Laoyou rice noodles facts for kids
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Laoyou rice noodles (Chinese: 老友粉) is a super tasty and popular noodle dish from Nanning, China. Its name means "old friend rice noodles," and some people even call it "ol' buddy noodles." This special dish is made with delicious ingredients like fried peppers, sour bamboo shoots, black beans, and garlic. It also includes tender pork, a flavorful soup, and soft rice noodles. It's a favorite meal for many people in Nanning!
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The Story Behind the Name
Have you ever wondered how "old friend noodles" got its name? There's a cool legend from the 1930s in Nanning that explains it!
A Kind Teahouse Owner
Back then, an old man loved visiting a certain teahouse every single day. He was a regular customer, and the teahouse owner knew him well. One day, the old man didn't show up for several days in a row. The owner got worried and soon found out that his "old friend" was sick with the flu.
A Special Bowl of Noodles
The kind teahouse owner decided to do something special. He quickly prepared a hot, comforting bowl of noodles for the old man. He added ingredients known for their strong flavors, like pickled bamboo shoots, spicy chili, fermented soya beans, and crushed garlic. These ingredients made the noodles both sour and a little bit spicy.
A Speedy Recovery
The old man ate the warm, flavorful noodles. The sour and spicy taste helped him feel much better, and he recovered from his flu very quickly! He was so thankful for the owner's kindness and the amazing noodles.
"Old Friend Frequent"
To show his gratitude, the old man later sent the teahouse owner a special gift: a plaque that read "old friend frequent." This plaque was a way to say thank you and to remember their friendship. According to the story, this is how the dish got its name, "laoyou noodles," which means "old friend noodles" or "old buddy noodles."
A Nanning Favorite
Since the people of Nanning really love eating rice noodles, this special dish quickly became very popular. Over time, it grew into the famous "laoyou rice noodles" that people enjoy today. It's a dish that reminds everyone of friendship and kindness!
