Yangzhou is a city with too many titles, and there are too many things that make people think about it. Not to mention "Fireworks under Yangzhou in March", which we studied since childhood. Last year, Yangzhou was named the "World's Gourmet Capital". Yangzhou is also definitely worth going back and forth for foodies.

When I went to Yangzhou, it was the season of "putting on autumn fat" in October, and I also went to Rome to live a slow life of "food is the most important thing" in Yangzhou people. Yangzhou cuisine began in the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2000 years ago. After the opening of the Grand Canal in China, Yangzhou cuisine played an important role in promoting economic and cultural exchanges between the north and the south.

With its two-thousand-year-old profound food culture, its refreshing, peaceful, and health-advocating dietary characteristics, and its influence that amazes taste buds, Yangzhou has won the title of World Food Capital promulgated by UNESCO after Chengdu, Macau and Shunde.

If you have never been to Yangzhou and have not experienced its food culture locally, then follow Xiaoyu to "eat Yangzhou"! In the morning, it must be a "bag of water", and Jinchun morning tea is indispensable; if you entertain guests and friends, you will have a high-quality "Yangzhou Banquet", which will definitely have style. The moment I stepped out of the wall, I completely declared that I had failed to lose weight.

Let's talk about "Jinchun" first:

"Jinchun" is a morning tea restaurant that locals like. It is a private garden for salt merchants in Yangzhou. Qianlong visited this place during his southern tour. Just after 7 o'clock in the morning, it was already crowded, and there was an endless stream of diners waiting in line. Therefore, if you want to come to Jinchun for morning tea, you must make a reservation.

His family has a well-known "Three Provinces Tea", which is made from Zhulan from Jiangsu, Longjing from Zhejiang, and Zhizhen from Anhui. A sip of it immediately feels refreshed, and then feels sweet and pleasant again. It is said that in a private room in the restaurant, there is also the four words "Jinchun Three Provinces" written by the Emperor Qianlong.

Hot dried shredded silk: This is the most distinctive dish in his family. The roots are clearly defined. The purity of dried tofu is integrated with the aroma of shredded chicken. In spring, seafood enhances the flavor, in summer, crispy shredded eel tastes delicious, in autumn, crab roe adds color, and in winter, wild vegetables add flavor, and change at any time.

Crab yellow soup dumplings: Pay special attention to eating. You must lift them gently, move them slowly, open the window first, and then drink the soup. This is the correct way to open the crab yellow soup dumplings in four steps.

Sanding Bao: Made from diced chicken, diced meat, and diced bamboo shoots. Bite these three "diced" in one bite and mix them in your mouth to create a wonderful feeling. Coupled with the thin and soft skin, people can bite after bite. Don't want to stop.

Wensi Tofu Soup: This is a dish that particularly tests knife skills. To cut tofu until it is as thin as hair, it is definitely impossible to do it without years of practice.

There are also his family's fine sand buns, emerald steamed dumplings, Yangzhou pickles, crescent moon steamed dumplings, big boiled dried shredded silk, various small dishes, etc. It's so delicious, I recommend it!

Address: No. 70 Taizhou Road, Yangzhou City (near Dongguan Gudu, Songcheng, Famous Capital)

Business hours: 06:30-13:30;16:30-20:30

Per capita consumption: 50

If you want to entertain guests and eat high-quality food, many people will choose the famous Yangzhou banquet."

"Freshness, neutrality, fashion, and health preservation" are the concept of "Yangzhou Banquet", which is also the reason why Huaiyang cuisine makes Yangzhou a "gourmet capital".

The Yangzhou banquet we went to is located in the beautiful Songjiacheng Sports Park. The restaurant is decorated in an antique manner, but it is famous but not exaggerated. It is a representative of the gentleness of Yangzhou culture. When we went there, it was a rainy day, and people were so focused on appreciating and eating that they completely forgot to take photos of the restaurant's environment. Well, let's just look at the menu on the table, with the tempting names of dishes. Come and appreciate the style of Huaiyang cuisine!

Among the beautiful dishes of Songcheng, the one that attracts me most is the seasonal dish "cooked drunk crab". Now is the time when the autumn wind is strong and the crab feet are itchy. Although I can taste a lot of crabs in Shanghai, the cooked drunk crabs at the Yangzhou banquet are not big, but thick yellow fat. Steaming the crab, then drunk it, and eating it in your mouth will have a long aftertaste.

Different from ordinary crystal shrimps, the Yangzhou banquet is "crystal shrimps with ginger, onion and sweet beans". After the sweet beans and ginger and onion are stir-fried with the shrimp, the shrimp also leaves a hint of sweetness, which really tastes different.

When I looked at the menu, I never figured out what dish "Huaiyang Yipin Fried Soft Dough" was. I only realized that it was eels when I came up and took a look! This dish turns out to be the most famous Huaiyang cuisine. It is said that it is called "soft pocket" because when the eel meat is picked up with chopsticks, the two ends droop down, like the belt worn by the ancients.

I also like to eat his family's "Colossal Fungus Gaoyou Lake Duck". The chef heated me just right and completely integrated the aroma of Colossal Fungus into the tender and delicious Gaoyou Lake duck meat. It tastes both mountainous and delicious. It's great.

There have been too many articles written about Yangzhou banquets, and every dish can write a unique feeling; I only want to say one last thing about his family's "Huangqiao Sesame Cake". Although I have eaten a lot of dishes before, and I don't eat much of the staple food, I actually have a special liking for Huangqiao sesame cakes. As soon as the hot and crisp sesame cakes were served, I could smell an alluring aroma from afar. I just wanted to take a bite and taste it, but who knew that the crisp aroma reached the taste buds through the tip of my tongue and could no longer be put down.

Address: No. 48 Changchun Road, Yangzhou City (in Songjiacheng Sports and Leisure Park)

Business hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00

Consumption per capita: 170

So, which do you choose between the civilian morning tea Jinchun or the Huaiyang classic Yangzhou banquet?