Chicken feet a bridge in U.S.–China relations?

Chicken feet, simmered in a special house sauce, is a popular dim sum dish. Jade Garden Restaurant’s chicken feet (above) is particularly known for its succulence. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

I could never imagine that chick­en feet, despised by many Americans, would be the thing to link China and America in a win-win situation.

You probably think I’m lying or joking.

Nope, I have proof.

If you don’t have the stomach to read about chicken feet, don’t worry, this isn’t about cooking them. On the 30th anniversary of U.S.–China rela­tions, chicken feet became newswor­thy, a commodity that the U.S. govern­ment can make money on.

Check out the New York Times from Sept. 16. It was not an article in the food section, but was featured promi­nently on the front page of the business section. Titled “A Taste for Chick­en Feet May Keep American Poultry in Chinese Pots,” the piece caught my eye because I am a big fan of chick­en feet and cook them often at home.

Here in Seattle’s Chinatown/Inter­national District, chicken feet with black bean sauce is a popular dim sum item for Asian immigrants.

It has become a frequent joke with my non-Asian friends when we go to dim sum restaurants. I urge them to try chicken feet to prove their bravery. 

Americans have been knocking our heads all these years to figure out what we can do about the trade imbalance between the United States and China. Suddenly, we discover there is some­thing Chinese people love.

How many times have we learned that anger, conflicts, and strains can be diminished at the dining table over a wonderful meal?

The Chinese won’t bypass delicious food items and are willing to negotiate to possess them. How much do export­ing frozen feet earn us? The Chinese spent about $4.3 billion on American poultry in 2008, according to the Times.Imagine finding something in your garage that has no value to you, but is now giving you tremendous profits.

The Chinese government cooper­ates on the issue of chicken feet and wings. You have to understand that the trade war between the United States and China has been messy and com­plicated in recent years.

Americans have been importing a lot of Chinese goods and products, but if we want to sell something back to China, it isn’t always simple. There was recently a fight over importing Chinese tires into this country. The Chinese government also imposes tariffs, quotas, and bureaucracies to protect their own brands.

According to the Times, when it comes to chicken feet, “the Chinese re­lent.” There is no restriction from China on America’s export of wings and feet. 

Our chicken feet are more muscular and fatty in texture. The feet tastes so much better and tender than the chick­en feet in China because it becomes too skinny once it’s cooked. I know this because I was born in China and raised in Hong Kong.

Chicken feet brings the United States and China close together

Chicken feet are considered a deli­cacy in Chinese culture. Chinese can make delicious soup and stews out of them. Chicken feet brings the Unit­ed States and China closer. What a milestone for the 30th anniversary of U.S.–China relations!

Perhaps Americans should learn that Asians waste nothing when it comes to food. Every part of the chicken can be maximized to its fullest potential. If it is a bigger bird like a goose or duck, we cook its tongue, neck, and head.