TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH
CHOP SUEYHave you ever wondered where Chinese food comes from? Of course, it's Chinese, but they surely don't eat sweet and sour chicken in China. Our guest tonight, Andrew Coe, must know---he's written Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States. In his book, Coe starts with the first Americans to land in China in the late 18th century and their reactions to Chinese cuisine and the horror at their discovery that they ate dog, cat, and rat. The book proceeds through to the evolution of Chinese food in San Francisco during the mid 19th century, and on through modern times. It's a fascinating look at the cultural and anthropological origins of one of America's favorite cuisines.
We'll be going on after the late Cubs game, and should be on the air by around 10pm.