Freebie Friday: Chop Suey (A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States)

| 17 July 2009

chopsueyHow did peasant food of an obscure part of China come to dominate Chinese-American restaurants? Why did Jewish Americans fall in love with egg rolls and chow mein? Why do Americans relentlessly change foreign foods and adapt them to our own deeply-rooted culinary preferences? In his new book published by Oxford University Press, food writer Andrew Coe tells the fascinating story of the American infatuation with Chinese food. (Psst: it's a history book, but so interesting you won't even realize you're gettin' an educashun.)

We've got two copies to give away, so there will be two lucky winners this week.

Enter to win Chop Suey--just leave a comment on the site with your favorite Chinese food!

Read the contest rules (short version: one entry per person, must be 21 or older and have a U.S. mailing address).

Congratulations to Helen of the great Napa Valley wine country, winner of the Vino de Milo $30 gift certificate.

Web find of the week: The hyperlocal food movement has hit the wine world. Check out www.drinklocalwine.com, especially the upcoming conference.

Comments (64)add
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written by Jeff Siegel , July 17, 2009
That's a book I have wanted to write for years. Why -- how -- does every single small town in the south have a Chinese restaurant that is run by Chinese?

My favorite is shrimp pan fried noodles from the New Big Wong in Dallas.
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written by Sharon A , July 17, 2009
Kung Pao Chicken would be my favorite.
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written by Denise Schipani , July 17, 2009
I have a suburban problem: you can't get really, really good dirt cheap Chinese food where I live, a mere 25 miles from New York City (or thereabouts; I'm not great with mileage). My fave when we lived in Queens was eggplant with garlic sauce over brown rice. Here, it's just not spicy enough -- too greasy, too. When I lived in London, there was a truly hole-in-the-wall place in London's Chinatown that had The Best Duck Ever. I still dream about it, with its little pancakes and sweet/sour sauce. Mmmmmm.....
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written by carol , July 17, 2009
I just adore pork Fried Rice, I could eat it 3x a day.
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written by Jaclyn Reynolds , July 17, 2009
Bean curd and vegetables
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written by Thuy Linh Nguyen , July 17, 2009
Stir Fry
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written by Ann Bartholomew , July 17, 2009
Moo Goo Gai Pan. Sounds gross, but it's wonderful vegetables & chicken in a light sauce.

Hi Jeff! I will see you on the 15th. I already have my ticket for
DrinkLocalwine.com's first ever conference and it's about Texas wines!
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written by janeh , July 17, 2009
vegetable egg-foo-yung, shrimp toast and crab rangoon
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written by Helen , July 17, 2009
Cashew shrimp over white rice!
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written by Megan B. , July 17, 2009
Chicken Fried Rice is probably my favorite. Thanks for the giveaway!
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written by alycep , July 17, 2009
This is perfect for me as I love books about the history of food! I also love eggplant with garlic sauce although it is hard to find it made really well. Also love eggrolls and lo mein.
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written by susan varney , July 17, 2009
beef lo mein is terribly good. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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written by Rita A , July 17, 2009
Wor WonTon soup
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written by Donna L , July 17, 2009
Mai Fun is my favorite
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written by ky2here , July 17, 2009
Oyster with black bean sauce. Can't make it as good as my favorite restaurant. I need to infiltrate that kitchen!
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written by Renee C , July 17, 2009
I love chicken with plum sauce!
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written by Amber G , July 17, 2009
Ma Po Tofu is my favorite!
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written by angie , July 18, 2009
Sweet and sour chicken is my favorite.
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written by MRS.MOMMYY , July 18, 2009
eggsuey and fried rice
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written by Matt , July 18, 2009
I just can't get enough dumplings. Steamed chicken is my favorite!
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written by Kris , July 18, 2009
My favorite would be chicken with cashews over rice.
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written by Karen Gonyea , July 18, 2009
Sweet and sour chicken :)

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written by Brent Dotson , July 18, 2009
I love mu shu Shrimp

Also shrimp and tofu in garlic sauce.

