Chop Fry Watch Learn was E's latest pick for our Postal Book Club. I am sorry to admit that, prior to reading this, I didn't know much about Chinese food except what we can commonly get here in the U.S., which in so many ways is far from actual Chinese food.
This book served as an education in that regard, including culinary, cultural, social, and political history in the development of the story of Chinese and Taiwanese food in the 20th century. This was all told through the lens of the life's work of Fu Pei-Mei. She was a revolutionary home cook who gained notoriety through her popular television program and series of cookbooks which published recipes side by side in both Chinese and English. She was referred to over the course of her career and in the book as the "Chinese Julia Child," though the author makes a point to explain how and why that undersells Fu Pei-Mei's reach and importance.
If you're interested in food history, Chinese and Taiwanese history, or ideally both - or if you just love eating Chinese food and want to know more about it - this is an enlightening and surprisingly quick read.
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