Page 32 - Allison's Magazine Issue #97

me with a platter of flat, circular cookies.
in the same location since its inception “ THIS SHOEBOX-SIZED FACTORY
This shoebox-sized factory has existed
in 1962. The original owner, Franklin
Yee, passed away in 2015, and it’s now
owned by Nancy Chan. Her son, Kevin,
came on board to help transform it from
a cookie factory to a retail shop, tourist
attraction, and historic landmark.
Two of the three cookie-making
machines are antiques from the 1950s
with just one speed, which means the
three employees have four seconds to
fold the cookie before it hardens and
ends up in the free customer samples
bin. The golden batter, made of sesame
seeds, butter, eggs, flour, and sugar,
is pumped onto little griddles, which
reappear four and a half minutes later,
hot and soft, ready to be folded around
a tiny paper fortune by deft fingers
that have the motion down in muscle
memory. Kevin urged me to write my
own fortunes for a friend, and I asked
what his favorite is. “Be who you are,”
he answered me. It’s not an easy business
and the hours are long, but Kevin feels
rewarded by the knowledge he is helping
the city and his community. I wanted to
know if he will stay in the business, and
he pointed to a quote painted on the
wall: “Happiness is serving.”
I felt a part of something special as I
sat at the small desk tucked against
a wall, watching a process that’s long
been automated in other factories.
I’m grateful to Kevin and Nancy for
preserving this bit of San Francisco
history and sharing it with others. His
generosity was touching as he loaded
up a cloth bag with the personalized
fortune cookies plus another container
of chocolate-dipped cookies. I think
of what I wrote in one of them, “Love
folded up into a crispy cookie,” and
30 | AMERICAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
HAS EXISTED IN THE SAME
LOCATION SINCE ITS INCEPTION
IN 1962. THE ORIGINAL OWNER,
FRANKLIN YEE, PASSED AWAY IN
2015, AND IT’S NOW OWNED BY
NANCY CHAN.
it’s evident both Nancy and Kevin have
poured their love into this doughy legacy.
It seemed logical to continue my pursuit
of sweet things, so I reserved a time
slot for my friend and me to tour the
Museum of Ice Cream, a quasi-art
installation and elaborate ice cream
tasting that I sensed was primarily
for selfies and Instagram. When the
tour guide, whose job title seemed to
be “hype master,” jokingly chided us
for not responding enthusiastically
enough, I wanted to yell back, “Where
is the tour for 37-year-olds who do
not like audience participation?” But I apt metaphor for this city, in that people Opposite Page:
persevered and dutifully waited in line can find whatever experience they seek, Owner Nancy Chan and son, Kevin, fold
fortune cookies at the Golden Gate Fortune
to swim in the sprinkle pool, which I whether it be a three-hour hike with an Cookie Company.
will admit was a very pleasing sensory affable former Dubliner, a glimpse into Above:
Colorful displays and fun times abound at the
experience. There were ice cream tastings the history and soul of an iconic cookie Museum of Ice Cream.
along the way, as well as mochi and shop, or indulging your inner teenager
paletas—I chose pineapple! Sure, at by posing with giant gummy bears and
$38, it was a bit pricey, but I now have a naming yourself after ice cream flavors.
hilarious photo of my friend hugging a On that note, this is Rainbow Sherbet
pink wall full of whipped cream cans. Shelley signing off from the Golden
City, California.
San Francisco’s changing climate does For more info, visit museumoficecream.com,
not only refer to the weather—it’s an littlegem.restaurant, hiddengardensteps.org, and
16thavenuetiledsteps.com
americanlifestylemag.com | 31