xian

so next to xian being considered 'the cradle of chinese civilization' it is also home to some of china's best food. around ever corner is a small shop selling endless varieties of steamed dumplings and buns. xian is so dumpling crazy, that they have even gone so far as to create 'dumpling banquets' at some of their finer eateries. however, as usual, we stuck to the streets and managed to find a dizzying selection of food. among it's other claims to fame, xian is also home to china's largest muslim population. in the muslim quarter we found some of the tastier snacks of the trip. endless restaurants grill lamb, beef and mutton kebobs glazed with cumin, red chiles and sea salt. for roughly $2.00, 20 small skewers made for a tasty snack for alina and i. also popular were a wide range of sweets, from toasted persimmon & peanut cakes to plum glazed mochi rice and 'eight treasure rice.
by far my favorite dish was a soup called yangrou paomo - a mutton, cilantro and rice noodle soup served in a bowlfull of diced, coal baked flat bread. on the side they served pickled cloves of garlic and a chile paste similar to sambal. the soup was satsfying, hot and most of all filling on a cold evening.
well, we are off to our next stop in chendgu, the capital of china's sichuan region and home to what most consider china's best food... flamethrower hot, chile ladden mutton hot pot and dry fried string beans, here we come! - david