Tags: Food Products
By Anna Valmero
MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA – Did you know that the first fortune cookie was not from China but from California? And did you know that you can get a box of fortune cookies from a little store in downtown Manila?
Yes, despite movies and TV shows popularizing that fortune cookies are served only in Chinese restaurants, the first batch of these “message cookies” were invented by Chinese 49′ers who then worked on the building of the great American gold rush and railway boom.
Instead of the traditional lotus nut paste moon cakes, the workers only had biscuits with happy messages inside to exchange at the Moon festival, thus giving birth to the fortune cookies. The tradition was adapted from revolutionary Chu Yuan Chang who hid secret messages in traditional moon cakes announcing the uprising against the conquering Mongols in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Yes, the fortune cookies are an Asian-American invention as Manila Standard columnist Connie Veneracion calls it. This I knew when my friend and I stumbled upon Shopper’s Mart in Chinatown and bought a box of vanilla-flavored fortune cookies.
Shopper’s Mart is a little store in Ongpin Street, at the back of Binondo Church. The store sells Chinese grocery goods—including boxes of locally-made fortune cookies by Gold Coin that sell at 70 pesos each. The box I bought in March has since given me words of wisdom, brief reminders on how to appreciate life’s blessings and how to view life in a more positive way. Plus it’s a creative and fabulous way to end a meal with family and friends.
Blogger and Filipina mom Angelica Villoria wrote about how fortune cookies can also be used as a party theme, where everyone present will read aloud his or her “fortune” from a cracked cookie. Even if there are digital versions of fortune cookies, nothing beats the classic way of cracking open the cookie and pulling out the small paper of your “fortune.”
While I would not believe that my fortune can be found inside a cookie, it is good to note that all it takes to get through a day is some reminder to find beauty and joy in the ordinary things.
Remember, “A single kind word will keep one warm for years,” even if it came from a cookie.
Alcoholic Beverages Bars Beverages Coffee Cottage Industries Entrepreneurship Establishments Exotic Food Food Establishments Food Fare and Dishes Food Industry News and Concerns Food Preparation Food Products Healthy Food and Drinks Seafood Street Food Truly Pinoy Food and Drinks Vegetarian and Organic Food
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, I just finished reading this particular post. I was looking for a store that sells fortune cookies in the Manila area. Mind if I ask how many cookies are there in a 70-peso box? And if there are other places where I can find them?
HI, there are about 24 fortune cookies in the box. Cheers
Hi, just want to ask, if you do a personalise fortune cookies, we need 1000 pcs fortune cookies on may 25, it is possible for you to produce it with the shape of heart. please let me know. thank you.
Hi, just want to ask, if you do a personalise fortune cookies, we need 1000pcs on may 25, it is possible for you to produce it with the shape of heart. please let me know asap. thank you.
Hi, would like to get your contact number so that I can order via phone. We need fortune cookies for our upcoming party in January 2012. Hope you can help me. Kindly send me an email asap. Thanks.
Hi,
kindly send us a quotation for around 300 pcs fortune cookies to be delivered by January 18/19, 2012 for our company’s Chinese New Year event.
You may reach us at 6662821 and look for Mondo, Carmela or Jen.
Thanks.