Without doing any prior research, the easiest way to figure out what’s popular on Shantang Street is simply to look at where people are lining up. We saw a crowd waiting in line and got curious about what they were buying, so we went over to take a look. It turned out to be plum blossom cakes (meihuagao), a snack that has recently become quite trendy. I’m not sure where it actually originated—could it be from Suzhou itself? Does anyone know?
As for Wan San Pork Knuckle, it mainly refers to braised pork hock. According to legend, it was a dish presented by the wealthy Ming Dynasty merchant Shen Wansan to Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, hence the name. The shop we saw specialized in braised delicacies, but people seemed more interested in the plum blossom cakes. Fewer customers actually went inside to buy the braised dishes.
The waiting time for the cakes wasn’t too long; a single batch produces around a dozen pieces.
Personally, I wasn’t too interested in them, and there are a few reasons—mostly personal taste. First, I’m tired of seeing red dates. Second, I don’t really like glutinous rice products like tangyuan. The overall texture of the cake was soft and chewy without being sticky, with red bean paste inside that wasn’t overly sweet. I think many women would probably enjoy it more, whether as a dessert or just for photos. For me, it was just so-so—the only plus was that it wasn’t too sweet.
If you’ve never tried it and are curious, it’s worth giving it a shot!
0 留言