Chinese Menu: History, Myths & Legends of Popular Chinese Dishes | Explore Cultural Stories Behind Your Favorite Foods for Home Dining & Cultural Learning

Written for kids 8-12, this is a broad survey of the origins and cultural details surrounding more than 30 Chinese dishes (plus chopsticks!), attractively illustrated by the award-winning author.

You’ll find entries for everything from tea and dumplings to bird’s nest soup, Buddha’s delight, and scallion pancakes. Author Grace Lin shares stories from myth and folklore, as well as from documented history. And as she explores what’s known about a famous dish, she also helps illuminate other aspects of Chinese culture, such as the way that family names come before given names.

Lin is careful to let readers know what comes from folklore, what’s history, and where it isn’t really possible to be sure what is true. She points out dishes which were invented in the US by Chinese immigrants, and explains how traditional dishes may have been adapted for people who did not grow up in China.

An engaging exposure to food history and to Chinese culinary culture.

Hardcover. Color illustrations throughout.