes undergo variations so as to suit the local tastes of the place that they get served to.
(What are Fortune Cookies anyway?)
Pilgrimage Studio
I really like authentic ethnic foods. I am always on the look-out for restaurants that serve food this way. So far I’ve found a Mexican, Korean, and a Greek restaurant that serve authentic ethnic foods and there’re unforgettable. There’s something about cooks using real food to pass down real cultural traditions that adhere to the delight of the pallet!! To Kimchi! To eat kimchi is like getting to know a true taste of Korean culture!
In Conclusion:
I was stationed in Korea in 1969 and get Kimchi at Whole Foods often. At that time, Taegu City (now Daegu), was like living in the 19th century. There were no dogs on the streets: just dogs used for stir-fry dishes!
To be more authentic, you can query for Chinese restaurants with traditional fare.
Great post 😁
LikeLiked by 3 people
Love the General’s sweet chicken!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes. It’s the best!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some even say that the beef and broccoli dish did not exist in China. The fortune BTW was invented in San Francisco,California—true story. A lot of Chinese dishes undergo variations so as to suit the local tastes of the place that they get served to.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Exactly! I went to a local Chinese restaurant and asked the lady in charge if they served real Chinese food and she literally panicked, afraid some customers may have heard me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. I saw my earlier remark missed out on the word COOKIE for fortune cookie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🍪🥢🥡
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks great and the chicken is tempting to say the least!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Delicious looking……
LikeLiked by 1 person
Innterestingg!! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
There’s a clear difference between a Chinese restaurant in China and an Chinese-American restaurant. Bring people straight from China into the latter, and most likely they will be terribly confused by all the zodiac placemats, fortune cookies, and dishes smothered by an extremely generous amount of corn starch. Even amongst Americans, there is still plenty of confusion. “Hey do you want some cream cheese wontons?”
Most of the dishes are revised versions of what’s in China—or don’t exist at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like authentic ethnic foods. I am always on the look-out for restaurants that serve food this way. So far I’ve found a Mexican, Korean, and a Greek restaurant that serve authentic ethnic foods and there’re unforgettable. There’s something about cooks using real food to pass down real cultural traditions that adhere to the delight of the pallet!! 🥘 😋 🥘 To Kimchi! To eat kimchi is like getting to know a true taste of Korean culture!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was stationed in Korea in 1969 and get Kimchi at Whole Foods often.
At that time, Taegu City, was like living in the 19th century.
There were no dogs on the streets.
Just dogs used for stir-fry meat!
You can also query for Chinese restaurants with traditional fare.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m glad it’s not dog meat that we get now. Lol 🤪
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe sometimes…🐶
LikeLiked by 1 person
Besides Kimchi, did you like Korean food while you were there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The raw fish and stir-fried, whatever, and drinks were unusual to say the least. But popping beetles was not on my menu!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d skip the beetles too. Cucumber kimchi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for serving!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could really go for some General Tso’s right now. Wish there was some decent Chinese closer than 50 miles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use to work in Washington DC across from a Chinese restaurant. There was a front section for regular customers and another larger area for the bus loads of Chinese visitors. I started to eat with the Chinese and my eyes and accent changed because of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe it!
LikeLiked by 1 person