Golden Bottles

Author: Shao Wan-kuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-02-01
Features: Gao Zi said, "Food and sex are natural instincts." In The Golden Lotus, Lanling Xiaoxiao has extensively depicted the themes of "food" and "sex." Since ancient times, it has been criticized for its explicit sexual descriptions. However, few have mentioned its grand depictions of dining scenes. The author, who has long been engaged in the study of food culture, deeply understands the "flavors of the past" and excels in interpreting The Golden Lotus through the lens of food. Thus, this book was written to delight readers. The author meticulously examines every dish mentioned in the book, such as walnut meat, crystal goose, and fermented crabs, as well as the pastries and snacks like aiwowo, snowflake cake, and butter bubble snails, and the teas and wines like Liu'an tea, goat milk wine, and Ma Gu wine, etc. The author provides detailed accounts of the ingredients, colors, flavors, shapes, as well as the customs and legends associated with these foods. Additionally, the author references numerous Ming and Qing dynasty recipe books, such as Essential Rules of Diet and Culinary Arts, The Garden of Surging Emotions, The Grand Secrets of Food, and Notes on Drinking, Eating, and Clothing, among others. Combining these references with the author's own research on Chinese food culture, he has developed over fifty "Golden Lotus dishes and snacks" and two "Golden Lotus banquet menus," which are appended for readers to follow and fully experience the culinary delights of the Simen household.