Fan Kuai’s Dog and Turtle Feast

Fan Kuai’s Dog and Turtle Feast

　　The “Biographies” section of the Book of Han records: “Fan Kuai, Marquis of Wuyang, was a native of Pei who made his living as a dog butcher, and later hid in the Mangdang Mountains and marshes with Emperor Gaozu.” Although the tradition of all-dog feasts dates back to the pre-Qin period, it was Fan Kuai’s butchering and cooking of dogs that truly brought the practice to perfection, forming a unique genre of dog and turtle cuisine. Researchers at Pengcheng Hotel, focusing on the culture of the pre-Qin and Han dynasties, developed and introduced the “Fan Kuai Dog and Turtle Grand Cuisine,” showcasing the culinary legacy of dog consumption in ancient Xuzhou. This feast not only features exquisitely balanced nutrition and carefully selected, unconventional cuts, but also adds new cultural significance to the phrase “To understand the culture of the Han dynasties, look to Xuzhou.”

　　The Fan Kuai Dog and Turtle Feast consists of 8 cold dishes, 12 hot dishes, 4 soups and side dishes, and 4 staple foods, totaling 28 items. Representative cold dishes include Fan Kuai’s Stomach Jerky, Five-Spice Dog Meat, and Boiled Dog Meat. Popular hot dishes are Turtle Sauce Dog Meat, Spicy Dog Meat, Fried Dog Ribs, and Fermented Tofu Dog Leg. The soups and side dishes include Turtle Sauce Broth, Stone Ear Mushroom Dog Meat Soup, Assorted Peanuts, and Sweet Oil Green Peppers. The staple foods are Dumplings, Yellow Rice Glutinous Balls, Glutinous Rice Balls, and Hu Biscuits.