Obviously, one of the most enjoyable things about traveling is trying all the new and different foods. Noodles are probably the most famous type of food in Yunnan and before we came many people in Changzhou told us to make sure we ate a lot of noodles. I assured them that this wouldn't be a problem; I love noodles and they are a much welcome change from rice. Here they are usually served in a broth with chunks of meat on top. Another specialty of Yunnan is mushrooms – there are loads of them here and they are all cheap and delicious.
The most well-known and interesting dish, however is a specific type of noodles called "Across-the-bridge-noodles". When you order this, you get a bowl of really hot soup that has a thin layer of oil floating on top. On the side you get lots of small plates filled with thin slivers of pork, beef and chicken. We also got vegetables, a raw egg and a bowl of noodles. We didn't know what we were doing at all when we ordered this dish and the waiters quickly instructed us to dump the meat and egg in the soup followed by the veggies and the noodles. Then you can add some different spices and seasonings, wait a few minutes for everything to cook and eat your soup.
Sean was a little apprehensive about the safety of this dish since we put everything raw into the soup and then ate it soon after but we didn't get sick and the soup was pretty good. The restaurant was packed with locals so apparently the Chinese enjoy it as well without getting sick.
According to my Lonely Planet guide book, this dish got its name because a woman married to an imperial scholar always had to bring him dinner. Legend has it that the scholar liked to study on an isolated island only accessible by a bridge. The wife had to get creative with the hot meals she brought her husband and apparently the noodle-soup dish was his favorite. Thus it was named "Across the bridge noodles" in honor of her daily commute.
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