I recently saw a really interesting movie called The Search for General Tso on Hulu. The film talked about theories of where the idea of a “General Tso” comes from (spoiler alert: General Tso was a big figure in Chinese military history, posthumously naming everything from elementary schools and liquor companies, but had nothing to do with the creation of the dish we all have heard of today) as well as picks apart the histories and nuances of Asian-American restaurants, exploring how chop suey, fortune cookies, and even the similarly recognizable names of Chinese restaurants came about. It tells a story of forced assimilation, cultural adaptation, and perseverance and I’d definitely recommend giving this movie a watch if you want to learn more about the history of Chinese in the US.
The Search for General Tso
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Hi Grace!
Thank you for your post. I didn’t know General Tso was an actual general as so much food has been renamed to create an “authentic” origin story behind it. To understand that there is cultural connection and deep significance somehow made me appreciate the deeper ideas behind the dish and I will definitely watch it!
Such a great film! [ Extra Credit]