Ingredients

Here’s a concise list of the ingredients you’ll need for this flavorful Shandong chicken recipe:

With these ingredients on hand, you’re all set to recreate this mouthwatering Shandong chicken dish!

Memories of Mr. Chen’s bitterness

Mr. Chen was a close friend of my father. They went to university together in central China.

Mr. Chen’s early years were difficult. During the Cultural Revolution, his family got slapped with the “Enemy of the State” label. Their home turned into a treasure hunt for authorities, leaving them stripped of all their wealth. If that weren’t enough, his father got prosecuted and tossed into the slammer, leaving young Mr. Chen high and dry without a job or a safety net.

Similar to countless others before him, he embarked on a perilous journey to the Pearl River Delta, bravely leaping into the river and swimming across the sea in pursuit of freedom. He faced gunfire from soldiers but, by a stroke of luck, found refuge in Hong Kong. There, he toiled as an engineer and eventually found love with a woman a decade his junior, Mrs. Chen. He held great affection for her and frequently lauded her accomplishments. She possessed fluency in English and had a background as an executive assistant to a hotel general manager.

In the early 1980s, the Chens made their way to Australia. Armed with their hard-earned savings, they invested in a small grocery store located in Rose Bay and secured an apartment in Point Piper, known as one of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs. Despite its stunning views of the Sydney Harbor, their apartment had a gloomy and dishevelled interior, in need of some serious TLC.

Whenever Mr. Chen had the chance, he couldn’t resist diving into discussions about Chinese politics. His passion burned like a fiery dragon, teeth grinding and fists flying in animated debate. Occasionally, I found myself on the receiving end of his fervor as he yelled at me for my evident disinterest in his topics. Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly a master of keeping my mouth shut.

Back in the late ’80s, I had a gig as a casual waitress at a Chinese restaurant that was all about the flavours of mid-north cuisine – think succulent Peking ducks and fiery Sichuan dishes. One evening, the Chens graced us with their presence, and they took quite a liking to our Shandong shredded chicken. In fact, they were so smitten that they requested the recipe. However, when I failed to deliver the recipe, the Chens gave me the cold shoulder, and we never exchanged a word again.

Sometime later, I discovered that Mr. Chen had taken it upon himself to inform my parents, who were far away, that I was a bit of a troublemaker. Apparently, he considered my enjoyment of working as a waitress and my habit of going out for post-work suppers with my co-workers to be quite naughty.

The Chens’ story continued, and the last I heard of them, they were managing a modest restaurant tucked away in a suburban office park. In an incredible display of dedication, Mr. Chen, now 78 years young, would rise at the crack of dawn, around 3 AM, to gather supplies. He’d then join his wife at the restaurant to toil away, their unwavering commitment shining through even in their later years.

My encounters with Mr. Chen may not have been the highlight of my life, but I genuinely hope that they are savoring every moment and finding happiness in their own way.

Now, onto something more delightful – I actually know the recipe for the Shandong chicken by sweet-talking the chefs! Drawing from the ingredients and techniques I picked up at the restaurant, I embarked on this culinary adventure. First, I let the chicken soak in a brine overnight, followed by a shallow fry in soy sauce. Then came the steaming, the shredding, and finally, I drenched the chicken in a zesty and fiery sauce. The secret sauce, you see, is the heart of this dish – a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavours, just like life itself, where every bite brings a new twist and turn, never dull.