Eat like a king. Or at least The Chairman

You might visit Chairman Mao’s hometown of Shaosan to get a feel for the historical figure. Or you can just head to the Grand Hyatt before the end of October and be fed by Mao’s onetime personal chef, Dong Linfa.

Two Urbanatomy reporters enjoyed a meal by the big guy's personal chef. The “Chairman Mao Specialties” included:

• Roast duck with pineapple
• Chicken leg with hard bean curd and leek in peanut sauce
• Marinated mushroom with pine nuts
• Lettuce tossed with spring onion oil
• Braised winter melon balls in superior stock with bird's nest
• Deep fried shrimp in sweet and sour sauce
• Braised yam with crab roe
• Sauteed shrimps, chicken breast and chestnuts in Shacha sauce
• Braised duck tongues with ham, egg white and mushrooms
• Deep fried Mandarin fish with pear and bean curd
• Sauteed mandarin fish fillet with crab roe and shepherd's purse
• Braised pork belly in sweet soy sauce
• Wonton soup with crab roe
• Spring roll with red bean paste

We'd heard one of Mao's favorite foods was supposed to be congee, but that simple-folk dish didn't seem to make the list. Hmm, maybe it was good to be king, er, Chairman, during the Cultural Revolution, after all.

More impressive than the menu is the interview with Dong Linfa, Mao’s longtime personal chef. 

getting there

Club Jinmao Grant Hyatt
86.F Jinmao Tower 88 Shiji Da Dao, near Shijidadao 世纪大道88号86楼, 近世纪大道
tel. +86 21 5049, 1234 ext. 8688, fb.grandhyattshanghai.com.cn