The flavors of the cities
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Dishes so exquisite need to be tasted carefully in order for the flavor to be fully enjoyed.
Since the ancient times, the middle and lower Yangtze River basin has produced generations of renowned men of letters, with whom Huaiyang Cuisine has naturally been closely connected. It is fair to say that of the plethora of cuisines in China, Huaiyang Cuisine is the most "refined," as it is favored by literati and artists, and therefore widely described in poems, essays and paintings.
Xi'an—Shredded Pancake in Mutton Broth
There are three musts for visitors to Xi'an: the Terracotta Warriors, Shaanxi Opera, and Shredded Pancake in Mutton Broth. The latter is Xi'an's most characteristic dish. In Xi'an, you can often see the locals enjoying big savory bowls of this savory dish.
Although Shredded Pancake in Mutton Broth appears to be a simple and basic dish, it actually requires complicated and meticulous preparation. For the broth, the preparation process is the most important, as bone broth and meat broth need to be made separately. And the meat needs to be salted for 20 hours, and then braised for eight to 12 hours. Responsible sellers of the dish in Xi'an always close once they run out of the pre-made broth. For this reason, almost all the restaurants serving quality Shredded Pancake in Mutton Broth open at ten a.m., and close at two p.m.
The diner should shred the pancake into pieces as small as beans with his or her own hands, and then hand them to the waiter or waitress to finish the preparation of them. It is said that the diner should "eat like a silkworm nibbling a mulberry leaf," i.e. bit by bit from the top down; never try to stir it, so that the enjoyment can be the same from start to finish.
Shredded Pancake in Mutton Broth is popular in Xi'an not only because of its taste; like the city's many other specialty snacks, the dish is available everywhere and reasonably priced.
Chengdu—Land of Spicy Sichuan Food
In Chengdu you can always see these scenes—In the local parks, the early birds are having a walk or doing morning exercises in the usual light mist; by the roadside, several people are playing mahjong on a makeshift table; in a teahouse, people are enthusiastically singing Sichuan Opera. And at roadside snack stalls, and restaurants tiny or grand, people are always enjoying tasty local dainties.
The Chengdu people believe that it is an eternal truth that "food is people's prime want." They proudly allege that the best food is to be found in Chengdu. And indeed, the city counts as one of the places in China worth visiting just for the local delicacies.
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