Why Chinese food in America is so unimaginative

[trailmix 77]

Hey LHA, did you grow up in Singapore - you didn't go to SAS perchance?

Brunei actually. What is SAS?

Singapore American School (which is where I went to school)

[Dr_LHA 3]

Hey LHA, did you grow up in Singapore - you didn't go to SAS perchance?

Brunei actually. What is SAS?

Singapore American School (which is where I went to school)

The school I went to in Brunei was by by the UK military and was on a British Army base. Since Brunei's independance was declared I don't know if they still exist. This was back in the early 80s.

[Scott & Lai 12]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Dim Sum anyone??????????????

I'm fortunate that in the areas where I live and where I go to church, there are some rapidly growing Chinese populations, so the ease of finding authentic, good quality Chinese food is increasing

[trailmix 77]

Hey LHA, did you grow up in Singapore - you didn't go to SAS perchance?

Brunei actually. What is SAS?

Singapore American School (which is where I went to school)

The school I went to in Brunei was by by the UK military and was on a British Army base. Since Brunei's independance was declared I don't know if they still exist. This was back in the early 80s.

I went to elementary school for a few years (in Singapore) at an RAF school (tanga). I only have vague memories of it. I do remember when we were on break they would blow a whistle and we all had to stand completely still while the prefects walked around an looked at us (I have no idea why )

Anyway, here in Calgary we have a small Chinatown with brilliant food. We did have a brilliant Singaporean/Malaysian restaurant for several years but unfortunately the couple running it retired and it closed. Seems everyone is pawning off grilled meat on a skewer as 'satay' now - it's always disappointing.

[Dr_LHA 3]

I have never found Satay like they made in Borneo, ever. Of course that was probably because it was made by an Indonesian, and Satay is Indonesian. "Chicken Breast on a Stick" doesn't cut it I'm afraid. The main issue seems to be total lack of spice. Proper Satay is incredibly tasty even without the peanut sauce (which I hated as a kid).

I did live near a Malay restaurant in Goleta, Ca for a while and it was amazing, like a flashback to my childhood. The entire menu was in Malay but I amazed the woman running it by knowing every dish on the menu (in their native language) despite not having had them for 15 years. God I miss having a proper good variety of ethnic food.

[kim&james 0]

Brisbane has a great chinatown, I miss it soooo much...

I loved going down there for the authentic tastes and was really disappointed (but not surprised) to find that the chinese (and other asian/middle east) restaurants are americanised here. Since moving to Alabama the quality has improved only slightly, more spices used but still everything is fried to high heaven...

I would love to find a proper chinese bakery! One in Sydney is great! I miss some really good food from over there.

[Imua 0]

it's called Hakka.. Chinese/Indian food =)

I first tried Indian Chinese in Delhi 4 years ago and loved it - now there are some Indian-Chinese restaurants in Queens, NY so I am happy.

[featherB 1]

Damn. I really want Chinese food now.

I was reading a local paper this weekend and there was a lot of space devoted to a review of a local 'Chinese' restaurant. The reviewer seemed pretty impressed... whereas I was more than a little bemused when the meal was described as including 'dinner rolls' (maybe bread rolls are a common thing in Chinese restaurants here, but I can't say I've ever had one!), 'Italian chicken' (??), deep fried mozzarella sticks (???)... I forget what else, but basically a ton of stuff that's clearly about as Chinese as I am. #######?!

[Jenn! 918]

The reviewer seemed pretty impressed... whereas I was more than a little bemused when the meal was described as including 'dinner rolls' (maybe bread rolls are a common thing in Chinese restaurants here, but I can't say I've ever had one!)

Many of the Chinese restaurants around here (outside of Chinatown, that is) give rolls. I think it's because of the large Italian American community. I remember ordering Chinese with my great-grandparents as a little girl from China Roma (yes, Roma ), and my great-grandfather throwing a fit because they forgot to put in the rolls.

[Marilyn. 340]

I love American Chinese Food....

I was at a wedding once where they had authentic Asian food there was shark and jelly fish and ducks feet ... not my cup of tea

my friend and I were sitting at the only table of white people at the reception, we fought over the dish of vegetables

[Dr_LHA 3]

I love American Chinese Food....

I was at a wedding once where they had authentic Asian food there was shark and jelly fish and ducks feet ... not my cup of tea

Well yes. I love authentic chinese food, but not all off it! I'm not a big fan of boiled chickens feet. The main issue I have with American Chinese food is its reliance on sticky sweet sauce and deep fried stuff. I won't lie, I like a good General Tso's Chicken (not a dish I had ever seen before I came to America!), but I also like "proper" lighter dishes involving greens vegetables!

[Mononoke28 137]

When we first came to the US our chinese neighbors had a special meal for us. They served duck eggs which were greenish and had a jelly texture, white rice which was kind of soupy and the créme de la créme, steamed crabs. Now, I'm all for seafood but when my crab's eyes and legs where still moving on my plate, I had to pass.

Give me some Panda Express any time... love it!

Edited August 6, 2007 by Mononoke28

[Marilyn. 340]

I love American Chinese Food....

I was at a wedding once where they had authentic Asian food there was shark and jelly fish and ducks feet ... not my cup of tea

Well yes. I love authentic chinese food, but not all off it! I'm not a big fan of boiled chickens feet. The main issue I have with American Chinese food is its reliance on sticky sweet sauce and deep fried stuff. I won't lie, I like a good General Tso's Chicken (not a dish I had ever seen before I came to America!), but I also like "proper" lighter dishes involving greens vegetables!

yes, I agree... although I am a sucker for sweet and sour sauce and I also like terakyi sauce... but I don't like them too sweet..

but my favorite dishes at this China buffet place we go to are their sauteed mushrooms and their sauteed string beans ...yum yum

Edited August 6, 2007 by MarilynP

[JelloShotGirl 0]

i dont know if this is true but checking out the menu's it may be possible, my dad he grew up in new york, of course there is huge chinese population here in NYC. ok he told me that when a lot of chinese immigrants came over , chinese set up schools or classes of how to run/set up a chinese restauarant, these schools had same outline, same menu etc etc etc . maybe that is why lots of the menu are the same, set up the same especially at the takeouts. hmmm maybe he was just joking but it makes sense to me. my chinese best friend says pretty much they(CHinese) eat dim sum all the time. i have to say my favorite is the sticky rice