Take Out Boxes

The Chinese takeout box a staple of Chinese food everywhere. Well what if I told you that this great staple of Chinese food was actually made in Chicago in 1894. Totally blew your mind right? Well that’s not all, the inventor of the takeout box wasn’t even Chinese. The box was invented by an American named Frederick Weeks Wilcox. Now that we know who invented the box. Let’s talk about its significance in America’s view of Chinese food.  In the 1970’s a graphic designer working for a company called Fold-Pak created the logo of a pagoda with a stylized “thank you” around it. The design was an instant hit and became a symbol of Chinese food.