February 10, 2006
On a tour of the alleyways of Chinatown last week I learned something that I hadn’t heard before — namely, that the world-famous Chinese fortune cookie was invented right here in San Francisco.
That’s right — the fortune cookie is just about as Chinese as french toast is French. Which is to say, not at all.
Our young guide gave us the outlines of a history that is apparently well known around here, but something told me that it could bear a little further investigation — so I began to dig. it wasn’t long before I’d uncovered a number of competing claims, with contradictory connections to Japan, China, Los Angeles and of course, to San Francisco. Though a definitive answer remains elusive, have a listen and draw your own conclusions.
For further edification:
» Chinatown Alleyway Tours
» weird cookie fortunes
» Fortune Cookie Writer – New Yorker interview
» nice summary article
- #32: Letter from the Gold Rush, 1850
- #15: The Golden Gate Bridge and Suicide
- Timecapsule podcast — San Francisco, October 20-26
- #9: Schadenfreude and San Francisco High Society
- Faded time capsule — vintage snapshots of San Francisco
Musical support:
Thanks to 31d1 for “Gordon Shumway”, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network, my faithful podcast music suppliers
Sparkletack was the blog and podcast of a guy obsessed with diggin' up San Francisco history. The site is on permanent hiatus.
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February 16, 2006 at 3:40 am
Very interesting,short, but thoughtful.
February 25, 2006 at 3:02 am
I remember my mother telling me how it was invented here, since she lived in Chinatown, and how it was never actually Chinese. She told me the San Francisco version, and it’s interesting to hear another point of view. Good job!
~Katie
June 22, 2007 at 2:09 am
Wow! I have visited this place in the 1980s – being about 5 to 6 years old. I really couldn’t remember but hearing about it in this marvellous episode it came back to my mind. Thank you!
June 22, 2007 at 10:12 am
I was just there again a couple of weeks ago… remember the way the smell fills up the whole alley? Delicious!