Many centuries ago, a scholar was preparing for his final exams. To prevent distractions, he isolated himself on an island in the middle of a placid lake. The island was reached by a long bridge, and every day his faithful wife would bring him lunch by hiking across the span. But the lengthy walk meant that the food arrived cold, and the scholar was cross. Then one day his wife had an idea: Bring the soup ingredients along uncooked, and top the broth with a thick layer of oil, which would keep it piping hot during her trek. Then simply add the ingredients to the steaming liquid just before serving. In this way, she invented Yunnan's most famous dish, crossing-the-bridge noodles—or so goes the... More >>>