Chinese American classics from another era

by Richard Foss The Chinese takeout container with its stylized pagoda on the side has been a symbol of fast food since shortly after that term was invented in the 1950’s. Some people have an almost Pavlovian reaction to seeing them thanks to so many childhood meals that began by opening those paper boxes to reveal steaming stir fry. Chinese food has been the most popular takeout meal in America since the 1980s, eclipsing hamburgers, tacos, and even pizza. Most items in those takeout box