Inventor of General Tso's Chicken, Peng Chang-kuei, dies at 98

[Renew Deal]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by DonViejo (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Shanghaiist



After a tumultuous life that saw his most famous creation gain more recognition from Americans than Chinese, the man who created General Tso's Chicken, Peng Chang-kuei, has passed away. He was 98.

Peng left the world with its most famous Hunanese dish, a culinary offering so beloved abroad that his own fame simply paled in comparison.

Born in Changsha in 1918, he rose from humble beginnings as a 13-year-old apprentice to serve as the official chef for the Nationalist government, responsible for state banquets in the period following World War II.

The origin of General Tso's Chicken dates back to 1952 after Peng had fled to Taiwan in the wake of the Chinese Civil War. During a visit by US Seventh Fleet commander Admiral Arthur W. Radford, Peng exhausted his repertoire of dishes. Seeking a way to entertain his guests on the last day, Peng threw together a concoction of chicken cut into chunks, fried in oil, and served with a smattering of spices.

Radford was so impressed with the dish that he summoned Peng to tell him its name. Peng immediately responded by naming a famous 19th century general (one who happened to be Hunanese). And that's how General Tso's Chicken was born.
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Read more: http://shanghaiist.com/2016/12/05/general_tso_chicken_inventor_dead.php

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Today we mourn greatness.

It's a cosmic oddity that the inventors of General Tso's chicken and the Big Mc died within a few days of each other.

[jberryhill]

1. General Tso is noted for his victory over Colonel Sanders

[COLGATE4]

3. It was a bloody affair- but, in the end

the one with the best sauce won out.

[Brother Buzz]

2. I just watched the film, The Search for General Tso (2014) on Netflix...

and discovered Peng Chang-kuei's dish is NOTHING like the Chinese-American iconic sweet and spicy chicken dish Americans love. Traditionally, Hunnan dishes are not sweet, something Peng commented on in the film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3576038/

[jberryhill]

4. Great movie

I love the part where they go to General Tso's hometown, and the people are like "WTF is that?"

[Behind the Aegis]

5. That was a really good documentary.

I saw it last year and when I saw this news was going to recommend people watch it.

[dreamland]

6. Film made me hungry

Saw the film a few months back and loved it. It gave great insight to the Chinese Americans in this country and how, with restaurants as a way, to integrate into this country.

[DonViejo]

7. Locking...

This news was posted in the LBN Forum on Dec 2, and locked; http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141629988

Forum Hosts agreed this news was not "important news of national interest.

Feel free to post it in the General Discussions Forum