Empress Dowager’s Bubble Cake

Empress Dowager’s Bubble Cake

　　The ancient name of Houma City in Shanxi Province was Xintian, which served as the capital of the Jin State during the late Spring and Autumn Period. At Xintian Restaurant here, Chef Qu Zhiming makes the “Empress Dowager’s Bubble Cake,” a delicacy that is crystal clear, crispy, and sweet. Because it was favored by Empress Dowager Cixi and resembles blooming bubble flowers, it earned this name. The Empress Dowager’s Bubble Cake has a historical story behind its popularity in Houma. 　　In the winter of 1948, Qu Zhiming set up a food stall at Houma Railway Station, specializing in large bowls of noodles. An elderly man often came to drink tea, chat, and eat his noodles. However, he would often shake his head and mutter repeatedly: “This tea isn’t as good as the tea in the palace, and this food doesn’t smell as fragrant as the food in the palace...” 　　It turned out the old man was named Xu Desheng, born in the 16th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty. He had once worked as a chef in the imperial kitchen and made a bubble cake that Empress Dowager Cixi loved very much. In 1900, when the Eight-Nation Alliance captured Beijing and Empress Dowager Cixi fled to Xi’an, Xu Desheng accompanied her and prepared meals along the way. During the journey, he fell ill and could no longer serve the Empress Dowager, eventually settling in Houma. Unwilling to let his culinary skills die out and seeing that Chef Qu was an honest and kind person, he passed on the secret technique for making the bubble cake to him. The old man passed away in 1954 at the age of 118. It is said that his longevity was related to his frequent consumption of the bubble cake. Chef Qu died of illness in 1986 and before his passing, he taught the skill to Huang Jingya, manager of Xintian Restaurant in Houma.

From afar, the “Empress Dowager’s Bubble Cake” resembles a mushroom shape, glowing like the colors of sunset; close up, it looks like unraveling silk and fluff, as vibrant as golden chrysanthemums. Entirely golden in color, it is crispy, sweet, and nourishing to health. (Houma)