Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes

Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes

　　    Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes were first created in the 10th year of the Republic of China (1921). The legitimate heir, Mr. Hao Zhimin, inherited the family trade. By combining modern techniques with ancestral craftsmanship, using premium flour and dozens of seasonings through dozens of meticulous processes, he painstakingly produces these cakes. Thanks to their fine workmanship, exquisite ingredients, attractive appearance, crispy exterior with tender interior, fragrant yet not greasy taste, and long-lasting aftertaste, they can be regarded as a delicious dish that unites beauty in color, aroma, taste, and form. They pioneered the deliciousness of fork-baked wheat cakes. Enjoying the reputation of “The Unique Delicacy of Luan County — Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes,” they were officially registered by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in 2003. They also won the honorary titles of “Consumer Trusted Unit” in the 7th and 8th editions in Hebei Province, and have been included in the “Luan County Annals” and the “Complete Hebei Cuisine Collection.”

　　    In 1980, Mr. Hao Zhimin went to Shijiazhuang to participate in the Hebei Provincial Famous and High-quality Snacks Competition, where his “Swallowed Honey” won first place.

　　    Ms. Hao Xiaohui, the inheritor of Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes, has her exquisite traditional craftsmanship recorded in the “Luan County Annals.” Building on tradition, she draws on the strengths of others and innovates boldly, adding eighteen kinds of precious seasonings. This allows Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes to not only inherit tradition but also better meet modern people’s demands for taste, convenience, and affordability. They have become the widely renowned Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes of eastern Beijing.

　　    A Century-old Brand — Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes

　　    Arriving at the old town and following childhood memories, I stepped into an old, dilapidated alley, where before me appeared the unchanged visage and time-worn presence of the Hao Family Baked Wheat Cake shop. The low house, its pitch-black roof having endured who knows how many years of wear, had “Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes” painted in red paint on the window glass. At a glance, it looks like a simple family workshop. But it is the prototype of a century-old store. The dough board used for making the cakes gleams with a shiny red oil sheen, with nearly a century of history behind it. The rolling pin passed down from ancestors has been soaked with oil; due to years of use, the one-foot-long stick is no longer cylindrical but flat-round. As several elders of the Hao family recount stories, the past revives from dusty memories, and I revisit the historical origins of this renowned local food — Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes — which carry forward the ancient culinary culture of Luanzhou.

　　    Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes were first created in 1921 by Hao Honglai. Due to their high-quality ingredients and delicate craftsmanship, the cakes turned out crispy outside and tender inside, fragrant, soft, and crisp. Paired with the then-renowned “He Family Meat,” they have always ranked as the top local delicacy in Luanzhou, earning the nickname “Swallowed Honey.” “Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes and He Family Meat” were equally famous and enjoyed renown across Luanzhou, Beijing, Tianjin, and Qinhuangdao. During the War of Resistance, the political commissar of Ma Benzhai’s Hui Detachment came to Luanzhou on business and specifically tasted the Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes, giving them high praise. Back then, when Yang Sanjie came to Luan County to file a lawsuit, with the county government office located on East Street, she would run to South Street every time to buy Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes, which were cheap and delicious. At that time, the ancient town of Luanzhou had countless local delicacies, such as Old Liu’s Kiln-fired Wheat Cakes, Ma Guaizi’s Stuffed Buns, Niu Family Noodles, Liu Baosheng’s Candied Hawsticks, and Blind Liu’s Sugar-fried Chestnuts, none of which had as much fame as Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes — and they have since disappeared one after another. For a hundred years, Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes have been passed down through generations. During the Cultural Revolution, when public-private partnerships were implemented, the business was merged into a state-owned restaurant and disappeared for a while. In 1984, Hao Honglai, then 80 years old, with the support of his three sons, resumed the family business, opening a new chapter for Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes.

　　    Hao Honglai had four sons. Except for the second son, who was disabled and did not inherit the trade, the other three all took up making Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes as their profession, and the craft has now been passed on to the third generation. With the development of the times, Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes have also made significant progress. There are now six shops in both the new and old towns of Luan County, yet they still can’t keep up with demand.

　　    Mr. Hao Zhiyi, the third among his brothers, is 61 years old this year. Both his son and daughter are engaged in this trade. The elderly man is cheerful and talkative, with a ruddy complexion and robust health. He recited his father’s dying words, which are also the simple business philosophy upheld by generations of the Hao family:

　　    Run the business with honesty and diligence; put effort into fine craftsmanship.

　　    Use pure, authentic, affordable ingredients; make small profits but sell widely with civility.

　　    Nowadays, Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes are no longer just a famous snack of Luanzhou. Many tourists, businessmen, and negotiators visiting Tangshan find them endlessly delicious and often take some back for their families. Hao Family Baked Wheat Cakes have become famous far and wide.

　　    Not only are the baked wheat cakes delicious at Hao Family, but the cooked foods at their various branches are also uniquely flavorful. Homemade products such as sausage, cumin sausage, and braised chicken liver are almost sold out by noon every day.