"Lyrical, even magical, and often funny as well as moving." Dr. Paul Freedman, Professor of History, Yale University

Director Ian Cheney (King Corn, Big River, Truck Farm, The City Dark, and Bluespace) journeys from Shanghai to New York to the American Midwest and beyond to uncover the origins of this iconic dish, turning up surprising revelations and a host of humorous characters along the way. Told with the verve of a good detective story, THE SEARCH FOR GENERAL TSO is as much about food as it is a tale of the American immigrant experience.



Grade Level: 7 - 12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2017     Copyright Date: 2014
DVD ISBN: 1-941545-89-0

Reviews "An extraordinary film! The Search for General Tso is a smart, funny and thoughtful resource for the teaching of the relationship between culture, power, food, and immigration in the United States." Dr. Krishnendu Ray, Chair and Associate Professor of Food Studies, New York University, Author, The Migrant's Table "More than just a biography...Viewers are treated to an exploration...The film is packed with historical imagery and warm humor, making it a joy to experience." Peter Hepburn, Library Journal "[The Search for General Tso] keeps digging and digging until it has not only solved the enigma of this particular dish but cast a light on an entire secret chronology of food, immigrant culture, and the way the two amplify each other. The film does so with great affection and brisk style but also with a nose for the truth." Ty Burr, The Boston Globe "A culinary, cultural odyssey." Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times "Smart, well balanced, and briskly paced, The Search for General Tso is highly recommended." Joe Bendel, The Epoch Times "What happens when you put Julia Child, Sherlock Holmes, and Jackie Chan in a fiery wok? The answer can be found in The Search for General Tso, a highly entertaining and informative film...Told with humor and filled with valuable history and insight, this film is a must-see for anyone who not only loves to eat but loves to think seriously about why we eat." Dr. Robert Ji-Song Ku, Associate Professor of Asian and Asian American Studies, SUNY-Binghamton, Author, Dubious Gastronomy: The Cultural Politics of Eating Asian in the USA "Highly Recommended...Well-crafted...Expertly written, produced, and edited, this award-winning documentary is of interest to general audiences and dedicated foodies alike." Linda Frederiksen, Educational Media Reviews Online "Delightful...A fascinating topic." John Stahl, Unreal TV "Smart, informative...fascinating...The Search for General Tso is a celebration of a culture, survival, tolerance, basic pleasures and the rewards reaped by all concerned." Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal international "A beautifully filmed story of Chinese American food from coast to coast, assembling a remarkable cast of experts. It would fit perfectly into any US History course, an Immigration course or Food History. It deftly explodes the whole idea of authenticity in cuisine, showing through a single dish how cooking is always a matter of evolution." Ken Albala, Professor of History, Chair of Food Studies, University of the Pacific, Author, 'The Food History Reader "As fascinating a documentary as it is unique...The film delivers facts in a fun, fast, and fashionable way...Foodies and filmgoers alike are fortunate Ian Cheney took the time not only to ask the questions, but to answer them." Zach Hollwedel, Under the Radar "The Search is partly a mystery story centered around the origins of General Tso's Chicken, but also an extended and fascinating treatment of Chinese food in America. Especially intriguing is how Chinese dishes get transformed to appeal to American palates; who owns Chinese restaurants; and how they see their customers and competition. The Search is lyrical, even magical, and often funny as well as moving." Dr. Paul Freedman, Professor of History, Yale University, Author, Ten Restaurants That Changed America "A brilliant gastronomic history of one of the favorite selections on Chinese restaurant menus as well as a social history of the Chinese in the USA." Louis Proyect, CounterPunch "My students love The Search for General Tso, an entertaining odyssey to find the real story behind the popular Chinese takeout dish. I love that it traces multiple histories of Chinese migration to the United States through food, in an accessible and thought-provoking manner." Michelle King, Associate Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "Opens a window on to the complex history of Chinese-American relations in a finger-lickin' good foodie docu." Scott Foundas, Variety "The wildly popular chicken dish, named after a general of Imperial China who never tasted it, contains one of the fascinating hidden stories of Chinese food, America's most popular ethnic cuisine. Understanding stories such as this will enrich your Chinese-food experience." Dr. Yong Chen, Professor of History, University of California - Irvine, Author, Chop Suey, USA: The Story of Chinese Food in America "It's a blend of fanciful, cultural detective work and offbeat, culinary road trip...An hour after watching it I was hungry to view it again." Elias Savada, Film Threat "An apt vessel for the mystery dish at its center." Nicolas Rapold, The New York Times