Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck

　　Mandarin Duck refers to a food stall that sells both water noodles (水粉) and buckwheat noodles (荞面) at the same counter. The seasonings used are the same as those for plain noodles. The water noodles are homemade — fresh pea starch is mixed with water to achieve the right consistency and then poured through a strainer into boiling water. The person making the noodles holds the strainer in one hand while tapping it with the other, sending out a dozen streams of snow-white noodles that drop straight into the soup pot. In an instant, the noodles become transparent and tender, and they are scooped out as soon as they float to the surface and then rinsed in cold water for later use. The buckwheat noodles are pressed into fine strands using a “homemade machine” and then dropped into the pot. Customers are served a bowl containing half water noodles and half buckwheat noodles. Because they are very popular with diners, people have given them the elegant nickname “Mandarin Duck.” (Chengdu)