Rice Noodles, "Crossing the Bridge"

"Crossing the Bridge" rice noodles (过桥米线, guòqiáo mĭxiàn) is a rice noodle soup originating from the Chinese province of Yunnan. The dish has a history of over 100 years.

The legend behind the creation of this noodle dish tells the story of a scholar who was diligently preparing for his exams. His wife, seeing how hard he was studying, began bringing him food in his study. However, the journey was long, and by the time the noodles reached the scholar, they were cold, and the broth was lukewarm. This frustrated the wife, so she began to think of a solution. Eventually, she decided to pour boiling broth into a large earthenware pot, with a layer of oil on top to act as insulation and keep the broth warm. The noodles and other ingredients were stored in separate bowls. Just before serving, the ingredients were mixed together, resulting in a warm and delicious soup.

The main ingredients of the dish include raw quail eggs, slices of ham, slices of chicken, and vegetables.

The noodles are typically served with a bowl of steaming hot soup. Then, the server stands on the other side of the bowl and adds the ingredients, usually in order from raw to cooked: first the meat, then the quail eggs, and finally the vegetables. The amount of oil, chili pepper, vinegar, and soy sauce added to the bowl varies depending on personal preference.