New Paris Food Market Introduction
New Paris was originally the first pastry shop in Xindian District, and during a time when pastries were not widespread, it was a very fashionable and popular store. The well-known homemade braised snacks actually came about by chance when the current owner’s father, Li Zhengzhao, who was skilled at baking as well as cooking, often made braised snacks for his children as treats. This led to regular customers of the bakery tasting Li Zhengzhao's homemade braised snacks and being pleasantly surprised, which created the novelty of customers coming to the bakery specifically for the snacks. Thus, the delicious braised snacks of New Paris gained a reputation and the bakery transformed into a place selling braised snacks. After the second generation took over, the Li brothers were responsible for making bread, while their sister-in-law, Huang Suli, took charge of the braised snacks. She learned from her father-in-law Li Zhengzhao for over a year before officially taking the kitchen helm. Realizing that traditional braised snacks contained too much star anise and other spices, and with herbal cooking being trendy at the time, Huang Suli experimented by adding lemongrass and verbena to the braised snacks, unexpectedly discovering a sweet aftertaste. Later, she added Thai bird's eye chili to enhance the spicy flavor. Initially, her father-in-law was doubtful about the acceptance of spicy braised snacks, but customers loved it, and the herbal and spicy braised snacks became New Paris's signature dish.
