Nianbadu Ancient Town, located in Jiangshan, Zhejiang Province, is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, located at the junction of Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, and was once an important market town in the border areas in history.
If you want to ask the origin of the name of Nianbadu, you have to start from the Northern Song Dynasty. According to legend, in the four years of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty, namely 107 1 year, Jiangshan made its capital for 44 years, ranking 28th here, hence the name Nianbadu, which has been used ever since.
Compared with Nanxun, Zhouzhuang, Wuzhen, Tongli and other famous ancient towns, Nianbadu ancient town has a completely different style, even a little mysterious. It can be said that it is still hidden in the depths of the mountains, and even called "a dream in the mountains" by scholars.
Unable to withstand the repeated "temptation" of my friends, I finally bought a high-speed rail ticket on New Year's Day holiday and went excitedly. Before I left, I specially asked my friends to recommend local food. My friends actually reported seven or eight dishes, such as Nianbadu Yanpi wonton, Nianbadu Tongluo cake, Nianbadu stewed ribs with dried bamboo shoots, Nianbadu dried bacon fish, Nianbadu Fengxi fish and so on. The last one is the bean curd with an eight-degree wind furnace.
I remember it was past lunch time when we arrived that day. After we put down our luggage at the hotel, the proprietress took us in through the side door. After seven turns and eight bends, we arrived at Fengxi Old Street, which is the official start of our deliberation tour of Nianbadu Tofu!
Fengxi Old Street is the main street in nianbadu, lined with neat shops. Just like the pattern of ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River is generally the style of front shops and back houses, and Lin Xingyou's tofu shop is "hidden" in this old street.
Lin Xingyou is the inheritor of Nianbadu tofu. He has been making tofu for more than 30 years, but this tofu shop is older. The tofu mill was originally owned by an old branch secretary, Wang Jingchun. It is said that the Wangs have been making tofu for nearly a hundred years, but the descendants of the Wangs are unwilling to inherit their ancestral business. At that time, young and honest Lin Xingyou often came to the Wangs Tofu Shop to help. Old Wang Shuji took a fancy to Lin Xingyou and wanted to pass the Tofu Shop to him.
Lin Xingyou took over the tofu shop from the old branch secretary for more than 30 years, and he also made the tofu shop more and more prosperous. Even Japanese businessmen who came to Nianbadu were deeply impressed by Lin Xingyou's skill in making tofu by hand, and even praised the taste of tofu in Nianbadu.
In Jiangshan dialect, tofu is pronounced like "Fu Tou". Local people must eat tofu and get good luck in the new year, and the best tofu in Jiangshan is in Nianbadu.
Walking into Fengxi Old Street and strolling on the heavy and distant bluestone board, you can see several stoves and casseroles on the roadside. In 2008, DuDu people added mushrooms, ribs, winter bamboo shoots and various spices to tofu for slow stew. Tourists pass by, spend a few dollars to buy a bowl, or sit or stand, while looking at this ancient street, old house, gazebo, while savoring the taste of this century, very comfortable!
The delicious tofu in Nianba is attributed to the local raw materials. First of all, Tian Chengdou is unique to Jiangshan, not only fresh, but also safe and nutritious. In addition, good tofu needs the nourishment of soup, and only the local mountain spring water can cook an authentic pot of wind-oven tofu.
With good materials, it is useless without good skill support. Making a good piece of tofu is easier said than done, especially now there are few craftsmen who can control their temper like Master Lin. Screening, cleaning, soaking, grinding soybeans, and finally making tofu, every step is extremely elegant, and there is no room for carelessness.
To visit Nian Ba Du, eating tofu is essential, especially in autumn and winter. Stewed tofu with wild boar in Nianbadu is a local specialty for tourists like me.
Some people say that "beauty goes with food", but it is impolite for people in the capital to eat tofu in the eighth year. The shopkeeper will set up a big iron pot at the door of the shop, which is also the boss's unique skill. The pork unique to Jiangshan is stewed in a large iron pot, and the tofu is soft outside and tender inside. When cooking, I added a handful of green garlic, which made the passing tourists drool and couldn't help but want to stop for a bite!
Nianbadu is a famous historical and cultural town in China, and it is also listed as a national 5A-level tourist attraction. In addition to the famous tofu in Nianba, Nianba has many distinctive cultural labels, such as "Hundred Family Names", "Four Families", "Nine Dialects" and "Hometown of Folk Songs". These are all waiting for everyone to find out for themselves!
I will share it with you today. Where shall we eat and drink next time?
Thanks for reading. Have a good appetite! Have a good appetite!