Archive for October, 2008
« Previous EntriesHipster Jews and Chinese Food, Nov. 16
Friday, October 31st, 2008Partnering with the SoHo Synagogue for a mouth watering Chinese Dinner Party at at beautiful downtown loft. (Love the musical effects on that page. These guys know presentation and events!) MENU: Upon arriving you will find mini designer Chinese take-out containers stuffed with either Spicy Sesame Noodles or Chow-Mein Chicken Salad with Orange Segments and […]
Fortune Cookie Pendants, Some for $1,100.
Friday, October 31st, 2008My friend’s mom bought me this fortune cookie pendant as a present, adding to my collection of fortune cookie trinkets. It even has a tiny fortune inside. I’ve been surprised at the use of fortune cookies in jewelry. Out of curiosity, I Googled “fortune cookie pendant” and was surprised to find that you can find […]
My Worlds Converge: Fortune Cookies meets City Room
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008This piece by Willie Neuman talks about fortune cookies (protesting the M.T.A.) on City Room. Some of the sayings (none by Confucius, as much as we can see) “If you cut transit service, this cookie will give you heartburn.†“Raising transit fares will wreak havoc on your love life.†“In a tough economy, it is […]
A Glimpse of My First Paperback
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008I went to a talk out in Long Island last week at the Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island and was startled that someone asked me sign a paperback. I looked closely, because I thought it was a copy of my galley. Then I realized it must be the QPB paperback edition. It had a […]
Indy Star, Highlighting the Web Site
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008From the Indy Star this week: Follow author Jennifer 8. Lee on a culinary journey into Chinese-American cuisine in her new book, “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles” (Twelve Books, $25). Lee, whose middle name “8” connotes prosperity in Chinese, is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and grew up in New York eating her mother’s authentic Chinese […]
Modern Jewish Life: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008Modern Jewish Life I was very amused by this exhibit at the Denver Jewish Community Center, where I went to speak today. Also Iesson. Not all the LIRR trains stop at Jamaica during rush hour. I learned this as I ended up in Bethpage in Long Island — 40 minutes out. I totally missed my […]
I’m sick in bed so I spent the night compiling all the media stuff
Sunday, October 26th, 2008I’ve spent the last few weeks suffering from bronchiospasms (a.k.a. coughing fits). So I’m forced to stay in bed to rest. As a result, I thought I would take the opportunity to put together a page of all the media stuff on The Fortune Cookie Chronicles online. And it’s not until you see it all […]
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: It’s Our Kind of Chinese
Sunday, October 26th, 2008From the Columbus Paper! (No, not Ohio, in Georgia). It’s more a summary, but I like the fact she quotes on my obsession point at the end. I’d thought no one has ever noticed. Columbus (Georgia) Ledger-Enquirer April 3, 2008 It’s Our Kind of Chinese By Sonya Sorich Nearly everybody has one. Maybe yours is […]
Washington Times: “With wit and style, she delights with tales about Chinese food in America, and its sometimes hilarious origins.”
Sunday, October 26th, 2008This is from August 31, 2008. It’s a very nice review. One of the kindest in how stylishly it’s written. Washington Times Sunday, August 31, 2008 Chinese food in America By Corinna Lothar Jennifer 8. Lee (8 really is her middle name; when pronounced in Chinese the number denotes prosperity) is a special kind of […]
The Times of Trenton: Readers are likely to increase their tips after reading about the plight of Chinese restaurant workers
Sunday, October 26th, 2008This is the same as my Newsday review. But wanted to put it down, again. The Times of Trenton March 23, 2008 Chinese food book has right ingredients By HELEN McALPIN Years ago, at a Japanese Benihana steakhouse, my mother-in-law mortified her children by asking for fortune cookies at the end of the meal. As […]
School Library Journal Reviews: For those who liked Freakonomics and The World is Flat
Sunday, October 26th, 2008Just discovered this too. I was reviewed by School Libarary Journal as an adult book for high school students. I should really look through Nexis more often. I like this: “This title will appeal to teens who are interested in history, Chinese culture, and, of course, cuisine.” I liked this line too: “Recommend it to […]
Toronto Star Review, with Jen Lin Liu and Fuschia Dunlop
Sunday, October 26th, 2008Only in looking through Nexis, did I discover this Toronto Star review from July, subtitled “A female trio of Chinese food lovers – two in China itself and one in New York – explore the eats and the culture.” It reviews my book, Fuschia Dunlop’s “Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Memoir of Eating in […]
Colorado Public Radio KCFR Colorado Matters, Denver anti-Chinese Race Riots 1880
Sunday, October 26th, 2008And here is my Colorado Matters Interview with KCFR Colorado Public Radion from May 8, 2008. Denver is interesting because it was home to one of the most vicious race riots against the Chinese in 1880. The picture below is drawn from those riots.
