The delicious wonder of a hodgepodge: Li Hongzhang's Chinese hospitality in a foreign country
In the mid-19th century, Li Hongzhang was in the United States and fell into an unexpected table dilemma. Although Chinese immigration allowed Chinese cuisine to take root in the United States, Li Hongzhang's discomfort with Western food led him to find a unique solution. So, at a banquet, he decided to treat these foreign guests with Chinese food, bringing them a unique gluttonous feast.
Li Hongzhang's decision was very bold at the time. As a representative of the country, his boredom with Western food made him choose to use Chinese food to entertain foreign guests without hesitation. This innovative decision has won more attention for Chinese cuisine in the international community.
The delicacies prepared by the Chinese chef aroused the strong interest of foreign guests, but the unexpected situation made Li Hongzhang feel very difficult. The Chinese dishes on the table were eaten one after another, but the feast was not over yet. In order not to disappoint the guests, Li Hongzhang skillfully ordered the chef to combine the remaining dishes and heat them up before serving them.
The idea quickly solved the problem and also aroused the curiosity of foreign guests. They asked for the name of the merged dish. At the time, Li Hongzhang did not have an exact name, but the dish was later transmitted back to China, where it received the name "hodgepodge".
This banquet is not only a feast of Chinese food, but also a famous dish created by Li Hongzhang in a foreign country. This story is not just a clever change on the table, but also a microcosm of how Chinese cuisine has earned its place on the international stage. The spread of Chinese food overseas is not only the inheritance of taste, but also a kind of cultural integration. This banquet presented a delicious feast for foreigners, and also played a pioneering role in the spread of Chinese food culture internationally.
Opinion: This story vividly illustrates Li Hongzhang's wit and creativity in a foreign land. By entertaining foreign guests with Chinese food, he not only solved the problem at the table, but also contributed to the spread of Chinese food culture internationally. This also allows us to see that the spread of culture is not only an exchange of tastes, but also a display of wisdom and innovation. In a foreign country, keeping an open mind and adapting to the local environment with wisdom and creativity is a positive way to communicate with culture.