Eight Treasure Duck Founded in 1875, Shanghai Classical Hotel is a restauarant with over 100 years history.

. The original name of this hotel is Rongshun Restaurant and its original location is in Jiu Jiaochang Road. It has been famous for its long history, reasonable priced dishes. In 1964 it was renamed Shanghai Classical Hotel. Eight-treasure duck, one of its special dishes, was invented by Rongshun Restaurant. There is a story behind this dish. It is said that one day while chatting, a waiter was informed that one restaurant in North Sichan Road sold eight-treasure chickens. And this dish sold well. This waiter told it to the keeper. After discussing with the chef surnamed Huang, the keeper purchased an eight-treasure chicken as a sample. After a careful study, Mr. Huang improved cooking skills and ingrediants inside the chicken. Besides, in the dragon boat festival of this year, when he was having Zongzi (a traditional rice dumpling taken in the dragon boat festival), an idea occurred to him: the tightly-bound Zongzi wa more delicious than loosely-bound one. So he came into the kitchen, taking the bowels from the chicken by cutting its wings and filled it with eight ingrediants. As he had expected, this time the chick is more delicious than previous. To avoid being thought of stealing other restaurant s special dish, after discussing with other chefs, they decided to use first-class force-feed duck instead of chicken, a famous special dish of Shanghai Classical Hotel-eight-treasure duck came into being.

Special Dish in Shanghai Sea cucumber in shrimp sauce Sea cucumber, one of the delicacies from land and sea, has long been special dish in the banquets. Special dish of Shanghai Classical Hotel--sea cucumber in shrimp sauce has enjoyed such fame that every day it is sought for by gourmets. There is a story behind the birth of this special dish. After August 13 Battle, Shanghai was occupied by Japanese invaders, becoming an isolated island . The firms, engaged in selling sea food, faced slack business. Piles and piles of sea cucumbers were stocked. This news came to the famous chef of Dexing Restaurant, Yang Hesheng. After careful study and repeated experiments, he invented a special dish of Shanghai cooking style sea cucumber in shrimp sauce. This dish enjoyed great fame in Shanghai in 1930s and 40s. Later, Li Borong, a pupil of Yang Hesheng, became

another master of this special dish. Li and other chefs in Shanghai Classical Hotel improved it after their careful studies. There are many kinds of sea cucumbers. The one Shanghai Classical Hotel chooses is featured with dark color, rich meat and large size, usually weighing 100 gram each. Every year, in July, when the shrimps appear on the market, the chefs of Shanghai Classical Hotel always choose one certain kind of shrimps and stock them because of its delicious taste. It has long been known that the sea cucumber is tasetless. Even in a recipe collection written in Qing Dynasty, sea cucumber was cooked with chicken and meat. The chefs of Shanghai Classical Hotel learned from the past, prepared the dish with pork, chicken, shrimp, rice wine, soy sauce and sugar before they are cooked in the pot for 10 minutes. After being poured with chopped chive soup, the sea cucumber are put into a china. By this moment, the dish is good in taste, appearance and taste. Its rich nutrition and delicious taste make it a special dish in Shanghai for more than sixty years. In recent 5 or 6 years, a restaurant in Japan always organizes one or two groups of its chefs to visit Shanghai Classical Hotel, and sea cucumber in shrimp sauce has always been their choice. One day, after taking it, a Japanese visitor gladly told others Today, I had real Shanghai dish.

A Special and A Famous Film Star The traditions in Pudong, Shanghai are quite unique. For example, even in wedding banquets, the dishes served are featured with auspicious signs to seek luck. Chicken, bamboo and ham are three important ingredients of braised chicken, bamboo and ham. After being sliced, they are piled like a hill colored red, white and gold. It is said that this dish can bring wealth to newly-married couples. The chefs of Shanghai Classical Hotel improved it in its appearance and taste. Actually, it has attracted many gourmets and celebrities with its nice appearance and delicious taste. A famous film star, Ms. Bai Yang, one day, after her visit to Yu Garden, entered Shanghai Classical Hotel. When braised chicken, bamboo and ham was served, she even hesistated to take it because of its attractive look. After returning she wrote a passage, which read I have lived in Shanghai for years. At first I knew nothing about this special dish. Even when it was introduced by friends, I had no interest in it. One day, I took it in Shanghai Classical Hotel. Unexpectedly it left me a deep impression. The sliced chicken, bamboo and ham, which are slenderer than a match, are so nicely arranged that it was mistaken for a bun at first sight. When I put them into my mouth, the taste haunted there. From then on, I am in love with it and eager to introduce it to my friends.

Ms. Bai Yang s passage added to the attraction of this special dish.