Shanghai, China
上海

china/2004/food_noodles

Making lā miàn 拉面 noodles by hand, Shànghǎi, China — January 14, 2004

It’s the little things that make travel worth it. The other day, I found myself waiting for an order of noodles in a small place off a small street. The portly chef took raw dough, kneaded and pounded it for 5 minutes, and rolled it into a dough-shaped cylinder. The chef then divided the dough in half, and in half, and in half again and stretched this out into four 4-foot strands. These were subsequently divided again and again until there were many strands each the thickness of spaghetti. All were flawless. The noodles were then cooked and served in a thick Asian broth with some meat, cilantro and onion (and with some MSG). I couldn’t believe the mastery that this chef used. It is funny because sometimes these small things are the most memorable.


china/2004/shanghai_niu_rou_mian

Lā miàn 拉面 noodles, Shànghǎi, China — January 14, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_cigarettes_bw

Cigarettes for sale, Shànghǎi, China — January 2004


china/2004/food_jeremy_restaurant

Beer time, Gǔběi, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/food_jeremy_restaurant

Tea for sale, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/food_jeremy_restaurant

Tea for sale, Shànghǎi, China — January 24, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_brian_jeremy_foot

Foot massage, Gǔběi, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_foot_massage

Foot massage, Gǔběi, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_foot_bath

Foot massage, Gǔběi, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_tea_shop_man

Friendly tea shop owner, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/food_beverages

Beer time, Gǔběi, Shànghǎi, China — January 12, 2004


china/2004/shanghai_cold_dishes

Pickels and fast-food, Shànghǎi, China — January 13, 2004


china/2004/lijiang_potatos

Fried potatos, Shànghǎi, China


china/2004/shanghai_noodle_server

Making lā miàn 拉面 noodles, Shànghǎi, China — December 26, 2004


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