This is a speciality noodle in the town of Zhangye (张掖）- translated as "kneaded fish noodles" (搓鱼面）because the noodle is kneaded by hand to be shaped like little fish. They are deliciously light and slightly al dente, served dry but eaten with some sauteed dishes on the side. My guide took me to a "food court" in Zhangye which had several shops all selling Zhangye local favorites. Like the beef noodles in Wuwei, these noodles are also served plain (in fact served dry without even soup). Along with the kneaded fish noodles, we ordered sauteed mushrooms with pork (was thinking of the wild mushrooms on sale in the truckstop earlier today) and vegetables. One spoons some of the veg and meat over the noodles and mixes it up before eating. Sort of like spooning some bolognese ragu over spaghetti. What better proof can one get that Marco Polo visited China and took noodle secrets to bring back to Italy! I actually Googled tonight - the equivalent italian pasta is "malloreddus" or large orzo. That's my theory.
The weather is getting perceptibly cooler and drier. Need to wear a light cotton jacket or windbreaker even during the day. I am munching on huge grapes and pears in the car on these long rides across the country. My throat is parched even when I'm just in the car. We are averaging around 350km a day and I am reading Susan Whitfield's Life Along the Silk Road, about people living in these parts around 700-900AD at the height of the Silk Road. At The Widow's Tale now.
