Northwestern Chinese Food

Chinese food is always popular around the world, and in Toronto, there are many options to taste it. We always expect to see in the menu some fried rice, noodles, dumplings or BBQ meat.  

But the truth is that Chinese food is very diverse, and from one region to another, the ingredients and the style can be so different, that is like going from one country to another. In this case, I had the opportunity to taste the food from northwestern China.  

The restaurant I want to recommend can be found with the name “Northwestern Chinese Cuisine” or西北风味 (Flavours of the northwest). In Google, you can also find this place as 白家老汤 (Homemade White Soup). This place used to be known as “Potato Noodle Soup of Bai” and still you can find this place with this former name. There are different branches, but the one I have visited is located in North York, at Yonge and Finch.

The northwestern food prepared in this location is based on a combination of styles from regions such as Shānxī (山西), Shănxī (陕西) and Sìchuān (四川). The salty flavors from Shānxī and the spicy from Sìchuān. In this cuisine, it is common to see the use of Chicken, Lamb, Pork, and Duck. Peanuts are present in many dishes.

The first meal that I had was鸭丝养生鱼粉, that is translated as Multi-grain fish rice noodles with shredded duck. A noodle soup that has peanuts, beans, and lettuce.  It is an interesting combination for a warm soup.  

As an appetizer, I took Black fungus and Onion or洋葱拌木耳 (Mix of onions and Fungus). An interesting combination with a sour flavor.

In a different visit, I had Spicy chicken gizzards or香辣珍心 (Spicy precious heart) as an appetizer. The Spicy and fragrance combination creates an interesting sensation to my mouth that I never felt with other spicy tastes.

The main dish was Lamb Pàomó or羊肉泡谟. This is one of the most popular dishes from the province of Shănxī (陕西), a hot lamb soup cooked with chopped leavened bread. It uses black fungus and noodles. A typical dish that you will not find in the cuisine from other parts of this country, full of culinary traditions.