Hungry For MO

Chinese food, Missouri-style

By Jenny Vergara,

Natasha Bailey, Mackenzie Martin

Published August 24, 2021 at 3:00 AM CDT

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Springfield cashew chicken and the St. Paul sandwich are both dishes created by immigrants in Missouri – and now help define the state's cuisine.

Missouri claims the creation of two iconic, innovative Chinese dishes — but Springfield cashew chicken and the St. Paul sandwich in St. Louis are more than local curiosities. Each dish tells a story of immigrants who arrived in Missouri and “cooked to survive.”

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Jenny Vergara

Jenny Vergara is one of the hosts of Hungry For MO.

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Natasha Bailey

Natasha Bailey is one of the hosts of Hungry For MO.

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Mackenzie Martin

Whether it’s something happening right now or something that happened 100 years ago, some stories don’t fit in the short few minutes of a newscast. As a podcast producer at KCUR, I help investigate questions and local curiosities in a way that brings listeners along for adventures with plot twists and thought-provoking ideas. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer in the end – but my hope is that we all leave with a greater understanding of the city we live in. Reach me at mackenzie@kcur.org.

See stories by Mackenzie Martin