General Tso's chicken. What the heck is it? Where does it come from? Who the hell is General Tso? The feature documentary The Search for General Tso is a globe-trotting quest to answer the culinary mystery of General Tso's chicken, and how it somehow became a staple of Chinese food in America. The film, directed by Ian Cheney, is now playing in select theaters and available on video on demand from IFC Films.
Here's the trailer:
It seems evident from the trailer that you'll be hard-pressed to find a restaurant in China that serves General Tso's chicken. Surprise, America. This is not just a film about a particular dish, but also the story of Chinese food in United States. Here's more about the film:
This mouthwateringly entertaining film travels the globe to unravel a captivating culinary mystery. General Tso’s chicken is a staple of Chinese-American cooking, and a ubiquitous presence on restaurant menus across the country. But just who was General Tso? And how did his chicken become emblematic of an entire national cuisine? Director Ian Cheney (King Corn, The City Dark) 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. A Sundance Selects release from IFC Films.
The Search for General Tso is now playing in New York and Los Angeles, and opening in more theaters in coming weeks. You can also find it on iTunes, Amazon and other VOD options. For further information about The Search for General Tso, visit the film's website and follow updates on Facebook.