Name: The hunt for General Tso
Uploaded: 2008-12-24T01:00:00Z
Duration: 16 min 16 s
Description: Reporter Jennifer 8. Lee talks about her hunt for the origins of familiar Chinese-American dishes -- exploring the hidden spots where these two cultures have (so tastily) combined to form a new cuisine.

Reporter Jennifer 8. Lee talks about her hunt for the origins of familiar Chinese-American dishes -- exploring the hidden spots where these two cultures have (so tastily) combined to form a new cuisine.

The hunt for General Tso

Chinese-American cuisine has shaped national identity and tastes more than most realize, with over 40,000 Chinese restaurants exceeding the combined total of McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Wendy's. Many iconic dishes, like fortune cookies and General Tso’s Chicken, have origins far from China or Chinese tradition. These culinary inventions reflect complex histories of immigration, adaptation, and survival. Forgotten innovators behind these foods have quietly transformed what it means to eat—and be—American.