Li Bai and Anlu Hanlin Chicken

"Hanlin Chicken" is one of Taibai series dishes cooked by Taibai Restaurant in Anlu City, northern Chu. The name of this dish means that Li Bai once served as an academician. The whole chicken is marinated and steamed until it is seven-cooked, then boneless and cut into pieces, and then put on a plate to make it into the shape of the original chicken. In addition, the word "Hanlin Chicken" is carved with egg yolk cake, placed in front of the head of the chicken, seasoned with chicken soup and ground mushrooms, decorated with a number of small shrimp balls, and then steamed. It can be described as fine workmanship, vivid modeling, both form and spirit, high quality and delicious taste.

According to relevant historical records, Li Bai, a great romantic poet in the Tang Dynasty, left Sichuan for Chu at the age of 26 and came to Anlu in the spring of the fifteenth year of Xuanzong in the Tang Dynasty (AD 727). He wrote in the History Book of Peichang in Shang 'an Prefecture: "Seeing fellow villagers is like boasting a cloud dream, which has seven colors, so come and see." When Li Bai lived in Anlu, he made many celebrities, and was famous for "hiding wine to settle down in Anlu for ten years". Legend has it that after enjoying the ancient Chufeng, he often drank and sang loudly. His talent was deeply appreciated by the prime minister Xu (Anlu people) and he married his granddaughter to Li Bai the following year.

"Water waves in wine, beautiful mountains make poems". Li Bai lived in seclusion for ten years, leaving many famous works and many precious traces about Li Bai's activities. According to the textual research of the Taibai Office of Anlu Research, the poet's diet life in that year showed that Li Bai was always addicted to wine and food. He likes chickens, ducks, geese, fish and vegetables. He also eats beef and mutton and wild monosodium glutamate, but he doesn't eat pork. Friends all know the poet's hobbies, so they often take chickens, ducks and geese as dishes and add wine to entertain. Among many kinds of wine and vegetables, Li Baiyou is most interested in "cooking chicken". Later, Li Bai left Anlu to travel. When he received the imperial edict, he also recalled the delicious essence of boiled chicken. He once wrote a poem: "White wine will return in the mountains when it is newly cooked. Yellow chicken pecks millet and autumn fat, and tells children to roast chicken and drink white wine. The child smiled and led people to the clothes. " This shows that the poet's fame is in sight, he is full of enthusiasm and ambition, drinking white wine and cooking chicken with a smile. Li Bai will be appointed as an academician in Beijing soon.

Legend has it that the dish "Hanlin Chicken" is one of the delicacies carefully prepared by friends to admire the poet's talent. Because the poet Li Bai likes to cook chicken, later people call it "Hanlin chicken", which is the reason.