在山西,人們壽誕生(sheng)辰,聚友團圓時,常常要(yao)吃這(zhe)種面(mian),以示長(chang)壽和喜慶。龍(long)須(xu)面(mian)配料精細(xi),制作(zuo)講究,其制作(zuo)方法過去曾被認(ren)為(wei)是(shi)絕招,秘而不傳。龍(long)須(xu)拉(la)面(mian)的面(mian)團被和勻(yun)后(hou),抻開,卷起,再(zai)抻開,再(zai)卷起,如此(ci)數(shu)扣之后(hou),師傅們將(jiang)拉(la)好(hao)(hao)的面(mian)放在撒滿(man)面(mian)粉的幾案上抖(dou)(dou)開,而后(hou)兩手像搭毛線(xian)般地(di)將(jiang)面(mian)抻開并抖(dou)(dou)動著。整(zheng)個景象就如瀑布嘩嘩瀉下一般,蔚為(wei)壯觀(guan)。片刻之后(hou)走上前去,看到拉(la)好(hao)(hao)的面(mian)已(yi)如絲般纖細(xi),這(zhe)已(yi)是(shi)標準的龍(long)須(xu)面(mian)了。
先(xian)用面(mian)(mian)(mian)水5∶3的(de)比例和好面(mian)(mian)(mian),然后(hou)(hou)在(zai)上(shang)面(mian)(mian)(mian)抹點香油醒(xing)著,將(jiang)醒(xing)好的(de)面(mian)(mian)(mian)放在(zai)案(an)板上(shang),揉(rou)勻(yun)或搓(cuo)成(cheng)(cheng)長條(tiao),雙手提兩端稍晃,再搓(cuo)成(cheng)(cheng)長條(tiao)狀(zhuang),搟成(cheng)(cheng)片(pian)形(xing),略醒(xing)后(hou)(hou)用刀(dao)橫(heng)切成(cheng)(cheng)小手指粗(cu)的(de)長條(tiao),撒勻(yun)面(mian)(mian)(mian)粉或抹勻(yun)香油,逐根(gen)或幾根(gen)并拉,拉成(cheng)(cheng)細條(tiao)投入沸水鍋內,煮熟配上(shang)鹵即成(cheng)(cheng)。
龍(long)須拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)的(de)(de)源頭是始于唐朝的(de)(de)小(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)。《新唐書(shu)·王(wang)皇后(hou)傳》記(ji)有“陛下獨不念(nian)阿忠(zhong)脫紫(zi)半臂易斗面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),為(wei)生(sheng)日湯(tang)(tang)餅(bing)(bing)耶”。這(zhe)(zhe)種生(sheng)日湯(tang)(tang)餅(bing)(bing),已(yi)可(ke)“舉(ju)箸食”(劉(liu)禹(yu)錫《贈進(jin)士(shi)張盥(guan)》),是和(he)(he)軟面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)團,用(yong)刀切條,將(jiang)(jiang)條拉(la)(la)(la)細、拉(la)(la)(la)長后(hou)落(luo)鍋煮熟食用(yong),民間(jian)至今保留此(ci)法,稱之為(wei)小(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)。王(wang)皇后(hou)為(wei)李隆(long)基(ji)做(zuo)生(sheng)日湯(tang)(tang)餅(bing)(bing)的(de)(de)故事,發(fa)生(sheng)在李隆(long)基(ji)作(zuo)(zuo)潞州別(bie)駕的(de)(de)時(shi)候,可(ke)見唐代(dai)(dai)至少太原、長治等(deng)山(shan)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)地區已(yi)將(jiang)(jiang)小(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)作(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)生(sheng)日長壽(shou)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)而制(zhi)作(zuo)(zuo)和(he)(he)食用(yong)了(le)。后(hou)來,這(zhe)(zhe)一拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)技(ji)(ji)藝隨著太原玄中寺的(de)(de)凈土宗東傳日本,形成(cheng)日本拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)技(ji)(ji)術的(de)(de)基(ji)礎。到(dao)了(le)宋(song)(song)代(dai)(dai),趙光(guang)義鏟平晉陽(yang)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)北系舟山(shan),意(yi)(yi)(yi)欲拔(ba)掉“龍(long)角(jiao)”。第二年太原百姓將(jiang)(jiang)二月(yue)初的(de)(de)中和(he)(he)節改為(wei)“龍(long)頭節”,并固定在二月(yue)初二以作(zuo)(zuo)紀念(nian)。此(ci)日,百姓多(duo)吃拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),意(yi)(yi)(yi)思(si)是你(ni)(ni)拔(ba)我“龍(long)角(jiao)”,我挑你(ni)(ni)“龍(long)筋”、吃你(ni)(ni)“龍(long)須”,以示憤恨。自此(ci),拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)又被稱為(wei)龍(long)須面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),黃庭堅曾作(zuo)(zuo)詩“湯(tang)(tang)餅(bing)(bing)一杯銀(yin)絲(si)亂(luan),牽絲(si)如縷玉簪橫”。元代(dai)(dai)時(shi),馬可(ke)波羅三(san)訪太原,將(jiang)(jiang)這(zhe)(zhe)種拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)技(ji)(ji)術帶回意(yi)(yi)(yi)大(da)利,形成(cheng)影響西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)方面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)食技(ji)(ji)術和(he)(he)飲(yin)食文(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)意(yi)(yi)(yi)大(da)利通心粉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)食。小(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)何時(shi)發(fa)展(zhan)成(cheng)大(da)把拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),暫(zan)不可(ke)考(kao),但明人宋(song)(song)詡《宋(song)(song)氏養生(sheng)部(bu)》記(ji)載:“用(yong)少鹽入水和(he)(he)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),一斤(jin)為(wei)率。