Crossing the bridge noodles in Yunnan

Crossing-the-bridge noodles(云南过桥米线) is a rice noodle soup from Yunnan province, China. It is one of the most well-known dishes in Yunnan cuisine.

Description

Crossing-the-bridge noodles has over 100-year history and it was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Kunming city in 2008 to promote Yunnan food culture.^[1] The dish is served with a large bowl of boiling hot broth and the soup ingredients. The soup is made by chicken, pork bone and seasoning, such as Chinese star anise and ginger.^[2] Also, using a layer of chicken fat to insulate the soup and therefore keep it warm for longer.^[3]These ingredients are separated. The soup ingredients are served on a cutting board or plate and include raw vegetables and lightly cooked meats. Common ingredients include thin slices of turkey, chunks of chicken, chicken skin, strips of bean curd sheets, chives, sprouts and rice noodles. Once added into the broth, it cooks quickly with a layer of melted chicken fat and oil glistening on top. The soup takes a few minutes to cook, and it is then spooned out into small bowls. Jim Thurman of LA Weekly writes that “with the rice noodles and fresh chicken, it’s reminiscent of an extremely subtle version of Vietnamese pho ga [chicken pho]. Which shouldn’t surprise anyone, as Yunnan shares a border with Vietnam.”

Claims of name origin

One story that has gained traction^[4] begins with a scholar who was studying hard for his imperial exams on a small island. His wife, who would bring him food, found that by the time she had crossed the bridge to the island the soup would be cold and the noodles were soggy. She then decided to load a large earthen pot with boiling broth with a layer of oil on top that would act as insulation and keep the broth warm. The noodles and other ingredients were kept in separate container, and when she arrived, she mixed the two containers together for a warm soup.

Another claim regarding the origin of the name comes from the way the ingredients are transferred between containers. The process is similar to crossing a bridge between bowls, and hence it is called “crossing-the-bridge” noodles.

There are reportedly many other variations on the origin of the name.

Varieties

The main ingredient of the noodles is rice. Rice vermicelli production differs in different regions. In Kunming, Yunnan, there are two varieties: “dry paste” or “sour paste”. The production process differs depending on individual preferences and tastes. “Sour paste”, as the name suggests, tastes a little sour, but is characterized by a relatively thick and soft rice noodle. The “dry paste” does not have the sourness of the sour paste, and the noodle is relatively thin and more rigid. Older people in Kunming think the “sour paste” noodles are more authentic.^{[citation needed]} Most people in Yunnan think the Kunming noodle does not satisfy their taste buds, and generally believe Mengzi County and Jianshui County makes better noodles.

Now, as people’s tastes change, all kinds of noodle varieties are flooding onto the market. Kunming people now do not necessarily pick a “dry paste” or “sour paste.” At present, people prefer the more efficient, slippery “water-washed rice noodle” and “purple rice noodle”, one that is mixed with purple rice.

Status

The development of Crossing the Bridge Noodles has changed people’s eating habits over the years, especially breakfasts.^{[citation needed]} Generally in street markets, the hot fresh rice noodle is put into a bowl of boiling water for about half a minute and then colored sauce is added to the bowl. This is known as the “hat” of the sauce. Crossing the Bridge Noodles served in markets in the morning are usually completed in one minute.^{[citation needed]}

There are a few franchised restaurants which serve more intricate or elaborate Crossing the Bridge Noodle dishes. Normally Crossing the Bridge Noodles are ordered in a set. A set of bridge noodle will cost 10 to 50 Yuan. Ordering the Crossing the Bridge Noodles with more ingredients will command higher prices.

Ingredients

The general ingredients of guoqiao mixian include: raw quail eggs, turkey slices, chicken slices, and colored vegetables.

Crossing-the-bridge noodles are generally served first with a bowl of boiling hot soup. The attendants will then be on the other side of the bowl and put the ingredients into the bowl, generally in order from raw to cooked: meat first, then quail eggs, and then vegetables. Finally, they perform the noodle “crossing” with chopsticks and the dish is ready to be consumed. The amount of oil, chili, vinegar, and soy sauce one puts in the bowl varies according to personal taste.