Lanzhou Noodle Soup for the Soul

My first bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles was in 2003 in Shanghai, on Yishan Lu, late one night, drunk, with my friend @jarrett_wrisley . I’d been fired and kicked out of my teacher housing and had taken up residence on Jarrett’s couch…though I’d only met him a week prior. I’ve had countless bowls of these spicy, savory beef noodles since that initial one, including “official” bowls in Lanzhou, but they will always remind me of Shanghai, of Jarrett, and of being young, adventurous and just a wee bit reckless.

ALSO HAND PULLING NOODLES IS BASICALLY IMPOSSIBLE, but my broth, with beef bones and beef shin from @pipersfarm, rocked.