>>19183756
>obesity,
>all you can eat
https://sampan.org/2021/history/the-origins-of-the-chinese-buffet/
The Origins of the Chinese Buffet
by RICHARD AUFFREY
At least as early as 1837, you could find all-you-can-eat dinners, which were, initially, primarily for American cuisine. During the latter part of the 19th century, the “smörgåsbord” made its appearance.
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Advertisement from Los Angeles Evening Citizen, December 10, 1949
Who organized the first Chinese buffet? It is an intriguing question, with some claiming that the Joyce Chen Restaurant in Cambridge, MA invented the Chinese buffet around 1960. However, after some research, this proved to be untrue, with the first Chinese buffet having likely been conceived in California in 1949. However, the ancestry of buffet-style restaurants extends back over 100 years.
At least as early as 1837, you could find all-you-can-eat dinners, which were, initially, primarily for American cuisine. During the latter part of the 19th century, the “smörgåsbord” made its appearance. This is a Swedish term, referring to a table of food, placed outside a dining room, where you could snack. A smörgåsbord allows participants to eat as much as they desire before enjoying their actual meal. Numerous restaurants started offering a smörgåsbord, and not just for Swedish cuisine.
It was during the early 1940s that the idea of Chinese buffets began to arise, although they were initially held at social clubs, church socials, and special events. They were not yet present in restaurants. This was a popular idea during the decade, and a diverse selection of groups across the country held such events. It was these gatherings that helped enlighten consumers on the value of Chinese buffets, which aided in forming a pre-existing customer base for when restaurants finally opened them.
The Akron Beacon Journal (OH), November 16, 1948, presented the first mention of a “Chinese smörgåsbord,” noting the, “Akron Order of Rainbow and DeMolay members are planning an unusual type of covered dish dinner. It is called ‘Chinese Smorgasbord and Sweater Hop’ and will be held Friday…”
As for a Chinese buffet at a restaurant, the honors for its invention likely go to Peter Chang, of Chang’s Restaurant, in Los Angeles, CA in 1949. The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News (CA), December 10, 1949, published an advertisement for Chang’s Restaurant, located at 8730 Sunset, which noted, “Chinese Buffet. First Served in U.S. Over 20 Delicious Selections.”
More details were provided in the Mirror News (CA), January 3, 1950. It was noted that the buffet at Chang’s Restaurant, which cost $2.85, started with soup and fried rice, and made available a choice of 20 entrees. “There is a rare chicken cooked in oyster sauce and whisky, which is a delight, if you are looking for the really unusual. You can have roasted fish, shrimp rolled in bacon, almond duck, almond chicken, soybean cake, fried dried Chinese strong bans, Shanghai style omelette, pineapple beef, sweet and sour spare ribs, Chentu tomatoes with fish and onions, and Peking style noodles with beef.” You could also find Chinkiang Lion Head, a type of meatball.
The Daily News (CA), January 18, 1950, presented a brief notice, “A Chinese restaurant, Chang’s, on the Sunset Strip, serves ‘Chinese Smorgasbord’”. This notice would be repeated in newspapers all across the country, exposing many Americans to the idea of a Chinese buffet. It certainly may have given inspiration to other Chinese restaurants to start their own buffets as well.
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