Some of it was invented by Japanese-American restaurateurs (fortune cookies are one example), who were in the same business as the Chinese ones: using their knowledge to make cheap, satisfying food that the locals would like, authenticity being no consideration. It all got labelled as “Chinese”, because that’s where they assumed the cooks were from.
Well it’s not like Japanese or Chinese (or Italian or British or French or Danish or Mexican) chefs stopped inventing new dishes. Tonkotsu ramen was invented in the 1930’s. The original Kung Pao Chicken was invented sometime in the mid 19th century, in China. And General Tso’s was probably invented in Taiwan and brought to the United States shortly afterward.
Whether a dish is invented in its ostensibly “home” country or by emigrants from that country doesn’t actually change the legitimacy of the dish. There’s no rule against chefs inventing new dishes, whether they are immigrants or not.
Some of it was invented by Japanese-American restaurateurs (fortune cookies are one example), who were in the same business as the Chinese ones: using their knowledge to make cheap, satisfying food that the locals would like, authenticity being no consideration. It all got labelled as “Chinese”, because that’s where they assumed the cooks were from.
Well it’s not like Japanese or Chinese (or Italian or British or French or Danish or Mexican) chefs stopped inventing new dishes. Tonkotsu ramen was invented in the 1930’s. The original Kung Pao Chicken was invented sometime in the mid 19th century, in China. And General Tso’s was probably invented in Taiwan and brought to the United States shortly afterward.
Whether a dish is invented in its ostensibly “home” country or by emigrants from that country doesn’t actually change the legitimacy of the dish. There’s no rule against chefs inventing new dishes, whether they are immigrants or not.