Philadelphia WHYY Chef’s Table Interview from April
Sunday, October 26th, 2008And I should put up the Chef’s Table interview from April 19, 2008 [here’s the audio file]. I actually did the interview when Barack Obama was giving his famous race speech across the street at Constitution Hall. Lots of police. Here is the description of the episode. Food is all encompassing…how we buy it, store […]
Boston’s WBUR Here and Now, trip to Zoe’s in Somerville
Sunday, October 26th, 2008I just realized I never posted my interview with WBUR’s, Here and Now, from August 4, 2008 (loved listening to the show when I was in college). I actually did the interview with Emiko Tamagawa in March at Zoe’s Chinese restaurant in Somerville, where the Chinese people go to eat. But it ran a few […]
Me, Oliver Stone and Richard Branson & Stephen Colbert
Sunday, October 26th, 2008I learned that Oliver Stone was advised to watch my Colbert interview for his appearance on October 9 for his film, W, as a coaching example. He was also advised to watch, in contrast, Richard Branson.
Some people have 8ness thrust upon them.
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008I just saw this, and was amused. I am honored to be the subject of an ode. Ode to Jennifer 8. Lee Be not afraid of eightness: some are born eight, some achieve eightness, and some have eightness thrust upon them.
Feds Bust Gangsters Who Were Shaking Down Chinatown Bus Companies
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008The New York Post, in its bouncy law enforcement prose, reports that the feds have busted a Chinese gang which had been beating Chinatown bus operators. The article says that beginning in 2005, the so-called “Banya Organization” – named after its members’ hometown in China’s “Fuchow region” (which is“Fuzhou” in pin yin) allegedly began targeting […]
Voila! The Chow Mein Sandwich.
Monday, October 20th, 2008People have asked me on my book tour what is the strangest Chinese-American food I’ve encountered. While Szechuan alligator is up there (Cajun Chinese food!), I have to say that I would have to say it’s the chow mein sandwich, which is a speciality in southeastern New England. Here is a thoughtful article from Flavor […]
General Tso’s Inn: He’s Moved Into Real Estate
Thursday, October 16th, 2008General Tso’s Inn. This was originally uploaded by HolmesBartonHolmes. I was surfing along on Flickr looking at General Tso photos, and was amused to discover General Tso’s Inn. He’s moved into real estate investments apparently. This is located in Southeastern Indiapolis. (GENERAL TSO’S INN. 642 TWIN AIRE DR. 317-917-1546)
Me & My Egg Roll
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008I saw this while walking around in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn and thought it was the most adorable name for a Chinese restaurant.
Fortune Cookie Chronicles-inspired art
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Google alerts let me know that we inspired a little piece in the sketch blog of Cleveland artist.
Print Magazine: The History of a “Racist Font”
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Print magazine had an article by Paul Shaw on ethnic fonts (It ran in August but I’m just getting to it now), which highlights the history of the ching-chongy chop suey fonts — which had become synonymous with Chinese restaurants during the first half of the 20th century. This is of particular issue to me, […]
Who was the mysterious fortune cookie king?
Monday, October 13th, 2008Got an email from a reader. Does anyone know who this mogul could have been? In the late 1980s and early 90s I worked for a small arts publisher then located on the north side of Spring Street between Crosby and Lafayette in Soho. On the floor below us there was a small, ancient, one-man […]
Another talk, in Walnut Creek, Nov. 2 @ 5 p.m.
Thursday, October 9th, 2008Just got another booking for a talk, sandwiched between another event in Solano County earlier that day and a red-eyeflight later that night. (Northern California loves this book). Here are the details: TIN’S TEA HOUSE LOUNGE 1829 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek 5:00 pm Sunday, November 2, 2008
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