I haven't seen sufficient documentary evidence from any of the sources which have alleged Salem, Massachusetts was the origin of the sandwich. So, when and where did the Chop Suey sandwich originate? And is it only a regional New England dish? A definitive origin date for the sandwich wasn't provided. Lim, and John Eng-Wong, in their article, “T he Chow Mein Sandwich: Chinese American Entrepreneurship in Rhode Island,” placed the likely place of origin of the chop suey sandwich in Fall River, also noting that its heyday was in the 1930s and 1940s. Its heyday was in the 1930s and 1940s, and it was also popular in the New York City area." This sounds more likely, though no evidence was provided to support the claim.Īnd anthology professor, Imogene I. For example, the New England Historical Societyalleges it extends back to the Salem Willows in 1905, which seems unlikely, especially as Salem Lowe wouldn't exist until around 1912.Īccording to Sweet and Sour: Life in Chinese Family Restaurants, by John Jung, " In parts of New England, many lunch counters, drugstores, five-and-dimes, and amusement parks offered a variant known as the chop suey sandwich as early as the 1920s. However, these sources disagree as to when this sandwich was invented. Many sources claim that this sandwich is unique to New England and parts of New York. If you've visited the Salem Willows, you might have enjoyed a Chop Suey Sandwich, likely at the Salem Lowe restaurant. New England Historical Society, "Salem Chop Suey Sandwiches, A Sign Of Summer" “We want to save it, want to keep it going,” Harriman tells the Salem News." The chop suey sandwich is a cheap and filling concoction of roast pork or chicken, onions, celery and bean sprouts cooked in a thickened soy gravy and served on a hamburger bun." Rodgers and Harriman say that with the new version, it is important to them to “try to honor the culture and the cuisine” of the restaurant, its fandom, and the work that the Yee family put into the place for decades. Scores of people lined up for one last chop suey sandwich from the takeout window before it permanently closed its doors. Salem Lowe first opened in 1912, and for the last 50 years, it had been run by David Yee and his family until they decided to shut the restaurant down last summer. The pair also own Spitfire Tacos, a taco shop with locations in Salem and Marblehead that the two launched during the pandemic. Salem Lowe’s history, and how connected customers felt to the restaurant, was a major factor in Rodgers and Harriman’s decision to revive the place, according to the report. The restaurant’s popular pepper steak sandwich is also making a return. Most importantly, the chop suey sandwich - an iconic regional food that consists of bean sprouts and pieces of chicken cooked in a thick sauce and dolloped onto a hamburger bun - will still be on the menu at the new Salem Lowe. The Salem News reports that the duo are also upgrading equipment in the kitchen and tweaking some recipes, like making the noodles in-house and cooking chicken in a pressure fryer. Notably, the restaurant will no longer be open seasonally, but rather operate year-round at the Salem Willows Park in Salem, Massachusetts. The new owners, Kathleen Rodgers and Ryan Harriman, plan to implement a few changes under their stewardship. The Salem News reports that a pair of local restaurateurs have bought the shuttered spot and plan to reopen it in April. Salem Lowe, the former North Shore restaurant known as a destination for chop suey sandwiches, is reopening under new ownership.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |