You can't go to San Francisco and not visit Chinatown! It's the largest in North America. I lived in SF for about 10 years, and could find something new each time I walked by. Good food, funky trinkets to take back as gift souvenirs and best of all, hidden in an alley off the main tourist street, the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Co. Once I finally discovered it, after about a year of living there, it was a go to spot for any visiting friends and family. And sometime, just a craving for those delicious confections. Best part, you didn't have to buy them as a fortune cookie. They made and sold them as the large round disc or a small round disc about the size of a dollar coin.
Just imagine being led down a small alley, nothing much happening, street art on one of the walls, and the back entrances of the shops on either side and around the corner, only to find yourself standing outside, looking into a small factory where fortune cookies are being made. I'm pretty sure the same lady was working each time I went thru, although I do remember a couple times having a small crew working hard. And not just working on making the cookies, but appeasing the crowds of touritsts that would come thru.
I've seen them made soooo many times. One might think when I tried to make them myself it would be easy peasy. Very similar to folding a wonton, but no, that would not be the case, nope. Once you are met with an extremely hot cookie, just out of the oven that you need to put a fortune in, fold properly and set to harden, and all within 20-30sec time, well things don't turn out as envisioned. Of course more practice the better, but as I was on my way home today, I happen to look at the calendar of "National Days of..." and see that today July 20, is National Fortune Cookie Day. And with that I set to make some fortune cookies for work tomorrow. The recipe for these is pretty simple, very similar to that of a tuille. It's coming up with cheeky, funny and random fortunes, writing them on a small paper and then placing them in the, did I say HOT, cookie. First off, if you can print a bunch of fortunes on small papers the better. Mine are hand written and the paper is folded, so much harder to place properly in the cookie. I did manage to make a few good looking ones. The rest, well, I tried, it's the thought that counts right? For now, if you find yourself in San Francisco one of these days, be sure to drop in and try some, they have some for your to try complimentary, but definitely don't leave without a couple bags that you can munch on throughout the rest of your trip. Check here for more information about location and hours!
תגובות