Zhejiang Cuisine

Zhejiang cuisine includes the specialties of Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, which is known as ‘land abundant in fish and rice', Zhejiang cuisine, not greasy, wins its reputation for freshness, tenderness, softness, and smoothness of its dishes with mellow fragrance. Hangzhou cuisine is the most famous one among the three.

Each of the three sub-cuisine traditions is noted for its special flavor and taste, but they are all characterized by the careful selection of ingredients, emphasizing minute preparation, as well as unique, fresh and tender tastes. Zhejiang cuisine specializes in quick frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, simmering and steaming, by which the dishes obtaining the natural flavor and taste. Special care is taken in the cooking process to make the food fresh, crispy and tender. Thanks to exquisite preparation, the dishes are not only delicious in taste and but also extremely elegant in appearance.

Hot Zhejiang Dishes
• Lion's Head Braised with Crab-powder
Here lion's head is a shaped meatball. It can be braised in a clear soup, or be red-cooked. A seasoning of crab power can enrich the flavor.

• West Lake Braised Fish in Vinegar
It is a traditional delicacy of Hangzhou with sweet and sour flavor. It is said that the fish was originally cooked by Song's sister-in-law. She wanted to inspire Song the essence of the true life by the sweet - sour flavor.

• Shelled Shrimps Cooked in Longjing Tea 
The Longjing Tea is recognized as the best tea in Hangzhou for its green color, fragrance, pure taste and elegant appearance. When the living shrimps are stir-fried in the Longjing Tea, an artistic unique aroma would come out.


Shelled Shrimps Cooked in Longjing Tea

• Beggar's Chicken
The dish was invented by a thief in Hangzhou. The story goes that because the hungry thief had no stove, so he wrapped the stolen bird in clay and baked it in a hole in the ground. By this way, the aroma and flavor of the bird were well kept.  

• Dongpo Steamed Pork
When taking the post as an official in Hangzhou, Su Dongpo( 1037A .D. -1101A .D.) did three excellent things for the city. The first one was building Su Causeway on the West Lake . The second was writing a poem about the beauty of the West Lake. The poem has became the No.1 poem of the West Lake, and remained the most classical advertising word of the West Lake. The third was dong-po-rou (Dongpo Pork), which must be eaten when you are in Hangzhou. The people in Hangzhou all respected Su Dongpo very much. Su Dongpo liked eating the pork, so everybody presented him the pork on New Year's Day. Su Dongpo couldn't decline. His family cooked all the pork with wine, soy sauce, ginger and sugar. Then, according to Su Dongpo's instruction, the pork was sent to every civilian. The people were very glad and called it "dong-po-rou (Dongpo Pork)". Hereafter, ‘dong-po-rou' has became one of the local delicacies.


Dongpo Steamed Pork