US first lady's family samples Beijing's best bites

Peking roast duck sauces.

"The sea cucumber is something that can be farmed. It's healthy, cholesterol-free and contains lots of protein. Such a high-quality ingredient should be established as a national food."

Braised sea cucumber is a specialty of Shandong cuisine－one of China's four most important food families. China's first lady Peng Liyuan is from Shandong.

Obama will visit China's ancient city of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, and Sichuan province's capital Chengdu. Both are internationally acclaimed for their food.

A month ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping treated visiting Kuomintang honorary chairman Lien Chan to Shaanxi noodles, flatbread in lamb soup and sliced cake with mashed pork filling, known as "Chinese hamburgers".

Xi and Lien both hail from Shaanxi. So, the US first lady will have a chance to eat the hometown fare of the Chinese president.

Dong says the dishes for Obama's family were prepared "without particular elaboration".

He says the occasion has made him feel he's "not working for his own sake but out of a responsibility to present the best of Chinese food".

Da Dong's Tuanjie Lake branch, where the family dined last evening, is the restaurant's oldest locale.

It has long been a standard business meal choice of the British embassy, Dong says.

He says the restaurant tries to combine tradition with international culinary fashion to cater to a broad base.