Xingtai "Yixing Zhang" Daokou roast chicken
"Yixing Zhang" roast chicken originated in Daokou Town, Huaxian County, Henan, and later spread to Xingtai, so it was called Xingtai "Yixing Zhang" Daokou Roast Chicken, in order to distinguish it from Henan's Daokou Roast Chicken. The history of "Yixing Zhang" roast chicken can be traced back to 1661 AD (the eighteenth year of Qing Shunzhi), but in the following more than one hundred years, the production method and ingredients were similar to the general practice, not outstanding, and did not get great development. By 1787 (the fifty-second year of Qianlong), Zhang Bing, who was running roast chicken in Daokou, was in a bad business and was upset, and occasionally met an old friend who had been a cook in the Imperial Dining Room of the Qing Palace, the two drank and talked freely, and when Zhang Bing talked about his business depression, his friend said to Zhang Bing: "I want to burn chicken incense, eight ingredients and old soup", and said the eight flavors of Chinese medicine and its usage such as tangerine peel, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and bai zhi, and advised not to spread it. Zhang Bingru obtained the most precious treasure and brewed it according to the method, which was really different. Later, after painstaking research and repeated improvements, it was roasted into a roast chicken with a unique flavor, and then the business was prosperous and famous. Because the founder's surname is Zhang, the shop number is set as "Yixing Zhang". "Yixing Zhang" Daokou roast chicken spread to Xingtai in July 1938. Zhang Bing's sixth-generation descendant, Zhang Changrong, and his apprentice Lu Yujun and seven others came to Xingtai to make a living from the Huaxian Pass to join relatives and friends. At that time, Xingtai was under the occupation of the Japanese army, the people were not happy, the business was cold, and some roast chicken was sold, and only subsistence could be made. After the liberation of Xingtai in September 1945, Zhang Changrong, Lu Yujun and others settled in Xingtai City, and Xingtai's "Yixing Zhang" Daokou roast chicken was officially opened. After the co-operation of the catering industry in 1956, Master Zhang Changrong actively participated in social activities, ran a blackboard newspaper at his own expense, enthusiastically publicized the party's principles and policies, and was praised as a "volunteer propagandist". He once served as a street cadre, worked actively and responsibly, handled things fairly, enjoyed a certain reputation in the city, and was later elected as a member of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Under the care of the party and governments at all levels, Xingtai "Yixing Zhang" Daokou roast chicken has also gained a new life and has made great progress. After the cooperation in the catering industry, Master Zhang, Master Lu, Zhang Hengjiu (the eldest son of Evergreen) and others specialized in roast chicken production. In 1972, Master Zhang Changrong died of illness, and his eldest son, Zhang Hengjiu, was transferred to other industries during the Cultural Revolution and has not yet returned.
After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, with the strong support of the Municipal Party Committee and leaders at all levels, in 1980, Xingtai Restaurant wrote a plaque in order to restore the time-honored "Yixing Zhang" Daokou roast chicken and ask Ma Liangchen to write a plaque. 15 days later, an antique commercial time-honored plaque "Daokou Roast Chicken" stood impressively in the xingtai road street riot center, which caused a sensation in Xingtai City for a time, and the masses praised it a lot. This tradition of ancient delicacies has been greatly developed. Annual sales soared from more than 10,000 in private ownership to 50,000 or 60,000. Xingtai Daokou roast chicken with bright color and rich fragrance, attracting the majority of customers, widely sold in the province of small and medium-sized towns, exported to Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shandong and other places, in North China enjoys a high reputation. Guests who come to Xingtai to visit and visit must taste the Xingtai Daokou roast chicken. Every New Year's Festival, go to relatives and friends, and compete to buy. People who have eaten it all point out their praise.
The reason why Xingtai Daokou roast chicken has a unique flavor and is well-known everywhere lies in its strict selection of materials, meticulous workmanship, reasonable ingredients, cooking method, and has continued the traditional process. Now zhang lifeng, the eighth generation of people, has developed this traditional skill.
