Chennai, May 22, 2003: Legend has it that in China, a beggar was stranded in the midst of a desert with only a piece of chicken in hand. After wrapping it in a dry lotus leaf and again covering it with clay, he placed it in a hole that he dug in the desert. Soon enough, the meat was baked. A hungry minister who was in disguise came across the beggar. So delighted was he with the piece of chicken that the beggar shared with him, that he popularized the recipe in his province of Xin Jiang and called it Kyufa kai, or Beggar’s Chicken. This is the story behind the Legendary Beggar’s Chicken - one of the highlights at the
Xin Jiang Festival, on at the Golden Dragon. The specialty Chinese restaurant at the Taj Coromandel is hosting the Chinese festival between
May 24, 2003 and June 15, 2003.
Back from a holiday that was also
well used for research on the exotic cuisines of Xin Jiang, Chef Hardy
has culled a delectable array of recipes for this festival. Explains
the Master Chef, “Xin Jiang is an autonomous province in China. The
cuisine is notably ethnic and tremendously popular. What makes the
cuisine more exotic is the fact that the recipes are not easily
available at all. In fact, it is said that the cuisine was the prime
factor that attracted attention from the Turks and the Mongols.”
Including
both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare, the recipes also tell
interesting tales of the infamous invasions of the Chinese borders.
And as your plate of kyufa kai arrives, you could call upon the Master
himself to expertly break open the sealed clay. Or, you could get
adventurous and do the honors yourself! But it’s not just the
Legendary Begger’s Chicken that is interesting to savor, the cabbage
parcel; San chiu kaey chi; Siu, tofu thong poy; Xun Keong chicken;
Thong pow lamb and many more such are in store for you to feast upon.
Only when you experience the festival
will you know why the Turks and Mongols tried their mighty best! The
Xin Jiang festival, only at the Golden Dragon.
Chennai, May 22, 2003: Legend has it that in China, a beggar was stranded in the midst of a desert with only a piece of chicken in hand. After wrapping it in a dry lotus leaf and again covering it with clay, he placed it in a hole that he dug in the desert. Soon enough, the meat was baked. A hungry minister who was in disguise came across the beggar. So delighted was he with the piece of chicken that the beggar shared with him, that he popularized the recipe in his province of Xin Jiang and called it Kyufa kai, or Beggar’s Chicken. This is the story behind the Legendary Beggar’s Chicken - one of the highlights at the
Xin Jiang Festival, on at the Golden Dragon. The specialty Chinese restaurant at the Taj Coromandel is hosting the Chinese festival between
May 24, 2003 and June 15, 2003.
Including
both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare, the recipes also tell
interesting tales of the infamous invasions of the Chinese borders.
And as your plate of kyufa kai arrives, you could call upon the Master
himself to expertly break open the sealed clay. Or, you could get
adventurous and do the honors yourself! But it’s not just the
Legendary Begger’s Chicken that is interesting to savor, the cabbage
parcel; San chiu kaey chi; Siu, tofu thong poy; Xun Keong chicken;
Thong pow lamb and many more such are in store for you to feast upon.
