National Chinese Take Out Day – November 5, 2022, history, significance
National Chinese Take-Out Day is celebrated annually on November 5. The day is dedicated to Chinese cuisine, which is very diverse, including all dishes, such as meals, and desserts. This is a holiday for all fans and lovers of Chinese cuisine. For those who have not yet had the chance to try Chinese cuisine, this day is a great opportunity to do so.
During the National Chinese Take-Out Day, people hold various events that allow them to celebrate this day to the fullest. For example, some go to a Chinese restaurant to order their favorite dishes, while others enjoy their Chinese cuisines home-cooked.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHINESE TAKE OUT DAY
The history of Chinese cuisine is characterized by both diversity and noticeable changes. Archaeologist and scholar Kwan Chi-Chang says that “the Chinese are particularly concerned about food” and “food is the center of many social interactions, or at least accompanies or symbolizes them.” He explains the basic principles of the organization, which date back to ancient times and give continuity to the food tradition. Ordinary food consists of grains, other starches, and vegetable, or meat dishes.
In early dynastic times, the most common crops were wheat, barley, rice, millet, foxtail, corn, and beans. The fruits and vegetables commonly eaten were chestnuts, pears, plums, melons, apricots, red berries, bamboo shoots, and mustard greens. Domestic animals were chickens, tangerine ducks, sheep, camels, and dogs. Seasonings included sugar, honey, salt, and soy sauce. In addition, beer and yellow wine were regularly consumed.
Chinese take-out appeared in North America in the mid-1800s. Due to the Gold Rush, there was a large influx of Chinese immigrants to California. Even though the Chinese take-out products were in large quantities, they became popular only in the 1950s. The Chinese restaurants had two menus, one for the Chinese and another for the Americans. Over time, the American menu became dominant and is what remains today in major Chinese restaurants.
Very little is known about the history of National Chinese Take-Out Day. We do not know when, where, and how it started. But still, we can guess the reason for the creation of the holiday. Perhaps a certain group of people, knowing how much everyone loves Chinese cuisine, decided that it deserves a place in the list of culinary holidays that are celebrated every year.
NATIONAL CHINESE TAKE OUT DAY TIMELINE
1920s
Distribution of American-Chinese Food
Chinese food is gaining popularity among bohemians, who sometimes eat food before it cools down and burns the roofs of their mouths.
1960
The Great Chinese Famine
At this time, culinary traditions cease to develop.
1990s
Cultural Revolution Cuisine
Communist-style cuisine is becoming popular in Beijing.
2005
The Oldest Noodles
The oldest noodle is found at Lajia near the upper reaches of the Yellow River in Qinghai and is made from foxtail and millet broom.
NATIONAL CHINESE TAKE OUT DAY ACTIVITIES
Visit a Chinese restaurant
Undoubtedly, the best option to celebrate National Chinese Take-Out Day is to have dinner at a restaurant that serves delicious Chinese food. You can also order food and then eat it at home with your family or friends.
Make Chinese food
If you are too busy to visit a Chinese restaurant, you can arrange an alternative kind of celebration by cooking Chinese dishes at home. Browse your cookbook or search the internet for a delicious Chinese food recipe.
Celebrate on social networks
You can also celebrate National Chinese Take-Out Day on social networks. For example, post a story with a Chinese dish or from a Chinese restaurant, letting your friends and subscribers know that you are participating in the celebration. Tell them more about this holiday.
5 FACTS ABOUT AMERICAN-CHINESE FOOD THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
An American chef invented the orange chicken
Chef Andy Cao created orange chicken as a variation of another popular American-Chinese dish, General Tso’s chicken, in 1987 in Hawaii.
General Tso was a real war hero
The legend of General Tso, after whom Taiwanese chef Chang-Kuei named the dish, says that General Tso served during the civil war in China — the Taiping Uprising, between 1850 and 1864.
Crab Rangoon originated in the U.S.
The first known crab rangoon, fried confectionery shells filled with cream cheese and imitation crab, appeared on the menu of a bar and restaurant in San Francisco in the 1940s.
Egg rolls instead of spring rolls
Egg rolls have been adapted from traditional Chinese spring rolls to appeal more to Americans who love deep-fried food.
Take-out containers were invented in Chicago
The paper cartons, invented in 1894 by Chicago inventor Frederick Wicks Wilcox, were originally called “paper pails” and were based on the construction of wooden containers used to transport raw oysters.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL CHINESE TAKE OUT DAY
It has a long history
American-Chinese food began to spread in the 1900s. National Chinese Take-Out Day celebrates Chinese food, and the popularity it has gained over the years and continues to do so today.
We love American-Chinese food
Chinese take-out is everyone’s favorite dish during any holiday or season. And National Chinese Take-Out Day is the best day to celebrate our love for Chinese food.
A day to try something new
Authentic Chinese food is evolving every day. There are five main Chinese cuisines, each of which has unique flavors. In one kitchen, the dishes are presented with spices, and in the other, they have a sharp taste of garlic and onion. One kitchen focuses more on the art of cooking and the other on more satisfying recipes. So, celebrate National Chinese Take-Out Day by trying something new!
