hand made noodles - a photo on Flickriver

hand made noodles

            Rice may be China's most important staple food, but noodles are often served as a single-dish meal for lunch, or as part of a multicourse dinner. In the northern regions, where wheat is grown, noodles play an important role. They often replace rice in a meal.

Hand-pulled noodles, called ''la mian" in Chinese, originated in Lanzhou, a city in northwest China. The technique of hand-pulling soon spread to other parts of China. There are other ways to prepare fresh noodles, including slicing sheets of dough, but hand-pulling is an advanced technique that requires years of intensive training.

Zhang says he learned how to ''coax the dough when the air is too wet or dry." He does all his work in a galley-size space in the front of the restaurant, where there are two counters and a large pot of boiling water on a burner. To make a fresh batch of noodles, the noodle master starts with a lump of wheat flour dough about the size of a loaf of bread. He kneads the dough for a few moments to make it pliable, then pats flour on the dough to prevent it from sticking when he twists. Next, he pulls it out to arm's length, then folds the dough and pulls again and again. The noodles multiply and become thinner with each fold and pull; a theatric swing -- in which the noodles are tossed in the air -- keeps them twisted. As many as 4,000 strands can be made from a lump of dough.

As orders come in, Zhang dunks handfuls of uncut fresh noodles into the boiling water and cooks them for three to five minutes. In large soup bowls, he adds broth to the noodles, along with vegetables, and roast duck, pork, beef brisket, or other meats. For diners new to fresh noodles, the long strands seem endless and require some patience. The noodles might also appear in a fried dish, in which case they are tossed in a wok in the back kitchen and returned with chicken, seafood, or vegetables on top.

Taken on: September 2, 2006

Tags:

china

noodles

chef

baker

collage

paladinsf

2006

flickr « less

Sets appears in: • bob pics • china 2006 streets

Groups appears in: • digital photography for everyone • Food & Drinks Directory more » • Noodle Nation « less

Stats: 8,957 views / 11 comments

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