A special exhibit at the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University illuminates the history of Chinese restaurants (and Chinese immigration) in Providence, focusing on the big three — Ming Garden, Mee Hong and Luke’s. It is a small exhibit including this place setting from Mee Hong. The old menus are mildly appalling as they reveal just how unsophisticated Americans were in their appetites — all these breaded, fried and eggy concoctions that had nothing to do with what the owners and their families were eating I’m sure. American palates had to be educated slowly I guess. (Having said that, those Ming Wings were awesome!) Curated by Brown grad students, Heather Lee and Amy Johnson, the exhibit will be up through June 30. (Nice write-up in the ProJo by food-writer Gail Ciampa.) It’s a cool museum with its extensive diner exhibit, and a beautiful display of fruit crate art lithographs right as your enter.
Culinary Arts Museum, 315 Harborside Blvd., 598.2805, Tuesday thru Sunday, 10am to 5pm