Many friends around me who immigrate to the United States carry instant noodles with them because they are not accustomed to the food there. However, if we pay close attention to life in the United States, we might find that sometimes they have just innovated on our dishes, and trying them occasionally might not be bad!
1. American Crab Meat Wontons
Americans love these deep-fried wontons filled with crab meat and cream cheese, but Chinese people do not eat cheese. We all have lactose intolerance, but while we do not eat cheese, Chinese people enjoy foods like doubanjiang or duck blood, which are more solid.
2. General Tso's Chicken
Come on, General Tso is very busy, quelling rebellions every day, how could he have time to cook? This dish is a standard American dish—large pieces of chicken are pounded, deep-fried, and flavored with a Western sweet sauce. People from Hunan had never heard of this dish before 1970.
3. Li Hongzhang's Miscellaneous
This dish has been popular in the United States for over 100 years. Whatever leftovers are in the fridge are stir-fried quickly over high heat, topped with a fried egg, and voilà, a bowl of Li Hongzhang's Miscellaneous is ready. In 1896, Li Hongzhang traveled to the United States and enjoyed dining at local Chinese restaurants. Some Americans inquired about the food Li Hongzhang was eating, and the restaurant owner, unable to answer, simply said it was "miscellaneous," thus the name "Li Hongzhang's Miscellaneous" became widely known across the United States. It is said that during the Gold Rush, some Chinese chefs came to the United States to provide meals for miners, selling to drunken American miners.
4. Baby Plate (Appetizer)
This extravagant appetizer completely disregards the poor. Greasy egg rolls, fried ribs, fried chicken wings, and teriyaki beef.
5. Sweet and Sour Pork
Large pieces of pork are pounded and deep-fried, coated in a bright orange sauce, a dish heavily influenced by Southern BBQ style.
6. Sweet and Sour Chicken
Prepared in the same way as the previous dish, but using chicken instead. This dish exclusively uses white meat from the chicken, providing a better texture. A few pieces of pineapple on the side can help reduce your guilt.
7. Salad
We Chinese always cook our vegetables to prevent diarrhea; you should also cook them before consuming.
8. Egg Roll
Is there anyone in China who eats this? This has a very thick skin, fried until bubbly, resembling Linda Blair's face in "The Exorcist," and looks nothing like Chinese spring rolls, which should be small, thin, and crispy—something that should be easy to swallow.
9. Beef Stir-Fried with Broccoli
This dish is really not bad; it’s just that broccoli is not a vegetable commonly eaten in the East.
10. Fortune Cookie
Another item for Western entertainment; Chinese people eat oranges because they sound like "luck" and can bring good fortune.
