Soochow enjoys another fame: the Oriental Venice. In ancient times, people in Soochow went out mainly by boat. At that time, the famous Shantang River was home to over ten kinds of boats such as the lantern boat, the swift boat, the pleasure-boat, the boat for acrobatic performance. Some of those were equipped with kitchens.
During Ming and Qing Dynasties, local merchants usually arranged banquets on the pleasure-boats to do businesses with some traders in Wu area, thus making the dished cooked in boats much more thrive. During such a banquet, the cold dishes and wine came first, then the stir-fried dishes, the delicate snacks, finally the main dishes. Usually the fish was served at last because it sounds like Yu in Chinese (means surplus) referring to good fortune. The chef had a clear understanding of the mind of the guests. That was why the delicate snacks were served.
Today there have been many creative snacks served in many restaurants as well as many masters skilled at making snacks. The snack has been a necessity in many banquets. Its material is mainly from flowers, insects or birds. For example, the goose-like snack is made with Xiang powder (made of sticky rice powder and rice powder) and the Chinese date paste. The rabbit-like snack is made with Xiang powder and the red bean paste. The peach-like snack is made with Xiang powder, red bean paste, and cocoa powder. The loquat-like snack is made with Xiang powder, Chinese date paste, the red bean paste, cocoa powder and sesame. When making this snack, you need to turn the starch, Xiang powder into dough, then turn the doughs into the shape you want, add some food colorants. Finally you steam them and pour sesame oil onto them when they are steam for enough time.
