Introduction

Ma Po Tofu is one of the most local flavors in Chinese tofu dishes, and has become a famous Sichuan dish that is popular all over the world. This dish has a history of more than one hundred years and is the heirloom dish of "Chen Ma Po Tofu Shop" in Chengdu. All visitors to Sichuan have to try it as a pleasure.

Ma Po Tofu was created by Liu, the wife of Chen Senfu (said to be Chen Fu Chun), the owner of a small hotel in the northern suburb of Chengdu in the early years of the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. Liu's face had pockmarks and she was known as Chen Ma Po. The roasted tofu she created was called "Chen Ma Po Tofu", and her small food store was later named "Chen Ma Po Tofu Shop", which was published by the Chengdu General Newspaper Company in 1909 (by Fu Chongru of the Qing Dynasty). "Chen Ma Po's Tofu" was included in the list of 22 "Famous Food Shops in Chengdu" together with the Bao Xi Guan Zheng Xing Yuan and Zhong Tang Yuan. The history of Ma-Po Chen's creation of Ma-Po Tofu is described in books such as Jin Cheng Zh Zhi Zi (锦城竹枝词), and Fu Rong Shuo Yi (芙蓉話旧錄). In the late Qing Dynasty, the poet Feng Jiaji wrote in his Jincheng Zh Zhi Zhi (锦城竹枝词)："Ma Po Chen is still famous for her baked tofu with the most exquisite flavor, and the curtains by the Wanfu Bridge are moving, and they are all drunk with spring wine". Because of its outstanding reputation, Mapo Tofu has been spread throughout the country, even to Japan, Singapore and other countries, but still to Sichuan Chen's Mapo Tofu as the authentic.

This dish is characterized by the "burning" method of cooking, in the snow-white tender tofu, dotted with brownish-red minced beef and green green garlic seedlings, surrounded by a circle of translucent red oil, such as jade inlaid with amber, with numbness, spiciness, scalding, tenderness, crispy, fragrant, fresh and unique flavor.

The story goes that long long ago, in the early years of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1860s, I believe), there was a bustling bazaar in Chengdu's Wanfuqiao district. There was a Chen Xingsheng restaurant in the marketplace, which specialized in home cooking such as roasted bean curd. The chef of the restaurant was Chen Liu, the wife of Chen Chunfu. According to the history, Chen Liu was a person with a delicate mind, and she was very attentive in cooking. Therefore, even the most common dishes were prepared by her with a unique flavor. And Chen Liu's cooking materials are very fresh. It was said that the left and right neighbors of Chen Hing Sheng Rice Shop were a tofu store and a butcher store respectively. The tofu and meat used in Chen Ji's rice store are taken directly from these two families. With such convenient raw material support, Chen Kee Restaurant was naturally more comfortable in making money. Chen's tofu soon became so famous that it became a favorite among food seekers and was frequented by literary figures. It is estimated that Chen Liu's husband, the owner of Chen Hing Sheng restaurant often "counting money to the hands soft". It seems that this Chen Liu's is also a very lucky woman to help her husband.

The business of Chen Ji restaurant is good, and Chen Liu's cooking is good. However, there is one thing that is a little bit of a pity, that is, Chen Liu's lack of "Tofu Shih Shi" good looks -- because Chen Liu's face has a few pockmarks. Gossipy reverie: although this Chen Liu's face some hemp, but perhaps a slightly elegant woman. And cook a handful of good food, but also have a prosperous husband and husband's luck. The frequent visitors, perhaps there is no lack of some good martyrs. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that. It is a pity that Chen Liu's is already a married man, and there are pockmarks on her face. So the Martyrs will "not be able to, toss and turn". The first thing I'd like to say is that I don't know what to do. There may be one or two people who can't get what they want, but they will have some love and hate sour grapes. So secretly called this "roasted tofu Shi Shi" for "Chen Ma Po". With this name, Chen Hing Shing's restaurant changed its name to "Chen Ma Po Tofu Restaurant". As a result, the name became even more famous and the business even better. Chen Ma Po Tofu became a famous dish in Chengdu. This is the story of the origin of Mapo Tofu.

Besides the fact that Chen Liu was known as "Chen Ma Po", and that the name of the restaurant was changed to "Chen Ji", and that Chen Ma Po Tofu became famous for this reason, the rest of the story is based on the usual history and drama of the present day. It cannot be fully accounted for. It is difficult to prove whether Chen Liu was really the "Tofu Shi Shi" or whether she really had pimples. But even if it is true, who cares? The most important thing is that Ma Po Tofu is delicious. It's the business of vulgar directors and scriptwriters to create stories about Ma-Po Chen's erotic history and love stories. We ordinary people just talk about these wonderful rumors, taste a few mouthfuls of spicy and fragrant Mapo Tofu, it is very comfortable.