What to eat

-- Royal Pot (一品鍋)

 

Royal Pot

Royal Pot, a hot pot of meat, beancurd and vegetables, is a popular winter dish in Huangshan. It is said to be invented by Mrs. Yu, wife of Bi Qiang, Minister of Justice, Works, Revenue and Personnel of Shitai County in the Ming Dynasty. One day, the emperor suddenly visited the ministry’s residence for dinner. Apart from the top-choice delicacies, Mrs. Yu made up a home-style dish popular in Anhui, the hot pot. To her surprise, the emperor enjoyed this dish very much and called it the Royal Pot after he learned it had been cooked by Mrs. Yu herself. The cooking of this dish is quite demanding. Dried bamboo shoots are put onto the bottom of the pot, then lumps of fresh meat are put onto the second layer, fried bean curd on the third, pork balls on the fourth and bean threads are cover the fifth dotted by spinach or dried lily flowers. Then all this things are simmered in water dressed with seasoning. This dish is famous for its county flavor and has a thick and fresh taste to it.