Created in Xuzhou

Return meat is braised pork created by Su Shi during his stay in Xuzhou. In April, the tenth year of Xining in Song Shenzong (A.D. 1077), Su Shi went to Xuzhou Zhizhou. On August 2 1 day, the Yellow River burst in Caocun, Tanzhou, and the flood besieged Xuzhou. Su Shi died with his own body, pro-Dutch cup, led the military and civilians to fight floods and build dikes to protect the city. After more than 70 days and nights of hard work, Xuzhou City was finally saved. Men and women in the city to thank them for breathing, * * * the survival of the good year, have killed pigs and sheep, carrying wine and food to the government to comfort. Su Shi couldn't refuse. After accepting it, he personally instructed his family to make braised pork and gave it back to the people who participated in the flood control. After eating it, the people all thought it was fat but not greasy, crisp and delicious, and unanimously praised it as "gift meat". Since then, it has spread around Xuzhou and become a traditional dish in Xuzhou.

Perfect in Huangzhou

In the third year of Yuanfeng (A.D. 1080), Su Shi was demoted to Huangzhou as the assistant of Yong ying. Su Shi's friend Ma Zhengqing got him an old camp in Dongpo, Huangzhou, so he reclaimed land here and named himself "Dongpo lay man". During his stay in Huangzhou, he personally made braised pork and wrote the poem "Ode to Pork": "Huangzhou is a good pork, and its price is as low as dirt. The rich refuse to eat, and the poor don't understand cooking. Slow down the fire, less water, and it will be beautiful when the fire is full. Come and play a bowl early every day, and you will be full of your own control. " The braised pork made by Su Shi in Xuzhou and Huangzhou is not very famous. The really famous braised pork is Su Shi's "Dongpo pork" when he was in Hangzhou for the second time.

Be famous in Hangzhou

In the 4th year of Yuanyou in Song Zhezong (A.D. 1089) 1 3rd of the month, Su Shi came to Renzhizhou in Hangzhou after a long absence15th year. During May and June of the fifth year of Yuanyou, there was heavy rain in the west of Zhejiang, Taihu Lake overflowed and large areas of crops were flooded. Because Su Shi took effective measures as early as possible, the people in western Zhejiang passed through the most difficult period again. He also organized migrant workers to dredge the West Lake, build dikes and bridges, and make the West Lake look new. The people in Hangzhou are very grateful to Su Dongpo for this good deed. I heard that he liked braised pork best when he was in Xuzhou and Huangzhou, so many people delivered pork to their homes. After Su Dongpo received it, he instructed his family to cut the meat into squares, then cooked it and distributed it to the migrant workers who took part in dredging the West Lake. The braised pork he sent was affectionately called "Dongpo pork" by migrant workers. At that time, the owner of a big restaurant in Hangzhou heard that people praised "Dongpo Meat" as delicious, and also cooked it according to Su Dongpo's method, and listed it as "Dongpo Meat" for sale. This new dish is on the market, and the business of that restaurant is booming soon. For a time, there was "Dongpo Meat" in all restaurants in Hangzhou. Later, the chefs in Hangzhou discussed "Dongpo Meat" as the first famous dish in Hangzhou, which has been passed down to this day.

Tracing back to the source, Su Shi's braised pork was first created in Xuzhou, further improved in Huangzhou, and famous all over the country in Hangzhou. Therefore, the Journal of Xuzhou Catering Industry wrote: "Dongpo Meat was created in Xuzhou, perfected in Huangzhou and famous in Hangzhou."