Chop, Fry, Watch, Learn: Food, Gender, and Cold War History with Michelle T. King

In this episode, we sit down with food historian and associate professor Michelle T. King to discuss her fascinating book, Chop, Fry, Watch, Learn: Fu Pei-mei and the Making of Modern Chinese Food. Fu Pei-mei is a household name for generations of Chinese and Taiwanese families, often referred to as the "Julia Child of Taiwan". But her path to legendary TV status was anything but traditional. She started as a self-described "bad cook" who actually used her wedding dowry and jewelry to pay professional restaurant chefs to teach her how to cook. Whether you are a food lover, a history buff, or interested in the immigrant experience, this conversation offers a beautiful and surprising look at how the food on our plates is shaped by the forces of history.We discuss Michelle's family background and how Fu Pei-mei impacted their home cookingThe Chinese Civil War and what it did to cuisine in TaiwanHow Fu Pei-mei was a traditional wife yet modern womanHow she got her start on televisionWhat she meant to generations of peopleFinally, the signature question on The Interlocutor Podcast, what does the title mean and when did the author come up with it. #FoodHistory #ChineseFood #FuPeimei #TaiwanFood #ChopFryWatchLearn #FoodDocumentary #CulinaryHistory #ImmigrantStories #GenderAndFoodLearn more about Michelle's work at: https://michelletking.com/