America: 50☆Stars (Vol. 3)

Episode 29: American Chow

Previously on 50☆Stars: The International Gourmet Court gave America a not guilty verdict despite his strange takes on Italian cuisine. And now back to our regularly scheduled program.

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"Aiyah... What the Hell, Meiguo (America)...?" China sighed as he exited the International Gourmet Court in disarray.

Earlier today, the 4,000-year-old master of the culinary arts was summoned to explain an important subject concerning the origins of orange chicken. It seemed like a simple question to answer until America revealed the plate of deep-fried chicken chunks covered in oil and an obnoxious orange glaze was made using orange juice instead of traditional orange peel. Despite not giving a clear response, the judge immediately ruled the recipe did belong to him. There was no question he was the creator of the popular Chinese dish. He should've been proud to win this easy case. But deep down, he was sick to his stomach. The orange chicken that was exhibited in court didn't sit well with him. It wasn't the dried citrus peel chicken he recognized. Rather, it was a bastardized version of it!

"N-No! No! Unacceptable!" He shook his head. "I can't go home yet. I won't know peace until I get to the bottom of this. I need to know the truth."

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"Aloha, Mr. China! Welcome to my home!" Hawaii greeted the nation as he entered her house. "You must be tired and hungry after a long flight from the mainland, so I've made lots of orange chicken and rice if that's okay with you."

"Orange chicken?" He gave her an odd look. "This can't be a coincidence."

She giggled, "America also told me about the trial when he informed me about your short vacation to my house. I figured it was appropriate." She led him down the hall to the dining room.

"Please tell me you included orange peel in the dish." He grew queasy at the thought of orange juice being poured into a wok.

"Of course, I included orange peel. It's part of the recipe."

"A-Absolutely." He breathed a sigh of relief as he sat down in a seat at the table. "Thank goodness. It's nice to know someone gives my cuisine proper respect."

"Is orange peel that big of a deal?" She laid a bowl of orange chicken atop the table. "Cuz I mostly use orange juice for the sauce. Orange peel is just decoration."

"What the Hell?!" He gawped at the clueless girl and the oily orange bowl of chicken. "Have you lost your mind?!"

"Is there a problem?" She took a seat.

"Yes, aiyah!" China argued. "Orange chicken is traditionally made with the dried peel of oranges or tangerines. I can pardon the use of fresh orange peels. But the use of commercially processed orange juice is very inappropriate! It makes the dish way too sweet and sour!"

"But I like it sweet and sour."

"Orange chicken isn't supposed to be sweet and sour! It's supposed to taste fresh with a slight spice on the tongue!"

"If you say so..." She popped a piece of orange chicken into her mouth. "Personally, I prefer it over General Tso's chicken."

"General Tso's chicken?"

"It's the most popular Chinese dish in America. Orange chicken is supposedly a variation of it." She stopped eating upon seeing his awry face. "What's wrong? It's a dish you made, yeah?"

He shook his head. "No. I haven't even heard of it."

"What?" She dropped her chopsticks in surprise. "What about the name, General Tso?"