Fortune cookies are a part of everyday life for some people. These dry, sometimes stale little cookies are wrapped around a little slip of paper with a fortune, quote or inspirational message. Where did the fortune cookie come from?
You might say that the fortune cookie, a tradition in chinese restaurants, came from China. Nope, more like California. It’s not known, exactly, why we have fortune cookies or the original meaning behind them. Here are some of the possibilities.
In 1912 a Chinese immigrant by the name of David Jung was the founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company, located in Los Angeles, California. It is rumored that he created a cookie that could be passed out to the poor with an inspirational message inside. The messages were said to come from the local Presbyterian minister.
Not too away we find another “suspect” in the case of who created the fortune cookie. In San Francisco there was another immigrant, only this time from Japan, named Makoto Hagiwara. As designer of the Japanese Tea Garden at the Golden Gate Park. He was said to be fired by a racist Mayor, and once he was rehired by another Mayor he created the fortune cookie that contained a thank you note. These cookies quickly became popular, and were featured at the San Francisco World Fair.
The fortune cookie didn’t actually make it to China until the 1990, and at that time they were advertised as “Genuine American Fortune Cookies”. Is there any fortune to fortune cookies? Throughout time many cultures have served traditional foods, including cookies or cakes, as a blessing for their health and household over the upcoming year. So it is, a prayer for good fortune. Are fortune cookies founded on this ancient beliefs?
Fortune cookies, the simple little cookies served at the end of a Chinese dinner, hold simple little messages. I know that even today, at least in my family, it is important to pick the right cookie when the plate with the fortune cookies is served at your table following your chinese meal. Many times the messages inside are shared with the others in your party, with smiles at the accuracy of the message or the joy of well wishes.
Fortune cookies have not changed much since their origin, but their uses have changed! Today you can buy an order of fortune cookies with your own messages included, such as well wishes for a wedding, or congratulations for an anniversary or birthday. Companies can have slogans and even discount coupons on fortune cookies, or a special drawing for a prize. Now that would be a great outcome to a good meal, to win a prize as well!
How fortunate are we today to be able to go into a restaurant and finish our meal with a meaningful cookie? The fortune cookie – our inspirational food treasure!
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