Chuzhou Food Guide: Indulge in a Culinary Feast in Chuzhou

1. **Guanba Beef**: This is a traditional Muslim dish from Guanba, Quanjiao County. Made with healthy beef from cattle over six years old, it's braised for an extended period with a blend of over a dozen spices and herbs, including clove and cinnamon. The beef boasts a reddish-brown color, savory and delicious taste, rich aftertaste, and nourishing benefits for the spleen and stomach. 2. **Nüshan Lake Hairy Crab**: A Chuzhou specialty, Nüshan Lake is known for its pristine water and abundant aquatic life. The hairy crabs from this lake are characterized by their green backs, white bellies, yellow hairs, and golden claws. They are large, plump, and bursting with flavor. Autumn is the best time to savor these crabs. 3. **Qinlan Braised Goose**: A specialty of Qinlan Town in Tianchang City, this dish has a history of nearly a century. Its unique preparation method results in golden-brown, fragrant, tender, and flavorful goose meat that falls apart easily. 4. **Machang Mutton Noodles**: A signature noodle dish from Machang Town in Quanjiao County. Made with a rich and fragrant mutton broth, secret spicy sauce, and local noodles, the resulting noodles are chewy, smooth, tender, and easy to eat. A bowl of this in winter is both warming and uniquely flavorful. 5. **Leiguan Pressed Duck**: A traditional Han Chinese dish from Leiguan Town in Laian County, originating during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. The pressed duck is prepared through four steps: slaughtering, braising, air-drying, and boiling. It has a smooth, milky-white appearance, and is rich yet not greasy, tender, and flavorful with a balanced saltiness. 6. **Fengyang Stuffed Tofu**: Also known as "Agate White Jade," this dish hails from Fengyang County. Tender tofu is stuffed with minced shrimp, pork, and other ingredients, coated in egg, deep-fried until golden, and finally glazed with a sweet and sour sauce. The result is a creamy yellow, sweet and sour, crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside delicacy. 7. **Dingyuan Qiao Wei (Cured Pork)**: A type of cured pork from Dingyuan County, made from pork butt with tailbone, featuring a mix of lean and fatty meat. Shaped like a banana leaf fan, with alternating red and white layers, it can be steamed or boiled, and is known for its appetizing flavor. 8. **Tianchang Ganlu Cake**: A traditional pastry from Tianchang City, also known as "Tribute Ganlu Cake." Meticulously crafted and beautifully shaped, it is jade-white, layered, crispy, sweet, and melts in your mouth. 9. **Shipopo Youcha (Oil Tea)**: A specialty breakfast in the old town, this oil tea is made with flour and water, resulting in a grayish-white appearance. While seemingly bland, it has a subtle spicy and numbing flavor. It's typically served with youtiao (fried dough sticks) or sweet dumplings. 10. **Su Tang (Crispy Sugar)**: One of Chuzhou's most famous specialties, it's said to be a type of sugar candy created by Dong Xiaowan. The finished product is delicate, slightly sweet, and crumbly. It can be eaten directly or dissolved in hot water. 11. **Oyster Sauce Skewers**: Originating from street food stalls, this has become a late-night snack favorite for many Chuzhou residents. With a wide variety of ingredients, anything can be fried. Common options include deboned beef, thinly sliced stinky tofu, and knotted kelp. After being deep-fried, the skewers are drizzled with oyster sauce made from various spices, creating a unique flavor.