Taste of Hubei heaven

Hubei cuisine is a minority in Beijing's sea of food. But that does not stop Chulaoguo (楚老锅literally, the old cooker of Chu/Hubei) from making its own tasty and innovative dishes.

The restaurant tries to make its presence known in the capital city through the dish that Central China's Hubei cuisine is famous for - tortoise, soft-shelled turtle, and farmhouse home fried specialties. It might sound strange, but tortoise and soft-shelled turtles are traditionally considered nutritious foods, especially in central China's Hubei province, which is famous for its dishes simmered in sand pots, and tasty, sometimes spicy, dishes. Soft-shelled turtles are said to nourish the yin factor of the body, and strengthen bones and tendons.

Chulaoguo serves stewed tortoise in casserole (砂煲荆州龟), at RMB 488 per 500 grams, and simmered soft-shelled turtle in brown sauce (红烧甲鱼), at RMB 118, or RMB 158 per 500 grams. The meat, mostly on the bone, is tender and succulent in tasty sauce. The tortoise and turtle are imported from Hubei.