I wouldn't necessarily call it bastardized. I know a lot of Chinese Americans people that would get defensive if you said that. Early Chinese immigrants adopted to the ingredients they had available and also to the pallets of whatever country they were in
That's why there's "American Chinese food" in America and "Indian Chinese food" in India, etc. If you call Orange Chicken "authentic Chinese" that's a different story.
I wouldn't necessarily call it bastardized. I know a lot of Chinese Americans people that would get defensive if you said that. Early Chinese immigrants adopted to the ingredients they had available and also to the pallets of whatever country they were in That's why there's "American Chinese food" in America and "Indian Chinese food" in India, etc. If you call Orange Chicken "authentic Chinese" that's a different story.