The Debbie Hanson Food Adventurers traveled to YYTime in Cleveland's AsiaTown neighborhood. Owner Candy told the group of 40+ (with a waiting list) about the restaurant and the food.
YYTime owner Candy
Dan Hanson and Candy
One of the interesting items, that many people tried, was the Cross the Bridge Noodles which has a story.The legend from southern Yunnan Province in China says that a scholar had retreated to a small island in the middle of a lake to study for the rigorous imperial exams. His wife, a loving and supportive partner, would prepare his lunch every day and walk across a long, wooden bridge to bring it to him. However, by the time she reached him, the food, especially his favorite noodle soup, would often be cold. The scholar, engrossed in his studies, would sometimes forget to eat, making the problem worse. His wife worried about his health and was determined to find a solution.
One day, she prepared a rich chicken soup but was delayed. When she finally arrived, she expected the soup to be cold. To her surprise, when she touched the pot, it was still scalding hot. She discovered a thick layer of chicken oil on the surface had acted as an insulator, trapping the intense heat within the broth.
From then on she would carry the boiling-hot, oil-topped broth in a large, insulated pot. In separate containers, she packed paper-thin slices of raw meat, vegetables, tofu skin, and pre-cooked rice noodles. Upon arriving at the island, she would first add the raw ingredients to the scorching broth, where they cooked instantly, followed by the noodles. The result was a perfectly fresh, steaming, and delicious meal, assembled right before her husband's eyes. The scholar's health and spirits improved, he passed his exams with flying colors, and the dish, named in honor of her daily journey - "Cross the Bridge Noodles" - was born. It's fun adding all the items to the soup.
Cross the Bridge Noodles
Others tried various menus including their famous skewers and other dagu rice noodle dishes. Candy brought out complimentary fruit trays for dessert.
Dan Hanson told some stories about the neighborhood including how that location had been a Mueller Tire store for decades and how many diverse communities (Irish, German, Serbian, Polish, Syrian, etc.) lived there before it evolved into AsiaTown.
Dan Hanson
Johnny Wu told about Mandarin and the numerous Chinese language dialects.
Johnny Wu
Since this was the first gathering of the new group a survey was taken to gauge the interests and some great feedback was received. Plans are on the way for the next Debbie Hanson Food Adventurers. To be notified before the general public (it's first come, first served) just email us and ask to be notified.Here are a few photos that attendees took.
Dan Hanson, Candy and Margaret Wong
Mike and Oanh Powell and Johnny Wu
Lisa Wong, Rocky Perk, Margaret Wong and Ying Pu
Bang Bang Chicken and Dagu Rice Noodles
Cross the Bridge Soup
Spring rolls
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