On Monday, April 8th, Arielle Haspel opened up an American-Chinese restaurant in New York City called Lucky Lee’s. According to the restaurant’s Instagram account, Lucky Lee’s offers “feel-great food inspired by American-Chinese cuisine.”
But in the days leading up to opening week, Lucky Lee’s has caused quite the buzz on the internet.
It all started when Twitter user @lanyzzzzz pointed out that Haspel is not Chinese. (She had originally tweeted her thoughts, but her post has since been deleted.) However, her tweet did elicit a string of angry responses.
“Considering Chinese Food was used to fight racial oppression and the Exclusion Act, this is insensitive at best,” says Twitter user @Liuyongfu2g. “Food gentrification.”
On one Instagram post, the restaurant said, “A number of comments have stated that by saying our Chinese food is made with ‘clean’ cooking techniques and it makes you feel great that we are commenting negatively on all Chinese food. When we talk about our food, we are not talking about other restaurants, we are only talking about Lucky Lee’s.”
However, some folks didn’t appreciate the message of “feel great” or “clean” Chinese-American food.
People felt that using such adjectives perpetuated negative connotations about Chinese food. “As a Chinese American in the food industry, it’s literally taken my people decades to finally unshackle ourselves from the expectations Americans have of our food and culture,” said Instagram user @eatingpopos.
They also weighed in on the role and impact of Chinese-American food thus far. “Chinese immigrants who make this ‘unhealthy’ food did and do it out of financial necessity. It’s not their fault the food eaten back in their homes was once not acceptably delicious to the American palate,” added @eatingpopos.
Others shared their concern about the existing stereotypes about Chinese food and restaurants.
That's the entire point. She's profiting off stereotypes and false authencity.
— Nora Bora (@Life_of_Nora) April 9, 2019
"Chinese-Inspired" or "Americanized Chinese-Health Fusion" whatever... That's not what she chose to do.
They also challenged fellow Twitter users to view things from a different perspective.
Try picking a country where White American Immigrants were brought over for cheap labor over 100 years ago. Where they were dehumanized, treated as 2nd-class citizens when they finally got the right, and whose food/language/facial features are still made punchlines today.
— Nora Bora (@Life_of_Nora) April 9, 2019
Some compared it to an overpriced version of Panda Express.
Lucky Lee’s offers both dine-in and take-out options.
Examples of their menu options include brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower “un-fried” fried rice.
They also serve honey-glazed spare ribs marinated in beet juice.
Haspel, a health coach and cooking show host, named the restaurant after her husband Lee.
She specializes in group coaching workshops, one-on-one coaching sessions, private cooking classes, and more.
On Instagram, Lucky Lee’s shares tidbits and facts about Chinese herbal medicine.
A majority of folks didn’t see an issue with Lucky Lee’s.
I haven’t read the menu or anything, but if it’s truly just lighter/healthier versions of Chinese-American food, is there really that much to get outraged/offended about? And I just can’t get that mad about a silly ethnic food pun.
— Deva Hazarika (@devahaz) April 9, 2019
Many simply wished her well.
Good for her. I hope her business thrives.
— CountChopula (@Chewybunny) April 9, 2019
Others are already making plans to dine at Lucky Lee’s when they’re in New York city.
Meanwhile, the discussion continues to unfold.
Twitter users are still talking about their thoughts, even though the tweet that started it all no longer exists.
To follow the thread, visit Twitter.
