- March 10,2023
Recently, I learned that Baiyunzhang dumpling shop has opened on Beidajie. Older people now know that most famous dumpling restaurants in Xi'an are Jiefang Road Dumpling Restaurant, Defachang Dumpling Restaurant, and Baiyunzhang (halal) State Dumpling Restaurant, which was once located on Xi'an's east street. The Baiyunzhang Dumpling House was founded in autumn 1938 by 10 Muslims from Baoding, Hebei Province, including Anrang, Anru and Anhai. The An brothers named restaurant "Baiyunzhang" after famous Baiyunzhang bun shop in Baoding.
Baiyunzhang Dumpling Restaurant was once a famous shop in Xi'an. There are so many visitors every day that they have to queue to eat dumplings. According to old visitors, reason why Bai Yunzhang is so highly regarded by everyone is because his name is different from others. Secondly, dumplings are prepared in a unique way, and ingredients are carefully selected. In addition to using special flour and fresh fatty lamb, it is also served with zucchini, winter squash, chinese cabbage, chinese cabbage, etc. Depending on season, while filling is infused with use of a small amount of sesame oil and cloves, peppercorns, star anise, etc. Mixed water, made with eight flavors of seasonings, such as Angelica daurica and Cao Guo, filling is prepared by grinding lamb and stirring it into a paste, then poured into mixed water, add noodle sauce, sesame oil . , diced green onions, ginger, sheep fat and fresh vegetables, etc., which ensures that cooked stuffing can be formed into balls without water. The kneading of noodles is also very specific. It is necessary to add refined salt and knead repeatedly, and adjust water temperature according to season, that is, hot in winter, cool in summer, and warm in spring and autumn. It is recommended to roll out wrappers as thin as paper so that dumplings in wrapper are thin, filling is full, and sides are small, the taste is smooth and delicate, with a buttery taste and delicate aroma.
Baiyunzhang lamb dumplings used to be hand-made and are renowned for their "thin skin, large filling, small narrow sides, and regular size." Zhu Xiulan, a dumpling specialist who can make 33 dumplings per minute, was accepted and praised by Liu Shaoqi in Beijing in 1950s. In 1982, it was replaced by machine packaging. The initial goal is to improve efficiency and meet customer needs. Unexpectedly, this dumpling has a strange character. Skillful and handmade, dumplings are beautiful and delicious, but machine cannot do it. It's almost too fast. In 1987, all bags were restored by hand. Zhu Xiulan, an old fashion model, made it herself. A batch of new dumpling makers has also been grown, typically 30 dumplings per minute. Perhaps someday in future a smart machine will be invented that can make dumplings as well as by hand, if not better. But there is no such machine yet, and people still love to eat handmade dumplings. Bai Yunzhang's dumplings sell out quickly, and hand-packed is an important reason.
Another attractive reason for Baiyunzhang Dumpling Restaurant is its well-chosen location. It is located at northeast corner of south entrance of Tangshi Street in middle of East Street. In 1980s and 1990s, East Street was Xi'an's busiest street, and Tangshi Street was only place selling aquatic products and seafood in Xi'an, and was often crowded with shoppers. In addition, in those years, lamb stocks were limited, and there were fewer restaurants selling lamb dumplings. People came here to eat and try new things to satisfy their cravings. Therefore, Baiyunzhang Dumplings always has a constant flow of customers in morning. tonight.
Nevertheless, this is a very popular dumpling restaurant. Due to several line-up changes and expansion and renovation of Dongjie Street, Baiyunzhang Dumpling Restaurant was merged with Lao Sun's in Xi'an in 1995. It used to be Baiyun in Tangshi. Dongdajie Zhang Dumpling House Street is closed. Xian Baiyunzhang in minds of many people is real lamb dumplings with northwestern characteristics and halal taste, and they are leader in this field. . There may have been some events in history that were not suitable for publicity, but there is no old photo of Bai Yunzhang Dumpling Restaurant on Internet.
