Yunnan is a fascinating culinary place. It’s a province in southwest China that borders the provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan, known for their spicy food, Tibet, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. There are 25 different officially recognized ethnic groups and numerous languages spoken there. The cuisine of Yunnan, known as Dian cuisine is a fascinating fusion of the cuisines of China’s interior, those of the minority ethnic groups, and those of Southeast Asia.
Perhaps the most well-known dishes in Yunnan is guoqiao mixian, or Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles. These are noodles served in a rich broth with numerous ingredients added in at the table. Deng Ji serves a variety of styles of Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles, of which I got the ju ren guoqiao mixian, unique in its inclusion of rose petals. This was very tasty, with wonderfully chewy rice noodles and very rich broth.
However, these noodles are only a tiny portion of the culinary richness of Yunnan. As they become increasingly popular, I hope that the same increase in availability will extend to other elements of the cuisine as well.
Deng Ji Yunnan Guoqiao Mixian
40-09 Prince St
Queens, NY 11354
46-22 Kissena Blvd
Queens, NY 11355