Money Squid

Money Squid

　　　　Lingao Money Squid. Lingao County faces the Qiongzhou Strait and borders the Beibu Gulf, boasting a long coastline and abundant marine resources, especially squid. The squid produced here stands out in the squid family for its large size, round body, thick flesh, delicious taste, and transparent color. Common cooking methods for fresh squid include pan-frying, stir-frying, steaming, and braising, often served with mashed ginger, peanut oil, soybean paste, and green onions. The squid is tender, soothing to the throat, and incredibly flavorful, offering high nutritional value. It is said that during U.S. President Richard Nixon's visit to China, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai featured a dish called “Qiongtai Golden Squid” at the state banquet held in his honor. President Nixon was amazed by two seafood dishes at the banquet: one was an astonishingly well-prepared dish of live carp, named “Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate”; the other was the “Qiongtai Golden Squid,” which won praise for its original flavor and color—known today as Lingao Money Squid.