Wok This Way

One of the many centerpieces of New York Times reporter Jennifer 8. Lee’s celebrated and fascinating literary foodie fling, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food, is the author’s exploration of “Why Chow Mein Is the Chosen Food of the Chosen People: The Great Kosher Duck Scandal of 1989,” in which she explains why, paradoxically, American Jews embrace Chinese cuisine. So it isn’t really out of character for her to speak at a Jewish event like the JAAMM Fest (see Sunday, page TK), which she’ll do today at noon, over kosher Asian fare, at the Mizel Center for Arts and Culture, 350 South Dahlia Street, Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center. Along with the genesis of the fortune cookie, Lee will opine on the history of Chinese takeout cartons, the real story of Gen-eral Tso and, mainly, why Jews across the nation are known eat chop suey on Christmas; admission, which includes a Shang Chai: Jews and Chinese Food luncheon, is $26. Fork or chopsticks? Ess gezunterheyt! Enjoy, enjoy! Reservations are required; visit www.maccjcc.org or call 303-316-6360.
Tue., Oct. 28, noon, 2008