Cucumber Feast

Cucumber Feast

　　The Cucumber Feast is a signature local dish created by chefs at Yanchun Restaurant in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, inspired by a historical legend. It has since gained widespread fame. The entire banquet features cucumbers as the main ingredient, comprising eight cold appetizers and twelve hot dishes. The first cold dish is called “Azure Dragon Lying on Snow,” depicting two dragons coiled on a bed of white (sugar), their heads raised and tails arched, vivid and adorable. The remaining seven cold dishes offer a variety of flavors—sweet, spicy, fragrant, savory, sweet and sour, scallion oil, and crispy—displaying harmonious colors and well-balanced presentations. The twelve hot dishes include Treasure Pearl Sea Cucumber, Dragon Beard Cucumber Strips, Shredded Cucumber with Fish, Stewed Cucumber with Chicken, Golden Hook Jadeite, Fried Cucumber Dates, Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl, Phoenix Tail Cucumber Strips, Gold Coin Cucumber Cup, Snow Mountain Silver Melon, Stuffed Melon, and Golden Cup Cucumber Skin. Each dish is brightly colored and delicious. Just from these names, one can tell how ingenious the creators were and how superb their culinary skills are.