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Cool options needn't be just ice cream
By Wu Huixin |
July 19, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IT'S the season for every type of cold and icy dessert - which means not only ice cream but also a large variety of dishes in Chinese cuisine.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, on summer days cold and icy desserts can quell the heat and balance the body's energy.
And in Hangzhou cuisine, which is mild and delicate, there are several distinctive cold and icy desserts. Some were developed in the distant past by locals using the city's specialty food, while others were invented recently by Hangzhou chefs.
Here are four classic desserts that are summer favorites on locals' dinner tables and in Hangzhou restaurants.
White fungus and lotus seeds soup (银耳莲子羹)
As a water city, Hangzhou is a great place to appreciate lotus flowers and to enjoy lotus seeds - fresh or dried.
In traditional Chinese medicine dried lotus seeds are sources of yin (cold) energy in nature and are used to promote production of fluids, nourish the blood, improve the appetite and treat yin deficiency.
And in traditional medicinal food therapy, white fungus is said to clear internal heat, reduce blood pressure and replenish moisture, especially in the lungs. For women it also has important anti-aging properties.
So the combination of the two creates a great sweet summer soup, and is popular with many local households as it is easily made.
First, immerse dried white fungus in water for several hours until soft. Second, put the fungus, lotus seeds and some red dates into a pot, adding water to just above the material. Stew them and then add rock sugar. The final soup is thickened by gelatinous material found in white fungus.
The soup can be served hot, cold or iced. All ingredients are easily available in supermarkets. You can also buy it in many eateries.
Fried rice cake with osmanthus sugar (桂花糖年糕)
An episode of recent popular food documentary series "A Bite of China" featured rice cake, a typical southern Chinese food made from sticky rice.
There are many recipes, and rice cakes go well with sugar due to the sticky yet smooth texture.
Fried rice cake with osmanthus sugar is a typical Hangzhou food. This is created from ordinary sugar and dried osmanthus flowers, Hangzhou's city flower.
Osmanthus sugar is combined with rice powder and made into rice cakes. The dessert is served when lightly fried and topped with more brown-and-yellow osmanthus sugar.
The sugar has a very strong sweet scent that stimulates people's appetite, and the golden fried rice cake is sweet, sticky, soft and smooth.
Where to eat:? Zaofeng Nianjian Restaurant (灶丰年间)
Address: 126 Anding Rd
Tel: (0571) 8708-0055
? Grandma's Kitchen (外婆家)
The restaurant has 20 branches in the area; check www.waipojia.com.cn for the nearest location.
? Lan Gui Fang Restaurant (兰桂坊)
Address: No. 17, Si Yan Jin, Manjuelong Rd
Tel: (0571) 8688-2111
Candied lotus root (蜜汁莲藕)
A traditional dessert in south China, candied lotus root has a sweet smell and luscious taste. Hangzhou's version enjoys a great reputation for tenderness and sweetness, and makes regular appearances on locals' dinner tables. Lotus grown in West Lake is particularly sought.
It is also easily made at home.
First, glutinous rice should be soaked in water for around an hour. The lotus root should be peeled and the larger end sliced off, completely exposing the air holes.
Next, stuff glutinous rice into the holes. Then replace the top of the lotus root and affix it with toothpicks. Place the stuffed root in a pot of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for around an hour. Add rock sugar while cooking. Once cooked, let the root cool and then cut into slices. It can be sprinkled with osmanthus sugar and honey. When sliced, the radiating pattern of the air holes is evident.
All ingredients are available in supermarkets.
Where to eat:? Zhiweiguan Restaurant (知味观)
Address: 83 Renhe RdTel: (0571) 8701-0200
? Qingteng Teahouse (青藤茶馆)
Address: 31 Liuying RdTel: (0571) 8702-0084
? Grandma's Kitchen (外婆家)
Check www.waipojia.com.cn for the nearest location.
'Temptation of Bread' (面包的诱惑)
It's said this dessert was invented by the Green Tea Restaurant in the city, but its popularity has spread and now most good restaurants serve the dish. It's basically a loaf of hot bread with cold ice cream inside; it has contrasts between hot and cold, soft ice cream and crispy bread.
It can be made at home.
First put a loaf of bread in the refrigerator overnight. Then remove it and cut off the top crust and hollow out the loaf. Keep the crust so the loaf can be reconstructed. Cut the bread that has been removed into small cubes.
Make a sauce of butter, cream and sugar and brush it on each cube. Add honey as desired. Put the bread back into the hollowed crust.
Put the loaf in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. Once removed, add scoops of ice cream and serve.
Where to eat:? Green Tea Restaurant (绿茶)
Address: 83 Longjing RdTel: (0571) 8788-8022
? West Lake's Spring (西湖春天)
Address: 101 Nanshan RdTel: (0571) 8703-5551
? Golden Chino (金玲珑)
Address: 149 Qingchun Rd
Tel: (0571) 8721-0777
? Chuanweiguan Restaurant (川味观)
There are many outlets, check www.hzcwg.com for the nearest one.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, on summer days cold and icy desserts can quell the heat and balance the body's energy.
