The same western food, the same coffee, and the feeling in Zhilin is very unique, which is the feeling of many people. Why? Because this western restaurant, which was built more than 0/00 years ago, has still maintained its essence since its establishment. Even after a hundred years, it still has unique customs and culture, unique romance and legend. From the moment it entered the gate, its taste and feeling remained in people's hearts, not only western food and coffee, but also its only sensible atmosphere.
1900, Eight-Nation Alliance captured Tianjin. In the kitchen of the German military camp, there was a soldier named Albert Hilding. It is said that he was the chef of the German emperor William II before joining the army. Legend 1896 When Li Hongzhang visited Germany, Albert Chiling personally cooked western food for him. But the name Chilin is well known in Tianjin and has a lot to do with Yuan Shikai.
After Yuan Shikai became governor, he often held receptions in Tianjin in order to improve relations with diplomats from various countries in Tianjin. After several rounds of Chinese food, Yuan Shikai thought of inviting foreigners to eat western food, so Albert Jinlin went out at Yuan's invitation. This time, Albert Jinlin had a little brains. He selected several famous dishes from France, Germany, Russia and other countries among the national cuisines. Cold dishes and hot dishes complement each other. He carefully prepared appetizing red soup for Yuan Shikai and other dignitaries to eat as "beauties". In his spare time, Yuan Shikai wants to meet the foreign chefs who cook for him, to show his satisfaction with his dishes, and to show the foreigners here the courtesy of Governor Yuan.
Albert King Lin is a royal chef. He is not only excellent at cooking, but also proficient in etiquette. In addition, Yuan Shikai was very happy, because he learned fluent Chinese in China in recent years, so Yuan Shikai was rewarded with 100 silver. At a loss, Albert Chilling didn't care that he was still wearing the chef's clothes. As soon as his foot touched, he raised his hand and gave a military-like salute to Yuan Shikai. The standard military posture and the disharmonious clothing formed a very funny contrast, which made everyone present laugh. The next day, the story spread in Tianjin. For a time, Albert Schilling's skills in making western food became more and more profound, and many rich people in Tianjin couldn't wait to taste the taste of western food themselves.
With this "foreshadowing", Albert Cheshire decided to open a western restaurant in Tianjin after receiving a reward of 100. So, on September 190 1 17, he opened the first western restaurant in Tianjin in the middle street of French concession (near the intersection of Jiefang North Road and Harbin Road), with a construction area of about 100 square meter. In order to open a restaurant, Albert Khin Ling also moved a lot of "brains". He first interceded with Yuan, then retired from the army and came home to be a private chef. Later, he was supported by Hannagan, a German in Tianjin, and Happy Bridge, a comprador in Tianjin, which made his wish come true.
After the restaurant opened, in addition to serving German and French dishes, it also produced exquisite candy and bread. Albert Qi Lin is in charge of the kitchen, his wife serves as a waiter, and a German named Rolitz is hired as an assistant. The early Zhilin Western Restaurant was mainly run by these three people. At that time, the business of Zhilin Western Restaurant was very good. When eating every day, there are often no empty seats in small restaurants. In addition, the technology of making bread and cakes has also been fully exerted. After the introduction of Happy Bridge, the company contracted the bread supply for the Jin-Pu railway line. With the extension of the railway line, the reputation of Zhilin Western Restaurant has spread all over China.
Why did Cheshire Western Restaurant move again? This is the result of the conflict between Albert and French soldiers.
The second former site of the French Concession Western Restaurant, opposite Guanglu Cinema (now Beijing Cinema), because two disheveled French soldiers entered the restaurant, Albert Schilling's wife, Fitti, hurried forward to dissuade them. Unexpectedly, the French soldiers not only refused to listen, but also accused and humiliated Fetti and the restaurant. Albert Schilling was very angry. He got into a fight with French soldiers, which led to a group fight among all the French people who ate in Schilling. Finally, officials in the French Concession ordered Albert Chilling to move the restaurant out of the French Concession within three days, or he would be forced to move out. After the opening of the new site, the business has not been affected, but it has become more popular. In addition to frequent visits by foreigners and officials from all over the world, Tianjin's dignitaries also particularly like this restaurant. On Yuan Shikai's 46th birthday, he packed the whole restaurant. Albert Cheshire decorated the venue according to western customs, making the atmosphere noble and elegant, which won Yuan Shikai's praise. After everyone tasted his specialty, Albert Chilling took out a multi-layered cake like a hill, and the lighted candles flashed in the dining room, reflecting the colors on the wall. Such a beautiful cake, layered pyramids, the bottom of Huang Cancan tower is carved with patterns, and the top of the tower is inlaid with birthdates, surrounded by flowers made of cream, which makes people see things in a blur. Since then, every birthday of the rich in Tianjin, they have to go to Cheshire restaurant to celebrate, and named it Albert Cheshire to make a unique birthday cake. Later, when Li celebrated his birthday in Tianjin, he asked Kirin to give him a square birthday cake. The cake with a height of 1 m and a width of 1 m is decorated with 48 birthday characters, which are colorful and newly decorated. It is simply a work of art. It is said that Yuan Shikai was jealous when he found it. In the following year, he asked Chiling to make a bigger cake than that in order to stop. ...
Since the Cheshire Hotel Western Restaurant, there have been many western restaurants and cafes in Tianjin, but most of them are in the concession. The first western restaurant opened by China people in Tianjin was 1927 Dahua Hotel located at the intersection of Baoshitu Road and Davenport Road (now Yingkou Road and Jianshe Road) in the British Concession. At that time, Yuan Shikai, the son of Yuan Shikai, who was known as one of the "four great sons" of the Republic of China, wrote an inscription for Dahua Hotel: "Satisfy cleanliness". Dahua's signboard design is very foreign, and it is declared in the advertisement that "the signboard represents the first western food in Tianjin". Regarding the operation of this western restaurant, Yi Shi Daily reported on May 2 1 65438: "Since the opening of the rooftop garden of Dahua Hotel, Miss Chinese and Western are extremely crowded every night, and business is booming." During this period, Dahua Hotel also gives coffee spoons to customers who come to eat and drink coffee every night. This coffee spoon is specially made by British business and foreign companies. Exquisite workmanship and exquisite decoration make guests fondle admiringly.
Perhaps Shanghai businessmen are also attracted by the aroma of Tianjin coffee. 1945, Shanghai Jinhua Tobacco Company took Tianjin as the sales center, and named a new brand of cigarette coffee, which was sold in North China and Northwest China with rich profits. It is worth mentioning that during this period, Chilin in Tianjin also opened a coffee shop in Shanghai, where writer Zhang Ailing is a frequent visitor. ...
After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), Chilin has received a large number of heads of state, including Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Nie, Deng and Liao Chengzhi, as well as Cambodian head of state Sihanouk, former US President George W. Bush and many other foreign dignitaries and international friends. In addition, the technical backbones of the famous Moscow Western Restaurant and Beijing Xinqiao Hotel mainly come from Zhilin, which shows that the charm of Zhilin has not diminished for a hundred years.