Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat

Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat

　　Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat is a famous local dish from Suqian City, also known as Suqian Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat or Qianlong Old Broth Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat. It was created in the 12th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1747) by Huang De.

　　Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat is as renowned as Yangzhou Braised Whole Pork Head, both representing the northern style of cooking pork head. The difference is that in Yangzhou, the pork head is served whole, whereas in Suqian, it is cut into pieces and cooked, making it look no different from red-braised pork.

　　The traditional handcrafted technique of Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat has been included in the first batch of Suqian’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and the dish is listed in the Jiangsu Famous Dishes Collection.

　　Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat was first created in the 12th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1747). Its founder, Huang De, originally came from Chuzhou, Anhui. Due to flooding, he fled to Suqian. Skilled in cooking, he first set up a food stall at the southern end of Tongdai Street (now East Street), and later opened a small tavern. Known for his honesty, Huang De sold delicious and affordable pork head meat, and his business gradually flourished.

　　In the 27th year of Qianlong’s reign (1762), during the emperor’s third southern tour, he visited Suqian. Without alerting the local officials, Qianlong, along with a few close guards, disguised themselves and went into the city to observe conditions incognito. As they wandered the streets, time passed unnoticed until they felt hungry around noon. When they reached the southern end of Suqian’s East Street, they were drawn by an enticing aroma carried on the breeze. Following the smell, they soon found a small tavern selling pork head meat. Having grown accustomed to delicacies in the palace, Emperor Qianlong was skeptical that pork head meat could be so fragrant. Hesitantly, he ordered a serving and took a bite—immediately praising, “Delicious, delicious, what a fine dish!” He then asked his guards to call over the owner and inquired, “What is your name?” Since Huang De’s childhood nickname was “Big Dog,” locals affectionately called him “Yellow Dog.” The tavern keeper casually replied, “Your Honor, my surname is Huang, given name San; folks just call me Huang Dog.” Upon hearing this, Qianlong burst into laughter, finding it amusing, and spontaneously composed a poem: “Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat, crisp, tender, juicy, fragrant. Not even found in the palace, surely unmatched across the land.” After the emperor left, Huang San learned that the royal guest who had complimented his pork head meat was none other than the Emperor himself. The shrewd Huang San was overjoyed and kept the leftover broth from Qianlong’s meal. The next day, he mixed it into a new batch of pork head meat and renamed the tavern “Yellow Dog Pork Head Meat Tavern.” From then on, by continuously blending old and new broths, generation after generation, the dish gained great fame, thriving in business and passing down through the ages.