SQJ Taipei

Although it is a bit old (2002), here is a fun and informative article about the famous (in America) General Tso’s Chicken.

Seems like it might have originated in Manhattan… 

Each evening, thousands of Americans drift into Chinese restaurants or, if they are too lazy to go out, pick up the phone and order one of the most popular dishes on the menu: General Tso’s Chicken, a sugary-spicy melange of dark-meat tidbits, deep-fried then fired up with ginger, garlic, sesame oil, scallions and hot chili peppers.

Not one in 10,000 knows who General Tso (most commonly pronounced “sow”) was, nor what terrible times he lived through, nor the dark massacres that distinguished his baleful, belligerent career. Setting their chopsticks aside, patting their stomachs, the satisfied diners spare scarcely a thought for General Tso, except to imagine that he must have been a great connoisseur of hot stir-fried chicken.

Who Was General Tso And Why Are We Eating His Chicken? (washingtonpost.com)

And the bland Cashew Chicken Americans love to eat?

It is from Springfield, Missouri.

I know it isn’t remotely related to Chinese food… but…

Toasted ravioli?

Not Italy… but still Italian… originated on “The Hill” in St. Louis.

I’ve seen an item on the menus here in Taiwan that has the Chinese character for General (將) in it… but haven’t really paid attention to the entire name of the dish. Does anyone have more info? I’ll try to keep my eyes open for it.