Fun fact: orange chicken was invented by Hawaiian Chinese guys who ran the Panda Express in Honolulu. They wanted to create a dish that reflected the sort of flavors that were popular at Chinese restaurants in Hawai’i. So it’s not an “American” concoction. It’s rooted in the culture of Chinese in Hawai’i, who were invited to live and work in Hawai’i back in the kingdom days.
Hawai’i is not located on the North American continent, so it doesn’t count as “American.” I often describe Hawai’i to people as “it might be the United States, but it isn’t America.” The Chinese and Japanese cultural influence here is quite strong (particularly on O’ahu, where I live) and has deeply established ties. Chinese were invited here by King Kamehameha I to harvest sandalwood. Japanese came at the invitation of King Kalakaua, who actually went to Japan and met with the Emperor Meiji to try and establish economic connections to temper the over-influence of American and European influences during his reign. So when one talks about, say, the cuisine of Hawai’i, one is dealing with a fairly unique culture–one that was later annexed into the United States. So, yes, Hawai’i had long been a state by the time Panda Express operated here (which was started in California by Chinese Americans), but the culinary influence that resulted in orange chicken was rooted in something that goes back a long way. If that makes sense.
Fun fact: orange chicken was invented by Hawaiian Chinese guys who ran the Panda Express in Honolulu. They wanted to create a dish that reflected the sort of flavors that were popular at Chinese restaurants in Hawai’i. So it’s not an “American” concoction. It’s rooted in the culture of Chinese in Hawai’i, who were invited to live and work in Hawai’i back in the kingdom days.
Pizza was invented in the US. By an italian immigrant, but it still counts.
Is Hawaii not in the U.S.? Or was it not in the U.S. at the time of the early Panda Express?
Hawai’i is not located on the North American continent, so it doesn’t count as “American.” I often describe Hawai’i to people as “it might be the United States, but it isn’t America.” The Chinese and Japanese cultural influence here is quite strong (particularly on O’ahu, where I live) and has deeply established ties. Chinese were invited here by King Kamehameha I to harvest sandalwood. Japanese came at the invitation of King Kalakaua, who actually went to Japan and met with the Emperor Meiji to try and establish economic connections to temper the over-influence of American and European influences during his reign. So when one talks about, say, the cuisine of Hawai’i, one is dealing with a fairly unique culture–one that was later annexed into the United States. So, yes, Hawai’i had long been a state by the time Panda Express operated here (which was started in California by Chinese Americans), but the culinary influence that resulted in orange chicken was rooted in something that goes back a long way. If that makes sense.
Now do Chop Suey.
Wake up
Grab a brush and put a little makeup
Something something keys and something table
Why did you leave the key up on the table
Appreciate you, but I think I had it right.