How to Pronounce 'General Tso' Without Sounding Like an Idiot'
We remember our firsts.Who doesn't remember their first friend?Their first car?Maybe they will eat Chinese food for the first time?I don't want to bore you with the details, but I remember all three of them.My first experience ordering from a Chinese restaurant is not a memory that I'm proud of.
I didn't know how to say 'tso.'I pointed out the picture of the dish on the overhead menu when I ordered.I regret that I didn't try to say it aloud.
One of the most popular Chinese dishes in America is General Tso's chicken.I think I'm not the only one asking how to say 'tso'.Before writing this article, I had a lot of questions about this dish.Why?There's a lot to learn.The history and origins of it may surprise you.Let's start unraveling the mysteries of how to pronounce General Tso and what it is.
General Tso's Chicken is an Americanized Chinese chicken dish, made from dark meat that is cut, deep fried, and tossed in a wok with a sweet, tangy sauce."The Search for General Tso," a documentary that investigates the origins of this dish, describes it as a combination of flavors that is "garlicky, tangy, intensive, sweet, and salty."
General Tso was a 19th century general who came from Southeast China.In her talk, she talked about the hunt for general ts.The Taiping Rebellion was the deadliest civil war in the world today.Chinese values were maintained in the face of colonization.In China, this guy is known for war and not chicken.
General Tso's Chicken is a dish that is unfamiliar to the Chinese.The dish and the general do not have the same origins.Many Chinese migrated to the United States after the California Gold Rush.Chinese immigrants were forced to self-employ in response to the Chinese Exclusion Act.Simple dishes were adapted to American tastes.
T.T. was the chef after these businesses spread throughout the United States.General Tso's Chicken was introduced to New York City by Wang.He added sugar to the dish to make it better for Americans.This was the first instance of General Tso's chicken in the US, but it had already been established in Taiwan.
After being forced to flee to Taiwan from China in response to the communist regime, Peng was led to create dishes that reminded him of his home, Hunan, and capitalized on the hot and sour components that are known for.He went to New York City to open his own restaurant after he discovered that his dish was being copied.Americans believed that Peng was copying Wang, and he was unsuccessful.
It depends on how you spell it.The spelling of 'tso' is debated across America.Spellings such as "tsao," "Tsau," and "gau" can be found in Chinese takeout.Tso is the one that we've all come to know and love.Finally.The big revelation is that you don't say "T."
Unless you're super out of the loop and haven't ordered this dish before, then it's highly unlikely that knowledge of this particular dish will save you from embarrassment.The rest of the menu is filled with items that are difficult to pronounce, even for those of you who already knew how to say it.You can't expect every dish to be called "Beef with Broccoli."You know about future reference.Make a mistake of yourself and get on out there.Part of the experience is embarrassment.