Me neither.
But I have seen those kinds of products used as examples of cultural appropriation. The narrative goes that capitalism economically disenfranchises ethnic minorities, thereby creating opportunity for dominant culture entrepreneurs to step in and rob them of their cultural artifacts, and reproduce them as cheap, bland imitations that can be marketed to the less-discerning tastes of the dominant majority.
Not sure I'm buying that argument though.
Ortega was founded by this person with an extraordinarily long name Maria Conception Jacinta Dominguez Ortega who apparently lived in a Spanish settlement before it became known as California.
La Choy was apparently founded by a Korean gent. Dr. Ilhan New and a Michigan gent. Wally Smith who owned a grocery store. Although none are Chinese, there is a difference between American Chinese and authentic Chinese dishes. Also the La Choy brand founders had interesting lives and at least one had an interesting end that was quite shocking.
Tandoor Chef is spawned from a company created by an Indian woman who immigrated to America.
This is not a jab at you John, I was just curious to see how accurate people who hold those views are. At least with those three brands, it appears someone from a different culture carved a corner of the culinary market for themselves; and then their venture took off. Point is, I'm curious to know what other mass produced products people complain about and their actual origins. As someone who was born and raised in Hawaii, the touted melting pot of the world, I don't quite understand the outrage of a fusion of culture in a positive light.
