As a famous snack in the city of Xuzhou, the misandao (literally three cuts of honey) cake is bright in color and tastes soft but not sticky. The making of it is quite an elaborate process. Flour is first mixed with peanut oil and maltose to be deep-fried and then glazed in thick syrup. The final product is about the size of a mahjong tile with three cuts on it. Sprinkled with white sesame seeds, it tastes crisp on the outside and tender on the inside with a delightfully sweet flavor.
There is an anecdote about the origin of the name misandao. It is said that when Su Dongpo (1037-1101), a celebrated ancient Chinese scholar, was the governor of Xuzhou in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), he was once drinking with his friends. When he was in high spirits, he cut three lines on the wall with a knife. At that moment, a dish of pastry was served. Amazed by the flavor of the delicacy, Su gave it the name misandao, literally three cuts of honey.
