The Story of Su Dongpo
March 3rd 2010 13:26
Not sure if anyone has tried a favourite dish of mine, called Dongpo Pork, which is found in most quality Chinese Restaurants. It may put people off, especially those who are very conscious of what they eat, because of its extremely high fat content. However it's taste is so devine that I think the extra calories well and truly makes up for it.
Before I go onto the dish, I have to go with the story of Su Dongpo, although there are many variations of the story, the one I'm about to share with you about the dish he so famously invented had came from a Chef.
Su Dongpo was a Royal Minister in the Song Dynasty of China, reknowned for his poetry and calligraphy, but Dongpo was also an artist, pharmacologist and writer. However due to political power struggles between different factions, Su Dongpo was exilled from the Courts due to his prominent views and criticisms of one of the Ministers reforms.
Living in the life of exile Su Dongpo was able to enjoy his life to the fullest and came up with over 2,700 poems and 800 letters.
Now back to the dish. The story goes, that one day Su Dongpo tried his hand at making some pork belly, braising it in the pan, however an old friend came visit him for a game of Chinese Chess. As Su Dongpo was so engrossed in the game, he had forgotten all about the pork. Mean while the villagers had came along to bring presents to Su Dongpo, leaving them with his servant. The servant rushed to Su Dongpo to ask him about the wine from the gifts, as well as the pork. As Su Dongpo was mindless playing chess, he said to put it all in, put it all in, and so the servant mistakenly added the wine into the pork, allowing it to simmer. As the smell wafted towards the two men, it was so devine that they had to stop their game and see where the smell had came from. As such Su Dongpo Pork was created and spread from Huangzhou where it was first created, then to Hangzhou the Capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, and flourished as its signiture dish.
Su Dongpo Pork is very greasy with the fat on the pork as well as the oil that is used to braise it. However if it's well made the pork usually melts in your mouth, with a lingering sweet taste, without feeling rich or too fat.
Well hope you enjoy reading about Su Dongpo Pork, and made you actually want to try it next time you're at a Chinese Restaurant. Happy Eating!
Before I go onto the dish, I have to go with the story of Su Dongpo, although there are many variations of the story, the one I'm about to share with you about the dish he so famously invented had came from a Chef.
Su Dongpo was a Royal Minister in the Song Dynasty of China, reknowned for his poetry and calligraphy, but Dongpo was also an artist, pharmacologist and writer. However due to political power struggles between different factions, Su Dongpo was exilled from the Courts due to his prominent views and criticisms of one of the Ministers reforms.
Living in the life of exile Su Dongpo was able to enjoy his life to the fullest and came up with over 2,700 poems and 800 letters.
Now back to the dish. The story goes, that one day Su Dongpo tried his hand at making some pork belly, braising it in the pan, however an old friend came visit him for a game of Chinese Chess. As Su Dongpo was so engrossed in the game, he had forgotten all about the pork. Mean while the villagers had came along to bring presents to Su Dongpo, leaving them with his servant. The servant rushed to Su Dongpo to ask him about the wine from the gifts, as well as the pork. As Su Dongpo was mindless playing chess, he said to put it all in, put it all in, and so the servant mistakenly added the wine into the pork, allowing it to simmer. As the smell wafted towards the two men, it was so devine that they had to stop their game and see where the smell had came from. As such Su Dongpo Pork was created and spread from Huangzhou where it was first created, then to Hangzhou the Capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, and flourished as its signiture dish.
Su Dongpo Pork is very greasy with the fat on the pork as well as the oil that is used to braise it. However if it's well made the pork usually melts in your mouth, with a lingering sweet taste, without feeling rich or too fat.
Well hope you enjoy reading about Su Dongpo Pork, and made you actually want to try it next time you're at a Chinese Restaurant. Happy Eating!
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