Creator of cashew chicken – a US vet from China and Missouri resident – dies at 99
The Missouri chef credited as the inventor of cashew chicken, the popular Chinese food dish served at restaurants nationwide, has died at 99, his family says.
David Leong immigrated to the U.S. from China and served his adopted country in World War II, storming Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion, according to his family’s restaurant website. In 1963, he opened Leong’s Tea House in Springfield, Missouri, a white-tablecloth restaurant with 350 seats where there once was a cornfield.
It’s there Leong served Springfield-style cashew chicken, inspiring many Chinese restaurants across the country to create their own versions.
“It was a real novelty in that we did not have that sort of a restaurant in Springfield,” former Springfield News-Leader columnist Mike O’Brien told the newspaper in a 2018 series about Leong. “It offered authentic Chinese dishes, which broadened Ozarkers’ knowledge of and appreciation for Asian cuisine.”
Granddaughter Lanie Leong Cutbirth announced death of Leong in a Facebook post Tuesday morning. He died Monday night, she said.
“His kindness and generosity were beyond measure,” Leong Cutbirth wrote. “Even at 99 his work ethic was unparalleled. He stormed the beaches of Normandy, invented cashew chicken and did countless other amazing things.”
Leong’s Tea House closed in 1997, but his family later opened Leong’s Asian Diner in Springfield, which still serves the signature dish. Leong’s son, Wing Lee Leong now operates the restaurant, yet customers could still find the 99-year-old at the diner until recently, The Takeout reported in November.
Leong was recognized as an American hero for his military service and culinary contributions to the country by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013. He was born in Guandong, China and immigrated in 1940. In addition to participating in the Normandy invasion, he served in England, France, Italy and Belgium during the war, according to the recognition.
“Throughout David’s life, he has served his country and city proudly,” Missouri U.S. Rep. Billy Long said in the recognition. “His story is an American story, and I am honored to recognize his service.”
Long shared his condolences in a tweet on Tuesday.
In a New York Times story about Leong, he shared how Springfield-style cashew chicken was created, saying he experimented with the dish while cooking at a local supper club.
“When I moved here in the 1950s, people kept telling me about fried chicken,” Leong told The New York Times in 2009. “I did what they wanted. I gave them fried chicken with Chinese oyster sauce and cashews.”
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Creator of cashew chicken – a US vet from China and Missouri resident – dies at 99."