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A bun shop in Beijing had an unexpected visitor and is now enjoying an unexpected windfall in fame and fortune.
Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop's Yuetan branch was surprised with a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in late December.
The president insisted on waiting in line with the rest of the patrons and placed an order for a plate of mustard leaves, a bowl of stewed pork liver soup, and six shallot and pork buns. The bill came up to 21 yuan ($3.47).
News of the VIP visit has drawn crowds to the otherwise quiet bun shop. Xi's order, now dubbed "the president's set meal", has sold record numbers at the eatery.
Qing-Feng was already a popular bun shop in Beijing, known for its signature buns with various fillings, a few cold dishes, congee and traditional Beijing food such as stewed pork liver soup. It is a mid- to low-priced eatery with big crowds at breakfast, but also good for a quick lunch or dinner.
Qing-Feng is a member of Beijing Huatian Catering Group, which owns more than 20 restaurant brands such as Hongbinlou, Kaorouji and Kaorouwan.
The bun shop is more than 60 years old and was previously called Wanxingju, before changing to its current name in 1976.
The restaurant's oldest outlet was located at Xidan Dajie, but it was demolished in 1999 and relocated to Xi'anmen.
In the following years, the number of branches quickly expanded from three to more than 180. It is now the biggest specialized bun chain restaurant in Beijing.
The more popular buns include pork and shallot, the ones the president ordered, although other varieties also sell well.
Chaogan'er, or stewed pork liver soup, is a typical Beijing snack food made with pork liver and intestines in a thick, starchy broth heavily flavored with garlic.
This dish is of Manchurian origin and was consumed after religious rituals.
The liver stew is a favorite for local Beijingers but not popular for visitors to the capital.
When US Vice-President Joe Biden visited Beijing in August 2011 and ate at Yao's Chaogan'er Restaurant near the Drum and Bell Tower, he ordered pork buns, zhajiang noodles and cucumber salad but avoided the signature liver stew for which the eatery is famous.
Baozi, or steamed buns, are a popular snack in restaurants and households throughout China, but every region has its own variation.
In Tianjin, the Goubuli bun shop has been famous for 150 years, and, like Qing-Feng, the buns are northern Chinese style, made with lots of leeks and pork.
In Shanghai, at the Old Chenghuang Miao, the steamed buns are equally famous, with fillings made from Shanghainese bokchoy and pork.
But the flavor of the moment is buns from Qing-Feng.
yejun@chinadaily.com.cn
