YUNNAN RICE NOODLES or 云(Yún)南(Nán)米(Mǐ)线(Xiàn)

MAIN INGREDIENTS: plain thin rice noodles; optional small meat plates; vegetables and other accoutrements; and slow-cooked bone broth.

TASTE and TEXTURE: super rich slow-cooked broth with tender meat and smooth rice noodles that offers a light, sweet aftertaste.

HISTORY: Yunnan rice noodles (or过 (Guò) 桥(Qiáo), which translates to “crossing-bridge noodles”) is said by some to have originated from a wife who would cross a particular bridge every day to deliver home-cooked dinners to her husband, who was studying for emperor’s exams. This, naturally, led to the “crossing bridge” moniker. Others believe that “crossing-bridge” simply refers to a movement one commonly makes while eating these noodles. The toppings, broth, and dry rice noodles are served in separate bowls. Diners can take the noodles and douse them in the broth or dip them in a sauce. The repeated crossing of bowls with one’s chopsticks is thusly “crossing bridge”.