Why is Dongpo meat tied with a rope? You can't eat the rope. You should tie it and untie it when you eat it. What does this mean? Aren't you bored? This question has been hovering in my mind since I first ate Dongpo meat. At that time, I was still a curious baby who only asked adults. "Grandma, why is this meat tied with thread?" Grandma's answer at that time was also quite funny: "If you don't tie it, it will run away and you won't be able to eat it." Snack goods were successfully fooled and believed for several years. # Grass-grazing machine #

Later, I asked an old man who could cook Dongpo meat. She told me that there was no reason, just to bind the tradition. That's what she taught and did when she was studying. She had to ask the person who invented it. # Eat food, increase knowledge #

Well, then we have to go back to history to find the answer. Dongpo meat was invented by Su Dongpo. As for the time and origin, opinions vary. Some people say it was invented for concubines, while others say it was invented for ordinary people who are officials in Hangzhou ... It's really too difficult. We can't cross the Song Dynasty and ask him face to face, can we? But it was indeed Su Shi who invented the dishes, which was recorded in his poem Eating Pork.

There is a version of the legend, which I find quite interesting. It is said that Su Dongpo traveled all over the world to a place called "Aicheng" and saved a child suffering from heatstroke (this is in line with Su Dongpo's character! Then, the children's parents are farmers. In order to thank Su Dongpo for saving his life, they bought pork and tied it back with a pile of straw, hoping to ask Su Shi about his taste. Just as Su Dongpo was writing poems and lyrics, he muttered to himself, "I-grass-true-bamboo-fragrant ..." The farmer thought it was to let him cook pork and grass together, which was delicious. At dinner time, the food was served. Su Dongpo saw a piece of steamed meat, not cut, but tied with straw. He was shocked. The farmer said, "I'll ask you in the morning." Didn't you say that' cooking with grass smells good'? Why not eat? " Su Dongpo suddenly realized that he was smiling. I didn't expect the pork to be mixed with the smell of straw, so it tastes unique and delicious. Later, Su Dongpo offered to leave several times, but the host refused. According to Su Shi's temperament and character, he should know that life on the farm is hard, so he sneaked away while his master was away, leaving five taels of silver and a note: "The master is very good, Dongpo left without saying goodbye." The farmer and his wife realized that the benefactor turned out to be the world-famous Mr. Su Dongpo! Word of mouth, "Dongpo Meat" has been passed down to this day ... # Gourmet #

This legend explains why Dongpo meat is cooked with rope, tied up and taken down. How much trouble? Can't we just not tie it? The answer is: no! Dongpo meat is tied with a rope to keep the meat from loosening due to the hot air during cooking. Grandma's joke is not unreasonable. Pork belly stew for a long time, fat and lean meat will be layered and run away. Moreover, the mat rope (straw rope) is tied to Dongpo meat, which incorporates the fragrance of straw, which can perfectly alleviate the greasy feeling of meat and is also beautiful and generous! Because mat grass is not available anytime and anywhere, sometimes cotton thread is used, but "gourmets" with sensitive taste buds will find that there is a big gap between Dongpo meat made of cotton thread and mat grass. Only mat grass can give Dongpo meat a unique aura and taste! # Gourmet Life #

Finally, don't use an iron pot to cook Dongpo meat. Dongpo meat stewed in casserole is the best. Have you learned anything? # Gourmet Heritage #