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Hàoshuǎi

　　Starting your morning with "hàoshuǎi" (rice noodles) is the very first thing locals in Ruili do every day.

　　This dish is not only delicious but also never greasy, making it endlessly enjoyable. "Hàoshuǎi" is made from premium local soft rice, particularly those varieties such as Dabai Gu and "Haomoxi" (premium local soft rice) that yield the best-quality hàoshuǎi. The soft rice is first soaked in water, then drained and steamed in a wooden steamer before being pounded in a foot-operated pestle and mortar until fine. It is then cut into threads, dried, and becomes hàoshuǎi. The finished product is snow-white in color, soft and long when soaked, yet remains resilient and doesn’t easily break apart.

　　To eat it, the prepared hàoshuǎi is first soaked to soften, then placed in a strainer over an aluminum pot of boiling water briefly to heat through. It is then ladled into a bowl, topped with meat broth along with chopped scallions, coriander, MSG, soy sauce, tsao-ko pepper powder, garlic juice, and sesame oil, among other seasonings. The result is a dish that is truly a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. (Dehong)