Chinese Menu

Starred review from July 31, 2023
Via appetizing full-color gouache and pencil illustrations alongside lush, mouthwatering prose, Newbery and Caldecott Honoree Lin chronicles the origins of the most ubiquitous dishes in American Chinese restaurants. A table of contents, structured like a Chinese takeout menu, breaks down topics—such as soups, side orders, and chef’s specials—into bite-size sections that describe the meals’ sometimes mythical origins. By tracing the etymology of wonton soup, for example, the creator outlines how, when examining the dish name’s Northern Chinese roots, “wonton” can refer to “primordial chaos or the Daoist creation story of the world.” Lin allows common foods their time to shine, noting how the dumpling was created by a doctor more than 1,800 years ago to help villagers combat frostbite, and the fortune cookie has Japanese American beginnings. Other entries include dragon-filled tales of various teas, and the backstory and etiquette surrounding chopsticks. Each selection, often prefaced with a personal anecdote and historical or folkloric context, whisks readers back in time; some entries highlight ancient tales about magic fruits, while others address troubling periods of strife and discrimination. These foods—and their stories—find common ground in their deep-rooted connection to Chinese American culture, which is further anchored by an author’s note that details the book’s inspiration. A family recipe and endnotes conclude. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

Starred review from August 1, 2023

Gr 3-7-Newbery and Caldecott Honor author/illustrator Lin (Where the Mountain Meets the Moon) delivers a scrumptious smorgasbord of folktales, myths, and origins of popular items on the menu. The contents read like a who's who of favorite foods on a Chinese menu, from dumplings, to teas, to fortune cookies. Highly researched, the book delves into each delicacy, telling where and when the foods originated. Each dish starts off with the author sharing childhood and family memories, an explanation of what the dish contains, and the significance of the dish in the Chinese culture (or whether it is simply a dish that Chinese restaurants have created to please the American palate). Following this is the true heart of the book: a folktale or myth to tell the story behind the food. In one, a dog with nine tails travels to the heavens to find rice grains, returning with just one tail, but also with the rice seeds, thus explaining why dogs have one tail and where rice came from. Each of these folktales can stand alone and holds up to rereadings, of which there will be many. Appetites will be ignited as tweens will want to try dishes new to them, and to rediscover their old favorites. Lin's gorgeous, identifiable gouache and pencil illustrations add charm and depth to each item. Included is a food origin time line, a family recipe for scallion pancakes, end notes, bibliography, and index. VERDICT Not to be missed, grab your chopsticks, some oolong tea, and dive into this culinary treasure trove.-Michele Shaw

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 15, 2023
The hidden histories, fantastical folklore, and tastiest tidbits of American Chinese cuisine. Organized like a meal, from appetizers and soups to chef's specials and desserts, Lin uncovers the secrets behind the most famous dishes of American Chinese restaurant menus. Each section contains a brief introduction, with first-person narration offering context through personal anecdotes and historical facts. Then it's off to the banquet: a bounty of wondrous, romantic, and sometimes grotesque tales that trace the origins of rice, wontons, Peking duck, and more. As with much folklore, the stories sometimes contain references to dark or mature topics (poverty, suicide, concubines), but thoughtful, age-appropriate commentary strikes an effective balance. The volume is liberally illustrated--contemporary images are rendered in full color, while illustrations of the stories appear in limited palettes, drawing a clear distinction between the past and the present. Many tales take place in dynastic China, but stories like "General Tso's Chicken" and "Chop Suey" underscore the truly American natures of these dishes. Although the vast ground covered here could, ​​in less skilled hands, overwhelm the uninitiated--the dishes chronicled extend as far back as 7000 BCE and up to the 1950s--Lin's conversational asides and the book's meticulous supporting materials, including a timeline and extensive endnotes, ensure that readers never lose their way. The illustrations and tone indicate a young readership, but there's much here for readers and eaters of all ages. An utterly delectable feast of history and storytelling. (map, author's note, recipe, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 8-13)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from July 1, 2023
Grades 3-7 *Starred Review* Author Lin's parents were Taiwanese immigrants, and she grew up using chopsticks (or trying to, at least) and eating Chinese food. She shares her love of traditional Chinese fare by offering a combination of warm, personal reminiscences, food-related customs and superstitions, and numerous Chinese folk tales (she indicates she tried to stay as close as possible to original versions but admits to occasional edits and additions). The result is an engaging immersion into Chinese culture, incorporating elements that range in origin from ancient to modern times and from imperial courts to family dinner tables. Main sections consider chopsticks, tea, appetizers, soup, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Each begins with a description of the item, its history and significance in Chinese society (or the lack thereof, for dishes such as egg rolls or fortune cookies), variations (along with exhortations to try new and unfamiliar versions), and offers three or four stories, complemented by intriguing illustrations that often evoke ancient scrolls. Lin brings in history, geography, and celebrities (Kung Pao, General Tso) and finishes up with chapter notes, an extensive bibliography, and her mother's recipe for scallion pancakes. This celebration of Chinese cuisine and culture is factual, engaging, and mouthwatering.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from September 1, 2023
Food, folklore, and history combine for a mouthwatering and enlightening read in Lin's collection of stories about more than twenty dishes, drinks, and staples of Chinese and Chinese American cuisine. The table of contents is organized like an American-style Chinese restaurant menu, with appetizers, soups, "chef's specials," and desserts; chapters on tea and chopsticks (along with origin stories) are also included. Lin opens each section with a brief introduction, sharing her own food memories and culinary or symbolistic details. While most of the tales involve mythical creatures or magical events, a few historical figures make appearances, including Ming Dynasty explorer Zheng He, Italian explorer Marco Polo, and Emperor Kublai Khan. Lin's vivid illustrations round out the experience with digitally colored drawings in the style of traditional ink paintings for the folktales, and realistic renderings in gouache of the actual dishes. An illustrated timeline and map of China are included in the introduction. An author's note, extensive end notes, a bibliography, and a scallion pancake recipe are appended. Michelle Lee

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Food, folklore, and history combine for a mouthwatering and enlightening read in Lin's collection of stories about more than twenty dishes, drinks, and staples of Chinese and Chinese American cuisine. The table of contents is organized like an American-style Chinese restaurant menu, with appetizers, soups, "chef's specials," and desserts; chapters on tea and chopsticks (along with origin stories) are also included. Lin opens each section with a brief introduction, sharing her own food memories and culinary or symbolistic details. While most of the tales involve mythical creatures or magical events, a few historical figures make appearances, including Ming Dynasty explorer Zheng He, Italian explorer Marco Polo, and Emperor Kublai Khan. Lin's vivid illustrations round out the experience with digitally colored drawings in the style of traditional ink paintings for the folktales, and realistic renderings in gouache of the actual dishes. An illustrated timeline and map of China are included in the introduction. An author's note, extensive end notes, a bibliography, and a scallion pancake recipe are appended.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)