Leshan Dining
One of the most common misconceptions is that Sichuan dishes are all hot and spicy. Browsing through their many recipes, you will actually discover that some of the best such as kung pao chicken don’t have a lot of heat. Although local peppers were already added in their dishes, it wasn’t until around the Silk Road that they became more popular.
The route, which was meant for military use, also became an important passage for traders, many of whom could be carrying a wide variety of spices and peppers.
Most of the Sichuan dishes are composed of salt, peppers, garlic, and broth. Cooks are also fond of adding broth and plenty of vegetables. Occasionally meats take center stage; perhaps because of the price of meats that they prefer to simply use them as an addition to the dish rather than its focus.
As to the cooking methods, Sichuan methods are usually simmering, sometimes for long hours to make sure that the flavors are properly infused into the meats as well as the liquids, roasting, and stir-frying.
Top Three Foods to Eat in Leshan
Leshan belongs to Sichuan province, and most of the people are able to preserve the authentic way of cooking some of their best dishes. This then makes eating a great past time and activity in the area besides visiting the Giant Buddha and Mount Emei Scenic Area.
A lot of dishes do stand out when you mention “Leshan dining,” but today we’ll bring our attention to our top 3:
Qiaojiao Beef
This is also called standing-leg beef. This is a special kind of soup that is not for those with a very weak stomach. The main ingredients are a bull’s internal organs such as the intestines. Different types of stories have circulated as to its origin.
The most famous was that a long time ago, the Leshan people suffered from terrible coughs and colds. A doctor wanted to create a soup for them, but discovered the patients could not buy any meat because of lack of money. Hence, he used the internal organs of the bull, making them into a soup.
Moreover, being poor prevented them from getting enough seats, so they usually stood up while eating, hence the name.
Bang Bang Chicken
Another well-known dish in Leshan is the Bang Bang Chicken. It is a dish that uses the tenderer and meatier part of the chicken, which is the breast. It is normally shredded or chopped into thinner and longer pieces. The highlight of the cooking process is the bang bang or the tapping of a stick into the meat to make it even softer. This is also how the dish got its name.
Ingredients such as salt, cucumbers, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hot chili oil, and scallions are added. The chicken is topped with the hot sauce. To make the dish even more special, it’s customary among cooks to also sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds.
Dongpo Ink Fish
Since Leshan is very near bodies of water such as the river, marine life is abundant, and fish is even more common than meat. This also means there are a lot of fish-based Sichuan dishes to choose from. However, perhaps the most popular in Leshan is Dongpo ink fish.
Part of the popularity is its story. This certain fish thrives in Minjiang River, which is the body of water found right below the Giant Buddha of Leshan. This area, on the other hand, used to be the home of several Buddhist monks, as well as temples and scholars. One of the notable characters near the Leshan Giant Buddha was Su Dongpo.
Su Dongpo was a poet who wrote many works of art. When he needed to clean his ink slab, though, he went to the river. The washed ink was then consumed by the fish, making them black.
There is no doubt, however, eating dongpo ink fish is such a pleasurable experience. The preparation includes the removal of the spine and creation of around 7 cuts on different sides of the fish. Rice wine and salt are then rubbed on these cut sides.
The pan is heated fully, and before the fish is placed, it is first coated with cornstarch flour and then deep fried. Most of the oil is then removed from the pan and lard, ginger, bean sauce, and garlic are then added for stir-frying.
Leshan Snacks
Most definitely the dishes mentioned above are heavy they can already make a fulfilling meal. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for something lighter, then you can choose the Dufonao or the tofu jelly. As its name suggests it’s a platter of soft jelly-like tofu cut into small square-shaped bites.
The tofu jelly, though, isn’t just plain tofu. To give it some flavor, meats such as minced beef or chicken are added. They are then served alongside sesame oils, garlic, and peanuts.
Ye’er Ba is another favorite snacks for the Leshan people. It is famous for its odd shapes and the use of the lotus leaves. Before, it used to be prepared during the Tomb-sweeping Day until its popularity took it to the streets on a more regular basis.
The snack is composed of glutinous (sticky) rice that is stuffed with meats, chicken, and or vegetables. They are then shaped into balls or elongated shapes then placed on top of the lotus leaf. Besides the lotus, plantain and bamboo leaves can also be utilized.
Top 2 Restaurants/Eating Places
For one of the best dining experiences while in Leshan, we suggest you proceed to the dock. Along the way are the many various restaurants serving original Sichuan dishes. Aside from the food, you get the very beautiful view of the rivers and the nearby serene surroundings.
The city center, meanwhile, is populated with more organized and decorated restaurants such as the following:
Jiuding Hotel Restaurant
Located in Wuyouba Diaoyutai, the hotel is a well-known accommodation option for guests. One of the reasons is its in-house restaurant. Besides an extensive menu of Sichuan cuisine, they also serve bean curd and some local snack.
Wang Haoer Fishing Port Restaurant
It is called as such since the design of the restaurant looks like a ship. To keep up with the theme, most of the dishes are fish based. Their popular dish is Huangla ding. They are also willing to accommodate guests’ special requests on the amount of heat (from mild to extremely spicy).
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