Beggar's Chicken, also known as Changshu Beggar's Chicken or Braised Chicken, is a traditional specialty of Changshu City, Jiangsu Province. It was created by Wang Zukang, the founder of the century-old Wangsi Restaurant in Changshu. The preparation of Beggar's Chicken is similar to that of "Paotun," one of the "Eight Delicacies" of the Zhou Dynasty. The chicken is first brushed with sauce, then wrapped in layers of lotus leaves, pig fat, and yellow mud, and finally simmered over a firewood fire.
According to legend, long ago, a beggar, begging for food, wandered to a village in Changshu County. One day, he stumbled upon a chicken and wanted to slaughter and cook it, but he had no cooking utensils or seasonings. He journeyed to the foot of Yushan Mountain, killed the chicken, removed its internal organs, and smeared the feathers, including the feathers, with yellow mud and firewood. He then placed the coated chicken over a fire and simmered it. Once the mud dried and the chicken was cooked, he peeled off the mud shell, and the feathers fell away with it, revealing the cooked chicken. As of the end of February 2024, this dish has been included in the "Chinese Famous Recipes", Shanghai's "Collection of Delicacies", "Jiangsu Famous Recipes", and "Suzhou Famous Dishes", and has participated in the China Food Exhibition, Food Expo and National Tourism Products Exhibition many times.
This fish is a rich red, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect sweet and sour taste. Emperor Qianlong praised it highly, and squirrel fish became famous. Today, squirrel fish is made from mandarin fish. Mandarin fish has tender, boneless flesh and few thorns. After being carved and deep-fried, it has a wide, open head, a raised tail, and furry interior, resembling a squirrel. When smothered in shrimp, bamboo shoots, and tomato sauce, it emits a squirrel-like chirping sound.
Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, also known as golden claw crabs, are native to Yangcheng Lake. Their bodies are free of mud, making them known as clear water crabs. They are large and plump, with green shells, white bellies, and golden claws and yellow hairs. Since September 2011, Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs have been labeled with an anti-counterfeiting mark. Zhang Taiyan's wife, Tang Guoli, once said, "If I didn't know the deliciousness of Yangcheng Lake crabs, why would I stay in Suzhou?"
