US First Lady looks forward to Chinese cuisine

The US First Lady will travel to China with her daughters, Malia and Sasha, and her mother Marian Robinson on March 19 - 26, and will be visiting Beijing from March 20 - 23, Xi’an on March 24, and Chengdu on March 25 - 26.

For her first visit to China, Mrs. Obama has been learning simple Mandarin such as "Ni Hao" (Hello) "Zai Jian" (Goodbye) "Xie Xie" (Thanks). And by admitting that she is a "delicacy maniac,” she says she’s willing to taste the food recommended by American students and other special Chinese food she has yet to try.

Enthusiastic Chinese Internet users from the three cities the First Lady will visit have already prepared menus of Chinese delicacies which include Qingfeng buns and Rou jia Mo. Stories about the restaurants and food that world leaders have experienced in the past few years have become popular again.

Here are some reviews of the food and restaurants where famous political leaders have eaten, along with a few food recommendations thrown in.

Beijing

Yaoji Chaogan Restaurant, the Beijing eatery where US Vice-President Joe Biden dined on Aug 19, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

Black bean sauce noodles and other delicacies served at this Beijing eatery are being snapped up by customers eager to order the dishes eaten by US vice-president Joe Biden on a recent visit, a meal dubbed "noodle diplomacy."

Biden and his entourage ordered five bowls of black bean sauce noodles, 10 steamed buns, smashed cucumber salad, mountain yam salad, shredded potatoes and Coca Cola at 'Yao Ji Chao Gan' restaurant for lunch in 2011, racking up a tab of 79 yuan ($12.40).

SIGNATURE DISHES:

Chaogan (Liver Stew): A strong starchy stew with slices of liver and large pig intestines, flavored with lots of garlic. The dish is sold for 4 yuan for a small bowl, 6 yuan for a larger serving.

Zhajiang noodles: Handmade noodles served with deep, rich stir-fried bean paste, shredded cucumber and watermelon radish. The dish is sold for 9 yuan for a standard bowl.

Pork and onion baozi: Little steamed buns of juicy, succulent pork and onions. They cost 1 yuan each, but it's easy to polish off four or five at one seating.

Luzhu huoshao: Bean-paste stew with pieces of huo shao (dough dumplings), beancurd puffs and stewed lungs. The dish is traditionally a street-side delight for the common folks of Beijing. The stew can cost anything from 15 and upwards depending on what you want added to the basic stew.

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