In the field of international politics and finance, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is known for her academic rigor and outstanding policy influence. However, this luminary figure in economics, in addition to her unique role in the field of macroeconomics, has demonstrated her deep understanding of multiculturalism and her passionate pursuit of gastronomy in a lesser-known way – she is an avid lover of Chinese food. In recent years, Yellen has visited China many times, not only to carry out in-depth exchanges on economic issues, but also to vividly interpret her love and respect for oriental food culture in the process of tasting Chinese food.
When Yellen was working at the White House in the United States, one of the Chinese dishes she often ate at Chinese restaurants was "Sichuan shrimp," which she visited almost once a month. This shows that she has a certain preference for Sichuan cuisine, especially this seafood dish with a spicy flavor. Sichuan shrimp is usually made of fresh shrimp as the main ingredient, and Sichuan-specific seasonings such as Sichuan pepper, dried chili pepper, and bean paste are used in cooking to create a complex taste of numb, spicy, fresh and fragrant, which is one of the most representative dishes in Sichuan cuisine.
Yellen's obsession with Chinese food began with her multiple trips to China. In April 2024, Yellen once again set foot on this fascinating land, and in addition to serious bilateral talks and economic discussions, her itinerary has also reserved an important place for Chinese food. During this visit, Yellen first started her culinary journey in Guangzhou, and the first stop was Tao Tao Ju, a time-honored Cantonese restaurant with a history of 100 years.
Here, she tasted a series of Cantonese classics, such as prawn dumplings, red rice sausages, egg tarts, 100-year-old roast goose, honey sauce barbecued pork, and other local specialties such as chilled grunt pork, dry fried beef river, casserole and mushroom pot. Not only is Yellen full of praise for these dishes, but her skillful use of chopsticks is even more remarkable, as if an authentic diner is at ease in navigating each delicate and delicate Cantonese dish.
Yellen then moved to Beijing, and as soon as she arrived, she went straight to the famous Lao Sichuanban restaurant to quench her craving for Sichuan cuisine. At this historic Sichuan restaurant, which was founded in the early days of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Yellen experienced a spicy and fragrant feast for the palate.
On the menu, traditional Sichuan dishes such as stir-fried water spinach, boiled beef, sautéed lentils, mapo tofu, Sichuan cold noodles, and back-pot pork are all on display, allowing Yellen to appreciate the charm of Sichuan cuisine in the delicate balance of heat and seasoning. During the meal, Yellen not only showed a strong interest in the texture and flavor of the dishes themselves, but also listened with great interest to the restaurant staff's presentations on Chinese cultural heritage such as Sanxingdui cultural relics in Guanghan, Sichuan, Song porcelain, and Shu embroidery, showing that she also has a deep respect for Chinese history and culture.
Yellen's love for Chinese food is not just a matter of satisfying her taste buds, but also a manifestation of cultural exchange and diplomatic gestures that transcend national borders. "Reaching out to people around the world is a key part of her job, and the best way to do that is through food and local restaurants," she said in an interview with American media. Yellen's choice to taste Chinese food in a people-friendly way in public, especially in important diplomatic occasions, is not only a high recognition of China's food culture, but also a practice of her diplomatic philosophy of openness, inclusiveness, and understanding of other countries' cultures.
Yellen's culinary journey isn't the first time it's been in the spotlight. As early as July 2023, during her visit to China, she chose Yunnan cuisine for her first meal after arriving in Beijing, and she was very fond of special mushrooms, and her skillful chopsticks skills once again confirmed her deep affection for Chinese food. Yellen took the initiative to integrate into the local dining environment in the process of tasting food, choosing an open lobby to dine and share the dining atmosphere with ordinary diners, which narrowed the distance between her and the Chinese people, and also added a bit of cordiality and harmony to the tense diplomatic agenda.
Yellen's trip to China has sparked widespread public attention and discussion, ranging from recognition and appreciation of her status as a foodie to questions about the consistency of American officials' words and deeds. However, no matter how the outside world interprets it, Yellen's love of Chinese food has undoubtedly built a unique bridge for people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. Her use of food as a medium to explore and experience Chinese history and culture has undoubtedly contributed to a deeper understanding of China and a respect for the lifestyle and values of Chinese people. As her experience at a restaurant in Laochuan, Beijing, shows, food is not only a pleasure for the taste buds, but also a vehicle for history, art, and culture, and through tasting food, Yellen is able to perceive China's historical heritage and national spirit at a micro level.
Despite the complexity of the U.S.-China relationship, with many differences and challenges, Yellen's enthusiasm and openness to food have undoubtedly injected a warm current into the relationship between the two countries. Her actions send a message that, even if there are differences in political and economic positions, the two peoples can find a basis for empathy and mutual respect by sharing a basic human need, food. Yellen's trip to China is a down-to-earth way to show the world the image of a U.S. Treasury Secretary who is willing to listen, understand, and deepen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries through small interactions in daily life.
Yellen's journey to China has shown us the other side of an economics giant in addition to rigorous academic and rigorous governance—she is a global citizen who loves life, food, and cultural exchange. Her love for Chinese food transcends borders and professions, and has become a vivid link between Eastern and Western cultures. Every collision between chopsticks and porcelain bowls, and every blend of tongue and dish, is a signal of friendship and respect to China and the world through the language of food.
Yellen's story of Chinese food may not immediately eliminate all misunderstandings and differences between the two countries, but it undoubtedly adds a warm humanistic color to China-US relations and creates a more friendly atmosphere for dialogue and cooperation between the two sides in other fields. Food knows no borders, and it awakens people's appreciation and recognition of each other's cultures in the most direct and simple way, providing strong support for building more harmonious international relations. Yellen's trip to China is undoubtedly a memorable tale of gastronomic diplomacy, vividly demonstrating that even in a complex international environment, food can be a force for friendship, understanding, and bridge-building.