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COMMENTS:
Reason I didn't say Chinese Americans because I'm not talking about just those of chinese ancestry who live in America.
Voted : I don't know
Another one of those things I've never pondered in life...
^ Lol, not something I really pondered either, but with all the China ballots and comments got me thinking about this. I never see them outside of their place of business.
Voted : It's an ancient Chinese secret
I've noticed that too.
Voted : It's an ancient Chinese secret
Chinese cuisine demonstrates a profound cultural tradition which really has no equivalent in a place as pluralistic, young, and relatively traditionless as America.
The huge area we now refer to as China was isolated from most of the rest of the world for thousands of years, and would have been content to remain that way given the region's wealth of natural resources, range of climates -- and general attitude of 'exceptionalism' (superiority/specialness) found throughout history in all thriving, dominant civilizations. Really up until the British Empire (followed by the rest of the Latin-based world) peeled China open to trade like a sardine can with the Opium wars of the mid 19th-century, China simply absorbed other societies with which it came into conflict, such as the Mughals.
The family is hugely important in China; (Chinese names begin with the last name after all), and untold generations transmitted to the next the pastime of preparing food and socializing around mealtimes. Chinese also for their history, between the beginning and end of unified dynasties ("dynastic cycles"), c. 3rd century B.C.E. to 20th century C.E., have enjoyed creating the finest things they knew how, not the least of which is food.
For Chinese immigrants, maintaining their culinary traditions must be comforting in that they are able to transplant such an important part of their culture and collective identity into a new environment.
Also, having places like Chinatown enables them to congregate in large areas where they can speak the same "language"--in the broadest sense of the word. (Actually the written word is also very important, but that's another story for another day. Plus my potstickers are ready.  )
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