All prefectures and counties within a 500-li radius were ordered to offer food, with up to a hundred carts from each prefecture carrying the most precious treasures from land and sea. Yang Guang admired the magnolia flowers in Yangzhou and was particularly fond of the four famous scenic spots in Yangzhou: Wansong Mountain, Dun, Ivory Forest, and Sunflower Hill.
After returning to the palace, he ordered the imperial chefs to prepare four dishes based on the above four scenes. Under the guidance of the famous chefs from Yangzhou, the imperial chefs worked hard and finally made the four dishes: squirrel fish, gold coin shrimp cakes, elephant bud chicken strips and sunflower chopped meat.
Yang Guang was very happy after tasting it, so he gave a banquet to all his ministers. For a time, Huaiyang cuisine became popular in the court and the country.
During the Tang Dynasty, Duke Xun of Xun, Wei Zhi, hosted a banquet. His renowned chef, Wei Juyuan, prepared these four famous dishes. When the "Sunflower Meat" dish was served, the giant meatballs, shaped like the heart of a sunflower, were exquisitely crafted to resemble a lion's head. The guests toasted him, saying, "Duke Xun has spent half his life in the military, his exploits are legendary, and he deserves the seal of a lion."
Wei Zhi happily raised his glass and drank it all.
"To commemorate today's grand event, 'Sunflower Chopped Pork' should be renamed 'Lion's Head'." From then on, Yangzhou added the famous dish 'Lion's Head'.
Even very ordinary food.
Dumplings were invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a native of Nanyang, during the Eastern Han Dynasty. They were originally used for medicinal purposes and have a long history. Before World War II, they were a folk tradition during the Spring Festival.
The word "baozi" first appeared in the Song Dynasty, and was first invented by Zhuge Liang when he conquered Meng Huo. The original shape was steamed bun (mantou), and later it was gradually changed to poultry meat filling.
Such things, whether it is an exquisite dish with complicated preparation process or an ordinary meal with simple preparation process, there are extremely classic stories behind it. Chinese cuisine, in addition to its color, fragrance and taste, also has a strong sense of history. It is people's simple and unique emotional sustenance for life over the years.
So they are just here to study history, not to be greedy!
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