既勻,沃香油少許(xu)……漸以兩手纏(chan)絡(luo)于直(zhi)指、將(jiang)(jiang)指、無名指之間(jian),為(wei)細條,先作(zuo)(zuo)沸湯(tang)(tang),隨拉(la)(la)(la)隨煮。”可(ke)見山(shan)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)明代(dai)(dai)時(shi)已(yi)有大(da)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)制(zhi)作(zuo)(zuo)技(ji)(ji)術。清道光(guang)年間(jian),山(shan)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)稷(ji)山(shan)縣馬金定兄弟,千里迢迢去陜西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)岐(qi)山(shan)做(zuo)掛(gua)(gua)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)生(sheng)意(yi)(yi)(yi),字(zi)號(hao)“順天成(cheng)”,直(zhi)到(dao)今天,岐(qi)山(shan)掛(gua)(gua)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)還沿用(yong)這(zhe)(zhe)個老字(zi)號(hao)。這(zhe)(zhe)種掛(gua)(gua)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)起初就是將(jiang)(jiang)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)拉(la)(la)(la)好后(hou),掛(gua)(gua)在線(xian)上曬干銷(xiao)(xiao)售,是面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)作(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)半成(cheng)品銷(xiao)(xiao)售的(de)(de)典(dian)范。
清(qing)(qing)(qing)朝末(mo)年,拉(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)已成為(wei)山(shan)(shan)、陜(shan)面(mian)(mian)(mian)食(shi)制作的成熟技(ji)術。清(qing)(qing)(qing)末(mo)薛寶(bao)辰著的《素食(shi)說(shuo)略》中說(shuo),在山(shan)(shan)、陜(shan)流行一(yi)種“楨(zhen)(zhen)條面(mian)(mian)(mian)”:“以(yi)(yi)水和面(mian)(mian)(mian),入鹽、清(qing)(qing)(qing)油揉勻(yun),覆以(yi)(yi)濕布,俟其(qi)軟和,扯開細煮(zhu)之,名為(wei)楨(zhen)(zhen)條面(mian)(mian)(mian)。做法以(yi)(yi)山(shan)(shan)西太原、平定(ding)州、陜(shan)西朝邑、同州為(wei)最。”這種楨(zhen)(zhen)條面(mian)(mian)(mian),即(ji)山(shan)(shan)西拉(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian),也(ye)稱龍須面(mian)(mian)(mian),在清(qing)(qing)(qing)代還進入宮廷。《清(qing)(qing)(qing)稗(bai)類鈔》、《中國歷代御(yu)膳大觀》中記,內廷大宴(yan)之一(yi)、清(qing)(qing)(qing)朝帝王的壽(shou)誕(dan)宴(yan)——萬壽(shou)宴(yan),以(yi)(yi)及(ji)滿(man)漢(han)全席第(di)一(yi)宴(yan)的蒙古親藩(fan)宴(yan),都以(yi)(yi)龍須面(mian)(mian)(mian)作為(wei)御(yu)宴(yan)的重要膳食(shi)。
“千招(zhao)(zhao)易學,一(yi)(yi)竅難(nan)得”。拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)制作(zuo)(zuo)技(ji)術解放前曾被認為(wei)(wei)是“絕招(zhao)(zhao)”,秘而不(bu)(bu)傳(chuan)。解放后,逐漸在社(she)會上(shang)得以公開(kai),成為(wei)(wei)山(shan)西(xi)面(mian)(mian)(mian)案(an)的(de)(de)基本(ben)(ben)功(gong),受(shou)到山(shan)西(xi)飲食界的(de)(de)重(zhong)視(shi)(shi),并不(bu)(bu)斷在實(shi)踐探索中(zhong)細分為(wei)(wei)小(xiao)拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(一(yi)(yi)根(gen)面(mian)(mian)(mian))、大拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(6至8扣(kou))、龍(long)須拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(10扣(kou)以上(shang)),空心拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)等(deng)。現在,龍(long)須拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)除食用之外(wai),還作(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)種表(biao)(biao)演藝(yi)術,拉(la)(la)至14扣(kou)時,共計28924根(gen),相連長達(da)25公里。全(quan)(quan)晉(jin)會館(guan)(guan)的(de)(de)蒙眼拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian),還曾獲得全(quan)(quan)國(guo)廚藝(yi)絕技(ji)超(chao)群獎(jiang),多次應邀赴日本(ben)(ben)、新加坡、臺灣等(deng)國(guo)家和地區表(biao)(biao)演。2008年初,全(quan)(quan)晉(jin)會館(guan)(guan)作(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)(wei)傳(chuan)承(cheng)單位的(de)(de)龍(long)須拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian),被列入第二批國(guo)家級非(fei)物質文化遺產保護名錄,受(shou)到了國(guo)家的(de)(de)高(gao)度重(zhong)視(shi)(shi)。龍(long)須拉(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)制作(zuo)(zuo),這一(yi)(yi)山(shan)西(xi)面(mian)(mian)(mian)食中(zhong)技(ji)術性強(qiang)的(de)(de)特色手工技(ji)藝(yi)和表(biao)(biao)演藝(yi)術,將在新時代煥發出傳(chuan)承(cheng)文脈、走向(xiang)和諧、造福社(she)會的(de)(de)無比絢(xuan)麗奪目(mu)的(de)(de)光(guang)彩。