The Fortune Cookie Chronicles

This book takes the reader on an adventure through the complex relationship between Chinese food and the United States' restaurant industry. It includes fascinating accounts concerning the origin of the fortune cookie, the obstacles facing Chinese restaurant owners and workers, and a global pursuit to discover "The Greatest Chinese Restaurant in the World." Jennifer Lee creates a remarkable picture of the layered history of Chinese food in America, and the impressions that this unique blend of cultures has on the world. This story appeals to anyone who has ever wondered how Chinese the American Chinese food truly is.

While this book is filled with culinary adventures and history, it's chronological ordering can leave a person lost and confused. The inconsistency can cause a person to wonder what the author is actually talking about in the current chapter. However, despite the lack of fluency, the rich history provides a perfect read for Chinese-American teens and young adults who are desperately trying to figure out why it just doesn't taste like Mom's cooking.

Chinese restaurants are more American than apple pie, says Jennifer 8. Lee in “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food.” There are twice as many of these restaurants as there are McDonald’s franchises, and the food they serve is every bit as predictable. “What Chinese restaurant menu doesn’t offer beef with broccoli, sesame chicken, roast pork lo mein, fried wontons, egg rolls and egg drop soup?” asks the author, an “American-born Chinese” who cheerfully admits to an obsession with Chinese restaurants.
Lee is a city-beat reporter for The New York Times. Her inclination as a journalist is to trace a story all the way to its genesis, but not without taking some fascinating detours.
This was well worth the read! Highly recommended!