And in Hangzhou cuisine, which is mild and delicate, there are several distinctive cold and icy desserts. Some were developed in the distant past by locals using the city's specialty food, while others were invented recently by Hangzhou chefs.
Here are four classic desserts that are summer favorites on locals' dinner tables and in Hangzhou restaurants.
White fungus and lotus seeds soup (银耳莲子羹)
As a water city, Hangzhou is a great place to appreciate lotus flowers and to enjoy lotus seeds - fresh or dried.
In traditional Chinese medicine dried lotus seeds are sources of yin (cold) energy in nature and are used to promote production of fluids, nourish the blood, improve the appetite and treat yin deficiency.
And in traditional medicinal food therapy, white fungus is said to clear internal heat, reduce blood pressure and replenish moisture, especially in the lungs. For women it also has important anti-aging properties.
So the combination of the two creates a great sweet summer soup, and is popular with many local households as it is easily made.
First, immerse dried white fungus in water for several hours until soft. Second, put the fungus, lotus seeds and some red dates into a pot, adding water to just above the material. Stew them and then add rock sugar. The final soup is thickened by gelatinous material found in white fungus.
The soup can be served hot, cold or iced. All ingredients are easily available in supermarkets. You can also buy it in many eateries.
Fried rice cake with osmanthus sugar (桂花糖年糕)
An episode of recent popular food documentary series "A Bite of China" featured rice cake, a typical southern Chinese food made from sticky rice.
There are many recipes, and rice cakes go well with sugar due to the sticky yet smooth texture.
Fried rice cake with osmanthus sugar is a typical Hangzhou food. This is created from ordinary sugar and dried osmanthus flowers, Hangzhou's city flower.
Osmanthus sugar is combined with rice powder and made into rice cakes. The dessert is served when lightly fried and topped with more brown-and-yellow osmanthus sugar.
The sugar has a very strong sweet scent that stimulates people's appetite, and the golden fried rice cake is sweet, sticky, soft and smooth.
Where to eat:? Zaofeng Nianjian Restaurant (灶丰年间)
Address: 126 Anding Rd
Tel: (0571) 8708-0055
? Grandma's Kitchen (外婆家)
The restaurant has 20 branches in the area; check www.waipojia.com.cn for the nearest location.
? Lan Gui Fang Restaurant (兰桂坊)
Address: No. 17, Si Yan Jin, Manjuelong Rd
Tel: (0571) 8688-2111
Candied lotus root (蜜汁莲藕)
A traditional dessert in south China, candied lotus root has a sweet smell and luscious taste. Hangzhou's version enjoys a great reputation for tenderness and sweetness, and makes regular appearances on locals' dinner tables. Lotus grown in West Lake is particularly sought.
It is also easily made at home.
First, glutinous rice should be soaked in water for around an hour. The lotus root should be peeled and the larger end sliced off, completely exposing the air holes.
Next, stuff glutinous rice into the holes. Then replace the top of the lotus root and affix it with toothpicks. Place the stuffed root in a pot of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for around an hour. Add rock sugar while cooking. Once cooked, let the root cool and then cut into slices. It can be sprinkled with osmanthus sugar and honey. When sliced, the radiating pattern of the air holes is evident.
All ingredients are available in supermarkets.
Where to eat:? Zhiweiguan Restaurant (知味观)
Address: 83 Renhe RdTel: (0571) 8701-0200
? Qingteng Teahouse (青藤茶馆)
Address: 31 Liuying RdTel: (0571) 8702-0084
? Grandma's Kitchen (外婆家)
Check www.waipojia.com.cn for the nearest location.
'Temptation of Bread' (面包的诱惑)
It's said this dessert was invented by the Green Tea Restaurant in the city, but its popularity has spread and now most good restaurants serve the dish. It's basically a loaf of hot bread with cold ice cream inside; it has contrasts between hot and cold, soft ice cream and crispy bread.
It can be made at home.
First put a loaf of bread in the refrigerator overnight. Then remove it and cut off the top crust and hollow out the loaf. Keep the crust so the loaf can be reconstructed. Cut the bread that has been removed into small cubes.
Make a sauce of butter, cream and sugar and brush it on each cube. Add honey as desired. Put the bread back into the hollowed crust.
Put the loaf in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. Once removed, add scoops of ice cream and serve.
Where to eat:? Green Tea Restaurant (绿茶)
Address: 83 Longjing RdTel: (0571) 8788-8022
? West Lake's Spring (西湖春天)
Address: 101 Nanshan RdTel: (0571) 8703-5551
? Golden Chino (金玲珑)
Address: 149 Qingchun Rd
Tel: (0571) 8721-0777
? Chuanweiguan Restaurant (川味观)
There are many outlets, check www.hzcwg.com for the nearest one.
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