Get the low-down on lo mein!
Those planning to chow down on Chinese food on Christmas Day can first fill their noodle with the history of that cuisine, at an exhibit now on display at the Museum of Food and Drink in Greenpoint. The curator of “Chow: Making the Chinese American Restaurant,” says that the tradition of Jewish people heading to Chinatown for the holiday shows how the adaptable dishes appeal to people of all backgrounds.
“There are lot of theories as to why Jewish people have an affinity for Chinese food — aside from it being open when other restaurants are closed,” said Peter Kim. “I think it’s the similar immigrant experience between the two groups, and Chinese cuisine being so universal. Wherever you are, in a big city or a small town, you’re likely not far from a Chinese restaurant.”
Chinese immigrants turned their native dishes into an American staple during a period of widespread prejudice, said Kim, an amazing accomplishment that demonstrates how much newcomers to the United States can influence its culture.
“It’s a phenomenon — there are over 50,000 Chinese restaurants in the United States, which is three times more than McDonald’s,” said Kim. “What ‘Chow’ points out is the extreme example of what can happen when you reject a group of people and tell them they don’t belong, and they end up doing something as big as Chinese-American cuisine.”
The exhibit examines the 170 year history of Chinese restaurants in the United States through a collection of iconic artifacts, including menus from the late 19th century, a giant curtain made up of cardboard take-out boxes, and a machine that makes fortune cookies. Chefs will also demonstrate Chinese cooking techniques, cooking some of the most popular recipes.
For the holidays, said Kim, the fortune-cookie machine will dispense cookies made of gingerbread and filled with predictions that were tweeted at the museum.
“They are delicious — and inside are fortunes written by everyday people,” he said, “When you open the cookies, you’ll know someone wrote that, and you’ll get a lot more quirky fortune messages from people who were just interested in putting good energy in world.”
“Chow: Making the Chinese American Restaurant” at the Museum of Food and Drink [62 Bayard St. between Lorimer and Leonard Streets in Greenpoint, www.mofad.org, (718) 387-2845]. Open through Jan. 29, Fri–Sun., noon—6 pm (ironically, closed on Christmas Day). $14 ($7 kids).
