Diaopu Mutton刁鋪羊肉

張裕和 錢柯宇

Diaopu mutton is an excellent delicacy found in Diaopu Town， Taizhou，Jiangsu Province. Its history can be traced back to the Southern SongDynasty， when people sent home goats as a sign of gratitude （ 感激） to theYuejiajun（ 岳家軍）.

Diaopu braised（ 紅燒） mutton appeals to people of different tastes andcomes from free-range goats（ 自由放養(yǎng)的） in the northern region of Jiangsu.The meat is unique， with a flavor that is sure to delight anyone who takes thefirst bite. The roast whole lamb barbecue， or roast whole sheep， is a musttrydish and is often the highlight ofdinner.

The meat is known for being softand tender， making it an ideal foodfor the winter season. Eating muttonand drinking mutton soup has been atradition since ancient times.

In addition to braised mutton， mutton soup noodles are also a popular dish.