Li Houji, a native of Xuzhou, was part of the entourage of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) imperial envoy Li Hongzhang, and present at many grand occasions, most notably the coronation of Tsar Nicolas II. He made several visits to Europe and America.
On one of his return visits to Xuzhou, Li Houji attended a banquet given by members of the Xuzhou gentry. He related animatedly his experiences in Europe and America, telling the company: "Beef in Russia is cooked quite differently from our Chinese Hui dishes; strips of beef are first marinated and then roasted. In America, on the other hand, beef is seasoned and steamed for a while before being roasted, which gives it a totally different flavor.
"On one occasion, American officials invited Envoy Li and me for dinner at a famous Chinese restaurant where we were served a dish called stir-fried shredded beef with onion. Li Hongzhang's sincere compliments to the chef helped the dish become very popular in
America.
"Li Hongzhang so enjoyed this dish because it is made from young, tender beef. Here in China, oxen are slaughtered when old, when their meat is too tough to be cooked in this way."
Hearing this story, the restaurant owner decided to display his cook's culinary expertise Shortly after he served the stir-fried shredded beef with onion that Li Houji had so lavishly praised. It was every bit as tender, succulent and savory as that he had tasted in America
Astonished, Li asked how the beef had been cooked. The restaurateur told him that old beef can be just as tender as young, as long as it is slowly cooked on a low heat. Shredded beef with onion subsequently became one of Xuzhou cuisine's most famous dishes.
