It wasn’t till after we left that it occurred to me that for a couple bucks they probably would have let me write my own fortune to have stuffed inside a cookie. Tip to anyone considering a proposal of marriage; visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory located in a tiny alley in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
In Ross alley is a little shop about the size of my living room, where dreams are created. Well, maybe not dreams, but rather the little cookies you get with your sweet and sour chicken. I had never considered how these little treats are made, just as I have never really considered how my iPhone or a kazoo are constructed, but when confronted with an opportunity, why not?
There ya go. That’s pretty much it. A circular conveyor belt with a hundred Forman Grill like hot plates spins around spitting out hot pancakes that are peeled off the press and the folded around a slip of pre printed paper into the shape of a croissant. You walk in, go “huh.” Then buy a bulk bag of cookies and go on your way. That is my style of learning.
Going there is worth the trip and being there is even better. I find it incredibly American. American in that it is very much IN America, but in a place where a large number of people have come from somewhere else in hope of a better life. That is American.
What is also very American is gawking at the the culture of others without any real back story or true cultural understanding. That was my part in the whole visit. I played my part well and I am through and through American. Below I present exhibit A:
I appreciate drying your laundry the cheapest way possible and I don’t mind dried fish, but combining the two displeases me. I would guess that were it otherwise I would displease most of the people who might sit next to me on a bus.
But that is my opinion and this is America where we are each entitled to our own opinions… and smells.
Brohammas 
Did you pay .50?
We went nuts and pitched in $2.00
did you know they don’t have fortune cookies in china? it’s a chinese-american invention.
Dalyn, I just started reading your blog and I’m so glad I started with this one. During a trip to SF in high school I went to this place (or somewhere like it–who knows) and got a bag of unfolded/messed up fortune cookies. It felt so adventurous and wondrous to purchase the mildly rogue treats from the cheery alley shop. Not sure if it’s the same place, but I love your commentary on it.
Also, much love from the Munsons to the Montgomerys! We were actually in SoCal last week, wish we would’ve had time to squeeze in a visit–next time! 🙂
All joking aside, you have no idea how happy I am to have “Constitution Holly” reading my blog.
Haha! I am always honored to have that title.