On May 18th, 2017, several esteemed guests arrived at the headquarters of Sichuan Haoji Food Co., Ltd. - Mr. Luo Shide, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Greater China, along with members of his group. As a condiment brand under Nestlé, Haoji invited Mr. Luo Shide and his team to Chengdu, Sichuan, to experience the profound culture of Sichuan cuisine up close.

Prior to the official Sichuan cuisine experience, Mr. Luo Shide engaged in a coffee talk with Haoji employees, sharing work experiences and insights. Mr. Luo Shide spoke eloquently and listened attentively to everyone's remarks, creating a cheerful atmosphere. He even shared his secret to success: "Do what makes you happy, dream big, work hard." After the talk, everyone was impressed by Mr. Luo Shide's wisdom and kindness, and many sought to take photos with him as a keepsake. Mr. Luo Shide smiled and obliged one by one.

Subsequently, Mr. Luo Shide and his team were invited to the Haoji Inspiration Kitchen for a daylong experience of Sichuan cuisine.

Exploring the Inspiration Kitchen
Upon arriving at the Inspiration Kitchen, Mr. Luo Shide found everything novel and intriguing. He carefully inspected the display wall showcasing the 24 flavor profiles of Sichuan cuisine, the chefs at work in the kitchen, and the research and development laboratory. The Haoji family of products, such as Haoji vinegar oil and Haoji chicken bouillon, displayed beneath the flavor wall, particularly piqued his interest. He picked up each item to observe closely.

To further immerse himself in the culture of Sichuan cuisine, Mr. Luo Shide attempted to make "Strange-flavored Fried Silver Cod" using two different cooking methods under the guidance of Chef Lu Jian, the Haoji Kitchen Manager. The strange flavor is considered one of the most complex flavor profiles in Sichuan cuisine, encompassing a combination of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty, and savory tastes. The preparation process is quite intricate.

With Chef Lu's guidance, Mr. Luo Shide first tried making the strange-flavored sauce using traditional methods. The traditional sauce requires complex ingredients and a difficult ratio to master. The intense smoke from stir-frying the chili peppers made everyone choke and turn red in the face. With Chef Lu's assistance, Mr. Luo Shide managed to complete the sauce preparation, which took a full ten minutes, leaving him deeply impressed with the intricacies of Sichuan cuisine.

When the spicy Sichuan sauce appeared, its bright red color immediately caught Mr. Luo Shide's attention, and the complex flavors of spiciness and freshness delighted him further. Using Haoji's Spicy Sichuan Sauce to prepare the strange-flavored sauce was much smoother and faster, without the need for fire or smoke. The entire process took only about a minute. The comparison highlighted the convenience of Haoji's Spicy Sichuan Sauce in simplifying seasoning steps, stabilizing dish flavors, and making cooking easier.

With Chef Lu's help, both versions of the silver cod were soon completed. After tasting, Mr. Luo Shide found the new strange-flavored fried silver cod to have a very rich and complex taste, and he was quite satisfied with his creation. Having experienced two different cooking methods, Mr. Luo Shide praised Haoji's Spicy Sichuan Sauce even more. Even though he doesn't usually cook, he was fascinated by the authentic Sichuan flavors created by the sauce.

After cooking Sichuan cuisine in the Inspiration Kitchen and enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the chefs, Mr. Luo Shide, as a VIP of the Inspiration Kitchen, was invited to leave a message in the "Inspiration Diary." At this point, Mr. Luo Shide had become a true fan of Sichuan cuisine. With a delighted expression, he said, "This is the most satisfying and delicious meal I have ever had in China." He also recognized Haoji's positioning as an expert in authentic Sichuan condiments and expressed his hope that Haoji would continue to bring more excellent and authentic Sichuan-style products to the market.

After visiting the Inspiration Kitchen, Mr. Luo Shide and his team proceeded to the Siji Guo Hotpot Restaurant to experience the charm of hotpot, a representative of Sichuan cuisine.

Exploring the Secrets of Hotpot

As a culinary delicacy, hotpot has gained popularity worldwide. From British prime ministers to American first ladies, many have been captivated by its fiery heat and flavor. Similarly, Mr. Luo Shide came to the restaurant out of curiosity. However, as a seasoned foodie, he immediately observed the hotpot seasoning preparation and inquired about the details from the chef.

When Mr. Luo Shide asked why Haoji chicken bouillon cubes are used in making hotpot broth, Chef Sun from Sijiguo Hotpot Restaurant replied, "Because Haoji chicken bouillon cubes can bring a better taste and aroma experience to the base flavor of hotpot." Encouraged by Chef Sun, Mr. Luo Shide dipped his chopsticks into the original hotpot broth and tasted it, expressing that the aroma and taste were both very rich and he really enjoyed it.

As the hotpot exploration journey was drawing to a close, Chef Sun from Sijiguo Hotpot Restaurant warmly invited Mr. Luo Shide to visit again next time. Mr. Luo Shide firmly shook Chef Sun's hand and promised to return.

After a day of experiencing Sichuan cuisine, Mr. Luo Shide was completely captivated by the delicious flavors. He also requested that Haoji send him the recipe for "Strange-flavored Codfish" so that he could try to make authentic Sichuan cuisine at home. He expressed that his trip to Chengdu that day was very enjoyable.      

Authentic Sichuan flavors come from Haoji, creating a new era of Sichuan cuisine. Since its establishment, Haoji has always adhered to its professional spirit for decades. In the future, Haoji will continue to specialize in the art of Sichuan seasoning, working together with chefs and restaurant colleagues to create a new prosperity for Sichuan cuisine.