Ermao Braised Chicken

Ermao Braised Chicken

　　"Ermao Braised Chicken" was first created around 1809. Because the founder, being of low social status at the time, was not addressed by his real name but instead by his nickname "Ermao" (literally "Second Fur"), the braised chicken he made also came to be known as "Ermao Braised Chicken." Legend has it that during the imperial examinations for civil and military officials, the scholars, local officials, and wealthy merchants all loved his braised chicken and praised it endlessly. Since then, the fame of "Ermao Braised Chicken" has spread far and wide, growing more renowned with time, and it now ranks first among Handan’s "Eight Famous Local Delicacies." Though "Ermao" was originally a derogatory nickname, "Ermao Braised Chicken" has become a term denoting a premium and delicious food.

　　When the business was passed on to the second-generation owner, Wang Guozhen, he found the name "Ermao" unrefined. Thus, he took the character "Zhen" (meaning "precious") from his own name and officially established the brand as "Zhenjicheng Braised Chicken Shop," a name that has been used ever since. However, people rarely call it by that name and still refer to it by the customary term "Ermao Braised Chicken." "Ermao Braised Chicken" has a unique flavor. Its main characteristics are: thoroughly cooked yet tender enough to fall off the bone, juicy and soft meat, savory and pure taste, and a delicious aftertaste. Over its more than 100-year history, its flavor has remained unchanged and continues to be enduringly popular.