The noodle dish I chose was the Da Lu Mian dish. The dish originates from Shandong in the northern part of China- where I come from. Outside north of China, little is known about this delicacy. The literal meaning of Da Lu Mian is noodles with any type of sauce. However, commonly, it refers to a sauce made from everyday ingredients ranging from scrambled eggs to tomatoes, which form an appetizer for the noodles. It is the most delicious meal I have ever tasted. The sauce of this dish uses few dried ingredients, which results in a superb tomato-based sauce. What makes the Da Lu Mian different from other meals prepared with tomato sauce is the dry ingredients. Vegetables such as shiitake mushrooms and lily flowers are added for an extra rich sauce (Maggie par.2). The dish can also contain shrimp and pork. In addition to its unique sauce, the reason for choosing Da Lu Mian dish was the role it had in my early childhood. I grew up eating this dish, and it reminds me of family and the feeling of home.

I was born in Shandong, Qingdao, a northern coastal city in China. I was raised by my grandma when I was little. Noodles are a common part of the northern Chinese diet. For the Da Lu Mian dish, my grandma would add vegetables and seafood, especially shrimps. Seafood was a common delicacy in Shandong due to its proximity to the sea. My grandparents’ house was less than a kilometer away to the seaside; therefore, my grandpa would always buy the freshest and most nourishing seafood such as shrimps and crabs. In my hometown, seafood is considered the healthiest food, helping a child to grow and develop. Due to its nutritious value, seafood is a typical meal among Chinese families in Shandong and is served in different forms. My family was no different. For the seafood, my family could scald it, fry it, barbecue it, add it into noodles, or serve it as fillings of dumpling. When added to noodles, the seafood formed my favorite meal- the Shandong seafood Da Lu Mian. I can attest to the nutritious benefits of eating a lot of seafood as I stand at 175cm in height, which is quite tall for girls.

Seafood contains sodium and calcium- elements crucial in the growth and development of children. Calcium is necessary for bone formation. According to the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders National Resource Center, “Up to 90% of bone mass development happens in childhood and teenage years. Calcium helps support this fast bone growth.” Sodium is also a key growth factor in children. Sodium stimulates the proliferation of cells, synthesis of proteins, and an increase in the mass of cells. The Da Lu Mian dish has numerous health benefits, especially when prepared with both seafood and veggies.

Traditionally, it is a common belief that people in northern China prefer foods prepared from wheat while those in the southern part of the country prefer eating rice. Northern people, particularly those from my hometown, love eating dumplings, noodles, and steamed buns. They believe that food prepared from wheat provides them with lots of energy and makes them stronger. Even though my grandma is good at cooking all kinds of foods prepared from wheat, I love noodles, especially the Da Lu Mian. The Da Lu Mian dish is served when the whole family gathers. It is served on special occasions such as Chinese New Year and the Lunar New Year banquets. It is a celebratory dish for any occasion, including birthdays. The Da Lu Mian is a dish that brings comfort and a sense of togetherness among the Chinese, especially those from the northern parts of the country. The dish is associated with love and comfort, even for me. For me, it brings a sense of belonging and the warmth of family. When my family gathers for any occasion, the Da Lu Mian dish is a common dish welcomed by everyone.

The Da Lu Mian dish is essential to me as it reminds me of home and the warmth of family. I have fond memories of this particular dish. I remember when I was little, I hated and refused to eat any vegetables. My grandparents decided to feed me vegetables in another way so that I would not be a picky eater. The Da Lu Mian dish was how I stopped being a picky eater. My grandma added green beans, potatoes mixed with meats, and shrimps as ingredients in making Da Lu Mian. From then on, I started to eat veggies! I become a super fan of my grandma’s Da Lu Mian since that time. However, my studies have taken me away from my grandma. I moved to Beijing and later to the United States for further studies. I no longer get the chance to eat my grandma’s most delicious dish of the Da Lu Mian. Nowadays, my grandma prepares Da Lu Mian for special occasions. For example, whenever my cousins or I go back to my grandma’s, she always prepares the Da Lu Mian for us. Sometimes, she calls me when I am in the United States and says, "Chenchen, if you miss home, just come back, I will cook Da Lu Mian for you." My grandma also prepares Da Lu Mian when it is someone's birthday. It is common among the Chinese to eat the dish during birthdays. The Da Lu Mian dish presents a healthy and long life.

Due to the current global pandemic caused by COVID-19, most regions across the world are under lockdown. I missed my hometown and my grandma so much. Therefore, I called my grandma to get the recipe for the Da Lu Mian so that I could prepare it myself. It was a great experience. Even though the final dish was tasteful, I experienced some difficulty. When I was kneading the dough to make noodles, it was not perfect. That is a regret I have for this project. Also, I called my grandma to ask for any secret ingredients she uses for her Da Lu Mian but did not give me any. She explained that it was not essential to know the quantity of the different flavors to add to the Da Lu Mian sauce, but I should let my feelings guide my cooking. According to my grandma, it is important to be into the cooking, both mind and heart, for a delicious Da Lu Mian dish. When my grandma cooked for my cousins and me, she did it with a lot of love. I believe that is why she always prepared the best Da Lu Mian dish. My final Da Lu Mian dish tasted so good, although the noodles were not cooked as well as my grandma's. At the end of the cooking, I realized that my grandma's love and warmth of family members at home were just as an important ingredient as the other ingredients. I guess that is what makes the Da Lu Mian dish special. For me, it is all about family.