Five Capitals Clear Soup

Five Capitals Clear Soup

　　At first mention of "clear soup," one would naturally assume it's a dish served at the table—something delicious and not greasy. But upon arriving in Wudu, I realized I had it all wrong and made a huge laughable mistake. Wudu Clear Soup is actually a type of dim sum, and an incredibly delicious one at that.

　　Many have tried small wontons and been won over by their translucent wrappers, incredibly tasty meat filling, and tender, smooth texture—but compared to Clear Soup, they’re simply outmatched. The wrappers of Clear Soup are handmade and air-dried, thin as paper. The filling is pounded out using the back of a knife. The master chef holds the wrapper in the left hand and a bamboo stick in the right, dips it in a bit of meat filling, and then—with the bamboo stick flying and hands moving swiftly—it’s all a blur. In the blink of an eye, the filling and wrapper become one, forming tiny little Clear Soups. These are briefly blanched in a pot of hot broth, scooped out, placed in a bowl, sprinkled with chopped scallions, and finally garnished with a touch of lard and sesame oil. With such color, aroma, and flavor, how could it not be utterly enticing? And that’s not all—each bowl contains forty pieces. Isn’t that a true work of art...