Think you know the origins of the ubiquitous fortune cookie? Think again. (The answer isn’t China.)

The fortune cookie is arguably the most recognizable manifestation of how cultural traditions transform during periods of immigration. Although many Americans once assumed that the fortune cookie was a part of traditional Chinese cuisine, the edible icon is now recognized as being distinctly American. However, there is much dispute over where and how the fortune cookie came into being. Hong Kong Noodle Company was one of the first companies to produce the cookies as appetizers. Then again, maybe the fortune cookie is not even Chinese. A Japanese American family that ran the Fugestu-do market has also claimed to be the original fortune cookie. Or did the popular post-meal snack come from the popular Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco? And what about the fortune of the fortune cookie with its prophetic messages and winning lottery numbers? The birth of fortune cookie remains one of America’s greatest cultural myths.

Backed by a soundtrack by Miho Hattori, formerly of Cibo Matto, THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE plunges into the debate over the true origins of this Chinese eatery staple. The documentary also traces the roots of the fortune cookie as a simple pastry mixing eastern and western influences. Finally, director Derek Shimoda examines the cookie’s rise as an American pop culture phenomenon, simultaneously providing a glimpse into many of the historically significant and flourishing Asian American communities around the United States.

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