Met my wife (who is chinese)at a chinese restaurant, so of course she is my ultimate favorite chinese dish.
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written by Thomas I. , July 18, 2009
DOUBLE HAPPINESS!!!!!
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written by Barry Mortzfield , July 18, 2009
Some of the best Chinese food I have had was in Minneapolis, the honey walnut shrimp was fantastic!!
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written by Paul Duca , July 18, 2009
I really liked the Chinese food segment of the History Channel program "American Eats", It touched upon the cross-cultural influences, and this book clearly goes into even greater detail.
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written by Don D , July 18, 2009
General Tso Chicken...yummy!!
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written by jan y koontz , July 19, 2009
what fun
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written by Patrick A. , July 19, 2009
Chicken Chow Mein!
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written by Andria , July 19, 2009
I love sesame chicken. Thank you.
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written by Christine , July 20, 2009
Hard to pick! I'll go with Shrimp and Broccoli and Shrimp-Fried Rice. Thank you!
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written by Jeffrey Beckett , July 20, 2009
bitter melon
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written by Roseanna Cannaday , July 20, 2009
I love Chinese food even though Iam Japanese (shh... don't tell anyone) My favorites would have to be Sweet and Sour Chicken!
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written by Jessica , July 20, 2009
Anything with fried rice, yum!
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written by Marcia S , July 21, 2009
I love wonton soup, Moo Goo Gai Pan, crab rangoon, pork friend rice
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written by Sarah , July 21, 2009
fried eggplant in garlic sauce!
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written by Kim H. , July 21, 2009
I love gen tso chicken. It was my first introduction to chinese food.
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written by Dddiva , July 21, 2009
The general's chicken for me. I could eat that til I make myself sick and sometimes do. ;-)
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written by Amanda S. , July 21, 2009
My favorite Chinese Food is Cashew Chicken!
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written by Larry Holme , July 22, 2009
Clams with black bean sauce a la Yuet Lee, San Francisco, CA.
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written by Melanie B. , July 22, 2009
Szechuan shrimp is my favorite, but it's just not the same as the restaurant a mile from where I grew up. I'm not sure if they were more Chinese or less Chinese, but I can't get anything that I like as much as I liked the House of Chu.
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written by Erma , July 22, 2009
I just love chicken Fried Rice
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written by jan , July 22, 2009
That's what I miss about the city--good Asian restaurants! I'm mad for those tiny little spareribs with lots of sesame but sometimes I just have to give up the hunt and make my own chicken with cashews. It gets me by.
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written by Kate , July 22, 2009
I can't get enough of this place that delivers to my neighborhood called Hon's Wok. Their sesame chicken is to die for and the crab rangoon is one of the best I've ever had!
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written by Jennifer Hedden , July 22, 2009
chicken Fried Rice
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written by Jesselyn , July 22, 2009
Lately we've been expanding our horizons to include Thai, Korean and Vietnamese restaurants - which we love, too.

But my favorite Chinese food is: the ever so humble - but oh so delicious Chicken Egg Foo Yong. I've loved it all my life!
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written by Leilani , July 22, 2009
I adore orange beef. And all things rice!

Thanks!
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written by Ed Nemmers , July 22, 2009
Sweet and Sour Chicken!
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written by felicia shapiro , July 22, 2009
Always egg rolls!
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written by Colleen S , July 22, 2009
My favorite Chinese is our lo mein and pot stickers.. mmmmm... pot stickers
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written by Marianna , July 22, 2009
hot and sour soup!
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written by christopher h , July 23, 2009
sweet and sour pork
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written by Kelly F , July 23, 2009
I like simple chicken fried rice!
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written by Karen , July 23, 2009
I love moo shu chicken, also steamed dumplings and fried tofu.
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written by Jason Nickolay , July 23, 2009
I love a spicy chicken. But the Sweet and Sour Chicken is really good

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
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written by emily l , July 23, 2009
I would love to read this. :)
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written by Gabriel J , July 23, 2009
I like Mai Fun.
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written by maja , July 23, 2009
pork fried rice and egg rolls
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written by Sarah C , July 23, 2009
It's a toss-up for me betwen cold, leftover general tso's, or fresh hunan chicken!
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written by Veronica Garrett , July 23, 2009
My favorite is General Tso Chicken.
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written by Lori Walker , July 23, 2009
We love orange chicken.
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written by Helen , July 23, 2009
It's got to be Cha Su Bao!
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written by Gianna , July 23, 2009
Pork fried rice :)
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written by Jim Cincinello , July 24, 2009
Thanks for the chance to win.
I love it all.
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