Barbecue is a kind of cuisine that no nation in the world would refuse. The same is true in China. The Chinese have their own unique barbecue. Take the Jiaodong Peninsula in Shandong as an example.

The Jiaodong Peninsula has a long and meandering coastline, where the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea converge. It is a uniquely blessed treasure trove of ingredients. The water temperature and salinity in this sea area are suitable, and it is rich in nutrients, creating an ideal living and breeding environment for numerous marine organisms. The variety of seafood here is amazingly rich. Tender and plump sea intestines emerge from the ground in spring and become popular items at barbecue stalls; in summer, meaty clams are on the market in large quantities, and their delicious taste is irresistible; in autumn, crabs with full roe and fat meat are all over the place and are the darlings on people's dining tables; in winter, firm-textured Spanish mackerel brings warmth and satisfaction. Grilled oysters, with their plump oyster meat in the shells, are rich in various nutrients and carry the salty freshness of the sea. Grilled sea intestines have a crispy and tender taste, which is unique in Jiaodong barbecue. Grilled prawns, especially the large prawns in Weihai and other places, are huge in size and the prawn meat is firm and chewy. Grilled eel has tender meat and an appropriate fat content. Grilled conch has firm and chewy meat and exudes the unique flavor of the sea. These seafood, carrying the most authentic taste of the sea, go directly from the ocean to the grill, laying a solid foundation for Jiaodong seafood barbecue.

The charm of Jiaodong seafood barbecue largely stems from its unique grilling techniques. Experienced barbecue masters are well aware of the characteristics of different seafood and have a perfect command of the heat. Take grilled oysters for example. The masters place the oysters with their shells on the grill. As the temperature rises, the oyster shells open slightly, and the juice in the oyster meat begins to boil. At this time, they quickly sprinkle seasonings such as minced garlic, and the garlic flavor and the freshness of the oysters blend instantly. When grilling sea intestines, the masters first skewer the sea intestines and quickly turn them over on a high fire, making the sea intestines shrink rapidly to lock in the internal moisture. They are grilled until the surface is slightly charred and fragrant, with a crispy and tender taste. Grilled streaky pork also has a unique flavor in Jiaodong barbecue. They choose local streaky pork with a proper ratio of fat and lean. First, they force out the excess oil on the grill until the surface is golden and crispy, and then brush on the sauce, with a rich meaty aroma. When grilling prawns, the masters first cut open the back of the prawns, pick out the shrimp veins, and then place them on the grill and bake them slowly over medium heat. They turn the prawns over in a timely manner. The shrimp shells gradually turn red and become crispy, and the prawn meat becomes firm and tender. When grilling eel, the masters first clean the eel, cut it into sections, brush on a special sauce, and roast it repeatedly on the grill until the surface of the eel is golden, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. When grilling conch, the masters skewer the conch and heat it evenly over charcoal fire. When the conch meat shrinks slightly, they take it out, pick out the conch meat with a bamboo stick, and dip it in the sauce to eat. The chewiness of the conch meat and the flavor of the sauce complement each other.

Sauce is the soul of Jiaodong seafood barbecue, adding rich flavor layers to various seafood. There are a wide variety of sauces in the Jiaodong area, each with its own characteristics. The most common minced garlic sauce is made by carefully selecting local garlic, pounding it into fine minced garlic, adding appropriate amounts of olive oil, salt, sugar and other seasonings, and slowly simmering it over low heat. During the simmering process, the aroma of minced garlic gradually spreads and perfectly blends with the mellow flavor of olive oil, creating a rich and attractive fragrance. When this minced garlic sauce is brushed on grilled oysters and scallops, the garlic flavor and the freshness of the seafood blend together, making people have endless aftertastes. Sweet bean sauce is made from high-quality flour through multiple processes such as fermentation and simmering. It is bright red in color and has a moderately sweet and salty taste. When brushed on grilled squid, shrimp and other seafood, it adds a unique sweet flavor. In addition, some stores will also make their own secret sauces, skillfully combining various seasonings such as chili peppers, Chinese prickly ash and sesame seeds to make spicy and delicious sauces to meet the needs of diners who like spicy food. Grilled sea intestines and grilled streaky pork paired with this spicy sauce have a special flavor.

Jiaodong seafood barbecue is not only a kind of food, but also a symbol of cultural inheritance. In the Jiaodong area, seafood barbecue stalls are important places for people to socialize and gather. When night falls and the lights come on, the barbecue stalls on the streets and alleys are extremely lively. A family sits around, orders grilled oysters, grilled sea intestines, grilled streaky pork, grilled prawns, grilled eel, grilled conch and other delicacies, and pairs them with a few glasses of refreshing beer. Laughter and conversation echo in the night sky. People share the bits and pieces of life here and convey family affection and friendship. For fishermen returning from the sea, seafood barbecue is a way to celebrate a good harvest. When they return with a full load, they set up a grill by the sea and share the seafood they caught with their companions. By the blazing bonfire and the curling smoke, the fishermen's faces are filled with satisfaction and joy. This unique food culture has been passed down from generation to generation through the baptism of time and has become an indispensable part of the lives of the people in Jiaodong.

Jiaodong seafood barbecue, with its uniquely blessed ingredients, ingenious grilling techniques, uniquely flavored sauces and profound cultural heritage, has conquered the taste buds of countless diners. It is a deep embrace between the sea and the land and a perfect integration of tradition and modernity. Every bite of seafood barbecue seems to be listening to the stories of the sea and feeling the unique local customs and culture of the Jiaodong area. Whether they are local residents or tourists from afar, they can find their own deliciousness and touch in front of these smoky barbecue stalls.