Young couple Zhuo Wen from the US and his wife have opened a pizza shop in the rural area of East China's Anhui Province.Photo: web

Young couple Zhuo Wen from the US and his wife have opened a pizza shop in the rural area of East China's Anhui Province. The pizzas they make have unique flavors, incorporating classic Anhui dishes such as "smelly" mandarin fish and hairy tofu. Surprisingly, their pizzas have won the approval of the local villagers with their distinctive flavor. 

Initially, pizza was a very unfamiliar food for many elderly people in the village. Zhuo Wen and his wife first had to consider how to make traditional Chinese palates accept pizza. "Smelly" mandarin fish, usually spiced with red and green chili, is arguably the most popular traditional Anhui dish across the country. Highly recommended are the "smelly" preserved mandarin fish that come either grilled, boiled with soup, or stewed. Despite the name, the cooked fish is crisp and tender with a special aroma, and appeals to a wide spectrum of food lovers. Once introduced, many villagers came to taste the pizzas, and customers expressed that the food was very innovative and its taste was unique, making it stand out from others. 

Afterwards, Zhuo Wen also created a combination of hairy tofu, known as mao doufu, using chili and pizza. According to several locals who tasted it, this fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine is very rare, but it satisfies their appetites and dietary habits, which is worth encouraging and promoting. Having been in China for 14 years, Zhuo Wen loves the rural areas of China and always wants to integrate the Chinese with Western cultures. With their creative ideas, more and more tourists are coming to visit their shop, which has driven the development of the local economy.