Noodle Loft

I am not usually one to take pictures. Heck, I wasn't even going to bring a camera with me to China until Dad offered to let me borrow his for the trip (thanks Dad!). And even with camera in hand, I tend to to miss the opportunity to get "the shot" that would make for a great picture to send home to you guys. Compared to most of my friends here, I taken a minimal amount. But my theory is, if it's good enough for me to pull my camera out of my bag, I WILL get the picture. Besides, it's quality not quantity, right?

With this being said, I went into dinner last night armed with the Canon G9, knowing full well that I was going to get some amazing shots. And indeed I did....

The Noodle Loft, a 63 yaun cab ride from my apartment, is said to be the best noodle restaurant in Beijing. It has been featured in a number of magazines, television show, etc., and it was one restaurant that I had heard about even before stepping foot on China soil. And the other night was the night to experience what I have been hearing so much about.....

This restaurant seems to be more of an "experience" than your typical noodle house. It was dinner and a show, with strong emphasis on the word SHOW. The open kitchen brought the chefs right out in front of us to do what they do best; make noodles. Now, I know you're saying to yourself. "a noodle is a noodle". Well, my friend, a noodle is only a noodle in America. In China you have.....

Noodles made by one chopstick, where the chef scrapes his chopstick along a plane of dough, and what results is some small, very tasty noodles. This chef is scraping them directly into a pot of boiling water....

One long noodle, where you can order a bowl of noodles, but what you get is an entire bowl of noodle. It is one noodle, that when stretched out it could probably wrap around the entire building...

Shaved noodles, where a chef uses, what looks like, a bench scraper to peel noodles off of the dough...

The food was good at the Noodle Loft (especially the fried duck hearts), but the real draw is the show. I took quite a few videos of the chefs in action if any of you are interested in seeing them upon my arrival. The Internet is too slow to post videos, sorry!

I have been having some real good luck with restaurants lately! And the funny thing is, there are about 1 bajillion more restaurants to try, and only three more weeks to do it! I better get to it....