Yellow Croaker from Hupu

Yellow Croaker from Hupu

　　　　Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, Hupu Town is famous for its delicious yellow croaker. Every year around the third and fourth lunar months, when flowers are in full bloom and the weather is mild and sunny, fishing boats gather in Hupu Harbor and the town becomes bustling with visitors. Along with the spring arrives the yellow croaker known as “Hundred-Day Yellow,” which is in season. Yellow croaker is a type of seafood. Every spring, fishermen go out to sea to catch it. The live fish are taken from the nets and placed in the hold, where they are salted—this is why it is also called salted yellow croaker. People who buy this fish can scale it, clean it, gut it, and then dry it in the sun, allowing it to be stored for a long time without spoiling, making it a common dish at home. Due to its tender and fatty flesh, yellow croaker can be prepared in many ways. Aside from salting, it can also be dried and smoked, pickled in wine lees, or simmered whole in clear broth or braised in sauce. All these methods yield delicious results, making it one of the most beloved seafood delicacies among the people of Changshu.

　　(Changshu)