Chinese Food: Potstickers :: History Culinary Cooking Essays

Chinese Food: Potstickers I was flipping through the â€Å"Food† section of the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday, November 5th, 2003, and came across an enormous picture of a potsticker. The article about â€Å"Potstickers† caught my attention. I thought, so what? Is there really a history behind the famous dumpling? Surprisingly, yes. The article began with an introduction of how Amy Tan, the famous author of The Joy Luck Club, makes potstickers with her sisters in remembrance of their mother. They gradually linked into the history of the potsticker with a legend that many culinary chefs know today: A chef to a royal household left a pot of dumplings on the stove too long and discovered the bottoms had burned. The chef thought this would mean his head, but his smart son decided to present the dumplings to the emperor himself. When the emperor asked why the dumplings were burned, the son quickly explained it was a new recipe for something called potstickers. The emperor liked the cr unchiness of the browned bottoms and a new dish was born. The article then continues on to the significance of the potsticker. Martin Yan, cooking show host, says â€Å"The potstickers are special because of the succulent filling inside and a crispy bottom outside. People also like the play of the dumpling with its dipping sauce.† The article ties back to the introduction of Amy Tan and her connections with the potsticker. She also states the potsticker is an equalizer to all; people rich or poor can eat the most glorious pot sticker for â€Å"they transcend class and money.† Tan continues to make potstickers in her mother’s memory. The pot stickers are great for entertaining a party and culinary schools are now teaching how to make the dumplings. The article also provides a recipe and illustrations in addition to seven columns on how to prepare them. On the Bottom of that article was another article by Olivia Wu, titled, â€Å"A Family That Rolls, Fills and Crimps Together Creates More Than Just Dumplings.â₠¬  This article talks about the significance of one family and how making potstickers brings them together like playing a board game would. The article was captivating because my family and I do the same thing! I was reminded of how the potsticker relates to me.