宋轶
2000多年前,山东的周村是重要的丝绸纺织中心,被誉为“丝绸之乡”。当时,周村生产的丝绸通过陆上丝绸之路,最终到达罗马。1800多年前的东汉时期,新疆一种炉火烤制的主食——馕,随来往的商人沿丝绸之路传到周村。历经岁月的洗礼,历代师傅延续馕的烤制方式,不断进行工艺改造,最终催生了享誉中外的周村烧饼。
周村烧饼只有巴掌大小,内中却有大大的学问。其选料极为考究,高品质面粉是其成功的关键。淄博独特地理环境下出产的小麦,精研细磨过后,韧性更符合其延展需求,而芝麻与面粉在火的烘烤下的完美融合,则成為周村烧饼入口醇香的源泉。
如果说优质的配料是周村烧饼的命脉,那么精湛的技艺才是美味升华的奥秘。恰到好处的和面水温,对于一名合格的周村烧饼技师来说,早已熟稔于心。在不同的气温、湿度和通风等诸多自然条件下,技师都需要敏感捕捉、精准拿捏用水温度。和好的面团,先是初次自然松弛,而后是分坯、切剂、揉剂……小小一团面剂,技师捏于手中,要通过抹四次、撩四次、搓五次来增加面团的韧性,强化面团的塑性,然后列于案板。每个面剂分量相差不过分毫之间,其精准程度令人暗暗称奇。
技师将饧好的面剂置于延盘之上,便开始舒展双臂,巧借气力,按面剂于三指之间,蘸水后快速旋转。小小的面剂,经过暗藏玄机的手法,仿佛被赋予了生命一般,呈现出一张近乎透明的薄饼,以灵动的形态幻化出全新的生机。
随后,技师双手提拿,将饼坯置于均匀摊好的芝麻粒上,左手再次拿起厚度在1毫米之间并已沾满芝麻的饼坯,翻手旋转,置于右手指背上托住,依靠腕力,抬手将饼坯送至200℃的炉膛内。距离热鏊3厘米左右时,手指瞬间发力弹出,将饼坯准确无误地贴于旋转的热鏊上的指定位置。上烙下烤,炉中香味弥散,短短5分钟,一张张形似满月、薄如秋叶,落地珠散玉碎,入口回味无穷的周村烧饼就出炉了……
作为周村烧饼及其历史文化的传承者与弘扬者,山东周村烧饼有限公司致力于传承、探索、发展周村烧饼传统手工制作工艺,弘扬周村烧饼特色文化。“双品牌,双引擎”是山东周村烧饼有限公司发展的新战略。2021年,公司实施“周村烧饼”“恋恋”双品牌双引擎战略,以老带新,以新促老。恋恋食品以健康为理念、以精美为标准、以国潮为指向,将传统文化融入到美食糕点当中。如花一般的花酥系列、表达情意的挚爱系列等,都深受当地老百姓以及游客的喜爱。“外观美,寓意好,口感佳”成为众多消费者对恋恋国潮糕点的评价。如今,恋恋食品已经衍生出了独特个性的“恋恋”烘焙文化,用糕点唤醒消费者心中对传统美食文化的爱,致力于传统美食文化的传承与创新。
做食品如同做人,从平凡中来,向极致处做,坚守初心,秉持健行,方能善始善终、成就不凡。一句“薄的是烧饼,厚的是良心”最能体现这一点。所谓薄,就是周村烧饼的独特品质观念,用匠心守望传统技艺,精选原材料,严把质量关。所谓厚,就是周村烧饼人的历史担当。山东周村烧饼有限公司董事长张兆海常说,周村烧饼与恋恋食品是周村全区人民的宝贵财富,一定要不忘初心、牢记使命,把老字号事业传承好、发展好,把老字号品牌擦得锃亮。
编辑/郭晓娟
Over 1,800 years ago, nang(crusty pancake), a staple food baked over stove fire from Xinjiang, was introduced to Zhoucun by travelling businessmen along the Silk Road. Through the baptism of time, nang cooks continued the baking mode of the pancake, and made continuous process improvements, thereby finally developing the world-famous Zhoucun sesame seed cake.
Zhoucun sesame seed cake is palm-sized but contains rich connotations. Its choice of materials is sophisticated, and high-quality flour is the key to its success. Upon fine grinding, the wheat produced in the unique geographical environment of Zibo has better suppleness in conformity with the need for extension. The perfect inte- gration of sesame and flour baked over fire is the source of the mellow taste of Zhoucun sesame seed cake.
“Two Brands and Two Engines” is a new strategy for the development of Zhoucun sesame seed cake. Lianlian Food has continued to bring forth new products based on old ones and integrated traditional culture into delicious pastries in accordance with the philosophy of health, the standard of exquisiteness and the orientation of China Chic. Now, Lianlian Food has spawned its unique and distinctive “Lianlian” baking culture, used its pastries to arouse consumers love for traditional food culture, and has been committed to the inheritance and innovation of the culture.