B2 — Upper Intermediate
In the United States, there are more Chinese restaurants than most major fast-food chains like McDonald’s. For decades, it was very difficult for authentic Chinese dishes like Peking duck to gain popularity as the Americanized versions were more appreciated by the locals. Many Chinese restaurateurs also faced discrimination and cultural resistance.
Today, as China’s restaurant industry slows, many Chinese chains are expanding into the US, betting that Americans are more open to authentic Chinese cuisine.
Watch the video and explore how Chinese food became a staple of American dining and how the industry is evolving.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to be shrouded in something” mean? “The origin of fortune cookie is just like the origin of pizza. It is shrouded in mystery.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to be blown out of proportion” mean? ”It isblown totally out of proportion. Prejudice against Chinese food has become embedded when society needs a scapegoat.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What is a “scapegoat”? ”It is blown totally out of proportion. Prejudice against Chinese food has become embedded when society needs a scapegoat.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your impression about the history of how Chinese cuisine became widely-accepted in America?
- What do you think it is about Chinese restaurant business that made it very lucrative in the US? Do you think it will work in your country too?
- How popular has the Chinese cuisine become in your country? What do you think about that? What are other foreign cuisines popular in your country? Why do you think this is?
- Do you think adapting traditional foods to local tastes helps preserve or dilute a culture’s culinary identity? Why?
- Should restaurants prioritize authenticity or customer preferences when serving cultural foods? Share your thoughts.