Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: August 29th, 2022, Would you take a look at the recipe, dish or food being celebrated today and let me know if you want to join in the celebration. Which Charlie and I plan on sitting out as we don’t care for Chop Suey. How about you?
National Chop Suey Day
National Chop Suey Day on August 29th is dedicated to this amazing American-Chinese dish. Made with an assortment of ingredients including vegetables, meat, and Eggs, Chop Suey is served with Rice or Noodles. Many Americans have grown up eating Chop Suey and enjoy this dish well into their adulthood. Because of globalization, Chop Suey is now enjoyed all over the world. There may be variations in the recipe here and there, but the element of flavors remains constant. Much like the hundreds of various Chop Suey recipes out there, there are several origin stories about it too. From transcontinental roads to immigrants in a new Country to royal courthouses, Chop Suey’s origin stories do take one on quite the ride.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHOP SUEY DAY
National Chop Suey Day celebrates the =dish that has several origin stories to its name. E. N. Anderson, a historical scholar on Chinese food, states that Chop Suey may have its origins in the County of Taishan in the Guangdong province of China. Known as ‘tsap seui,’ which translates to ‘miscellaneous pieces,’ Chop Suey may have come to America through the earliest Chinese immigrants. It was in the 1840s when gold was discovered in California, that many immigrants, a large number of which consisted of Chinese people, came to the United States to seek their fortunes. After a hard day’s work of digging for gold, the Chinese immigrants, mostly men who had come to the Country with little to their names, chose Chop Suey to satisfy their hunger because Chop Suey was cheap and filling. From there on, Chop Suey became popular with the rest of the public.
Other scholars speculate that Chop Suey may have been invented at the house of Li Hongzhang, a Chinese diplomat based in New York. Hongzhang had some American friends coming over, and in order to provide a hearty and good meal, he instructed his chef to create something that would be suitable for both the Chinese as well as Americans. The result is said to have been the American-Chinese fusion dish called Chop Suey. Yet another story tells that the dish was the invention of a tired and scared chef. The chef in question had a restaurant on the transcontinental railroad. As he was closing his eatery for the day, a group of drunk sailors entered the place instructing the chef to whip up something delicious. Fearing a beating, the chef brought together the day’s leftover scraps, which consisted of Meat, Shrimps, Vegetables, and Eggs. The chef cooked these ingredients on high heat, serving them to his customers. The dish became an instant hit and really took off, prompting the chef to include the item on his menu.
NATIONAL CHOP SUEY DAY ACTIVITIES
- Make a day out of August 29th by ordering Chop Suey from an authentic Chinese restaurant. Don’t miss the chance of making use of the awesome offers restaurants might have on National Chop Suey Day. Save money and savor the flavors that you enjoyed during all the previous times you had Chop Suey.
- One of the great things about Chop Suey is how easy it is to make. Whether you are a college student or a busy professional, Chop Suey is your go-to answer for all those hunger cravings. Chop Suey is quick and the easy method means you will have the chance to fill your tummy in no time
- Chop Suey is so famous worldwide that each Country has its own take on the dish. You may have tried the classic American-Chinese version, of Chop Suey but do give the Indian, Canadian, and Polynesian Chop Suey a try.
5 FACTS ABOUT CHINESE CUISINE
- If you love eating Chinese, there’s good news for you because traditional Chinese cuisine is healthy because it is made with lots of fresh ingredients, most of which are selected for their medicinal purposes.
- You will never eat the same type of dish in China because not only are there so many different cuisines in the Country, but the various cooking techniques of cooking a single ingredient also varies, lending unique and delicious tastes to the food.
- Chinese cuisine, even at home, is served with intricately designed presentations to appeal to the eaters’ eyes.
- Chinese cuisine is famous for using almost all parts of its ingredients, which is why it is common to see a whole gutted Fish being served.
- Authentic Chinese cuisine is always served with Rice or Noodles, without which the meal would be considered incomplete.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL CHOP SUEY DAY
- Chop Suey takes us on quite the journey of taste and history. Historians have labeled Chop Suey as having one of the most elusive and mythological origins. Many disagree on the true events surrounding the origins and popularity of the Chop Suey, but at the same time, all are in unison acknowledging its greatness through the decades.
- Whatever you are craving, Chop Suey has it all, from Vegetables to Eggs to Meat. This meal will never disappoint you. You can also get inspired by Chop Suey and throw the day’s leftovers into a pot to heat. Be careful about the flavors.
- Chinese cuisine has been developed with Centuries of experience and Science. Its medicinal purposes nourish the body while making sure that you enjoy your tasty meal. Moreover, the cuisine’s eco-friendly techniques of using every part of an ingredient make it ideal for today’s environmental needs.
5 facts about Chop Suey:
- Chop Suey is a Chinese American dish originating in the mid to late 19th Century for Chinese immigrants in San Francisco.
- Many believe there are similar recipes in the Toisan region of China.
- Did you know a Chop Suey fad swept the ‘big city’ in 1896, when Americans began to visit New York Chinese restaurants in large numbers for the first time.
- Chop Suey consists of small pieces of Meat, Chicken or Shrimp stir-fried with Celery, Onions, Bean Sprouts, Water Chestnuts, Mushrooms and/or other Vegetables, and served over Rice, usually with Soy Sauce.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
