Xu Family Hanging Oven Pancakes

Xu Family Hanging Oven Pancakes

　　Xu Family Hanging Oven Pancakes

　　The Xu Family Hanging Oven Pancakes from Shanxian County were named a “Traditional Famous Snack” by the industrial and commercial authorities because of their unique utensils, craftsmanship, shape, and taste, which set them apart from other types of “flour-based foods.”

　　The Xu Family Hanging Oven Pancakes were first created in the early 20th century and have a history of nearly 100 years. The founder, Xu Xiangqing (1893–1973), was skilled in making all kinds of flour-based foods and snacks throughout his life, and every dish he made was both refined and popular. Based on continuous exploration and improvement of flour food production techniques and ingredient selection methods, and drawing on his many years of experience, he introduced the “Hanging Oven Pancake,” which combines features of other flour foods yet remains distinct. Its cooking tool, the “hanging oven,” is quite unique. Typically, pancakes are baked with the fire below and the dough above, but the hanging oven places the dough below and the fire above. First, the oven is preheated with fire, then the firebox is lifted using a lever to place the dough inside, resulting in a pancake that is baked from above and roasted from below. The pancake is round in shape and much smaller in diameter than regular pancakes. It is made with premium wheat flour, refined oil, walnuts, peanuts, diced meat, sesame salt, and various seasoning flours, all finely prepared. Thanks to its exquisite craftsmanship, high-quality ingredients, crispy exterior and tender interior, deliciously fragrant and crisp taste, as well as attractive appearance,

　　it is deeply loved by locals in both urban and rural areas of Shanxian County and nearby communities.

　　The second-generation successor of the Xu Family Hanging Oven Pancakes, Xu Linze, learned the craft from his father from a young age and mastered the essentials. The hanging oven pancakes he made were even more enticing and delicious. In 1952, he was recommended to participate in the Shandong Provincial Catering Services Competition, where his pancakes were hailed as a distinctive famous snack.

　　Now, Xu Qishang, the third-generation successor who runs the Xu Family Old Hanging Oven Pancakes at Liuyushou in Shan Cheng, strictly adheres to traditional techniques with meticulous preparation, bringing new life to this time-honored brand of Xu’s Hanging Oven Pancakes, making it a favorite among consumers.