![\"A](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/the_search_for_general_tso.jpg\")
<\/a>A shot of General Tso’s Chicken from the documentary.<\/p><\/div>\n
And, while you were ordering or eating it, did you think to yourself, \u201cWho the heck is General Tso, and why am I eating his chicken?\u201d I<\/em> often have. Eaten it and<\/em> thought that!<\/p>\n Well, now we have a documentary to answer those burning questions! The Search for General Tso<\/em> is informative. And short!<\/p>\n I saw it two nights ago, and it was a lot of fun. My friend could not stop laughing! When it was over, the first thing she said to me was, \u201cThat’s a winner!\u201d<\/p>\n The perfect-sized interior of the Arena.<\/p><\/div>\n It’s playing at the Arena Cinema in Hollywood for three more nights.\u00a0 Arena is adjacent to, and around the back of, the full-sized Egyptian Theatre, and has a fun \u201cJoe sent me\u201d vibe.\u00a0 I can’t believe that was my first visit to this indie film theatre; I’ve been hearing about it for awhile now.\u00a0 If I lived near there, it would be my go-to place for a relaxing, and hip, evening.\u00a0 It’s just a really comfortable place.\u00a0 (I’m actually going there again this week-end, for a different film.)<\/p>\n And the people who work there are really nice and accommodating.\u00a0 I asked the young guy who was helping me what his name is.\u00a0 He said, “Tak,” and spelled it.\u00a0 I said I’m “Karen, with a K.”\u00a0 And continued, “If ever my boyfriend and I break-up, and I get with you, they’d label us\u00a0 ‘TaKar!’ ”\u00a0 And thank goodness he got it and laughed, rather than being frightened!<\/p>\n So, back to The Search for General Tso<\/em>. The documentary was not just for the purpose of discovering the origin of this one dish.\u00a0 We learned a lot about Chinese food in general, in both this country and China, in addition to finally locating the General!\u00a0 (Sort-of.)\u00a0 And my pal and I were shocked to find-out about the horrific treatment the Chinese pioneers in San Francisco received!<\/p>\n The scope of the doc was so general that it really could have been about the beginnings of any<\/em> dish on a Chinese menu, but having the hook of looking for the only person with a dish named after him was a good idea. How banal would it have been to look for the beginnings of Beef with Broccoli? Or Shrimp with Lobster Sauce? Or Moo Goo Gai Pan? It needed the General Tso hook.<\/p>\n A still shot from my new YouTube video. (To view it, click on the link to the right, not on this pic.)<\/p><\/div>\n The film featured many people with amusing little Chinese restaurant anecdotes. They reminded me of my own<\/em> best one; you can click here to see my video story of it: \u00a0www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uAuo5pEkywo<\/a>. \u00a0 (This one of mine has to be told verbally<\/em>, not in writing.)<\/p>\n The evening I attended the movie included a special event. Following the showing, there was a Q-&-A with producer Jennifer Lee. She was a lot of fun, and gave us much background info.\u00a0 And may even talk more, and faster, than I!\u00a0 I hadn’t thought it possible!\u00a0 So, she’s my kind of gal.<\/p>\n After the Q-and-A, the entire assemblage went out to the courtyard for a little reception. And guess what they served? General Tso’s chicken, of course!<\/p>\n Arena Cinema Hollywood 1625 N. Las Palmas Blvd. 323-306-0676\u00a0 www.arenascreen.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE SEARCH FOR GENERAL TSO Have you ever ordered General Tso’s chicken at a Chinese restaurant ? It was the happening dish about a decade ago, and has stayed a staple for all these years. And, while you were ordering or eating it, did you think to yourself, \u201cWho the heck is General Tso, and<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>