百年(nian)老店(dian)拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)始創于北(bei)(bei)門(men)外(wai),是后(hou)(hou)來移(yi)址崇安(an)寺(si)的(de)(de),不過它在崇安(an)寺(si)也有(you)五十來年(nian)的(de)(de)歷史(shi)了(le)(le)。清代(dai)晚(wan)期的(de)(de)無錫(xi)北(bei)(bei)門(men)外(wai)游(you)山船浜(bang)是個熱鬧所在,燈船碼頭上下處,緊(jin)依(yi)古運(yun)河畔是糧(liang)行(xing)、紗(sha)行(xing)、山貨行(xing)等客商和四鄉班船集散之處。同治二年(nian)(1863),有(you)位毛(mao)姓(xing)老板在浜(bang)口游(you)弄里開設(she)了(le)(le)拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)面館,此后(hou)(hou)歷經了(le)(le)六位老板,一直沿用“拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)”這塊老招牌(pai),使拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)成了(le)(le)久負盛名(ming)的(de)(de)名(ming)店(dian)。
歷(li)史上北門是客(ke)商、班船會(hui)集之地,該(gai)(gai)店營業(ye)獨步無(wu)錫。據(ju)說清(qing)末舉人(ren)楊乃(nai)武,在冤案辯白(bai)后(hou)南(nan)下途中(zhong)曾到此(ci)就餐。歷(li)次戰(zhan)亂中(zhong),其樓幾毀(hui)幾建。抗戰(zhan)勝(sheng)利后(hou)遷(qian)至市中(zhong)心崇安(an)寺。該(gai)(gai)店主營肴面和(he)小(xiao)籠(long)饅頭,價廉而(er)味美。面湯用肉骨(gu)、鱔骨(gu)和(he)雞吊熬,并加甜汁,面澆頭花色(se)多。面條粗細均勻,湯味醇鮮、軟而(er)不爛、滑爽不膩,小(xiao)籠(long)饅頭皮(pi)子勻薄(bo)而(er)韌(ren),餡心咸(xian)中(zhong)帶甜,鹵足(zu),屬正宗無(wu)錫風味。由于(yu)崇安(an)寺改(gai)造拆(chai)遷(qian),搬至勝(sheng)利門廣(guang)場(chang)原五(wu)金站繼續經營。
提起吃(chi)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),無錫人(ren)都會(hui)想到崇(chong)安(an)寺里的(de)(de)拱(gong)北樓(lou)。人(ren)們印(yin)象中的(de)(de)拱(gong)北樓(lou),是它最后在金剛殿(dian)舊址上(shang)(shang)重砌起來的(de)(de)那(nei)幢兩(liang)層(ceng)樓(lou)房,樓(lou)上(shang)(shang)樓(lou)下(xia)兩(liang)個堂口,樓(lou)上(shang)(shang)供應什錦炒面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)、鍋面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)、老式面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)和(he)(he)各種(zhong)花(hua)色面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),東面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)的(de)(de)板墻上(shang)(shang)掛(gua)滿了各種(zhong)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)條(tiao)的(de)(de)名(ming)目(mu)和(he)(he)炒菜價(jia)目(mu)單,大(da)致有上(shang)(shang)百個品種(zhong),僅(jin)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)條(tiao)就(jiu)有五六十種(zhong);樓(lou)下(xia)供應面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)餃、陽春(chun)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)、小(xiao)籠(long)饅頭和(he)(he)菜。樓(lou)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)各色面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)條(tiao)體現拱(gong)北樓(lou)特色。“文革”剛結束時(shi)(shi),雖然(ran)許多(duo)老行業受到很大(da)打擊(ji),但(dan)拱(gong)北樓(lou)的(de)(de)生(sheng)意仍很興(xing)隆。當時(shi)(shi)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)條(tiao)分湯面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)和(he)(he)拌面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),根據煮熟(shu)的(de)(de)程度又分為健(斷生(sheng)立直)、軟、爛三(san)個層(ceng)次。
拱(gong)北(bei)樓(lou)的(de)面(mian)(mian)(mian)之所以名(ming)(ming)聞遐邇,主(zhu)要在于做(zuo)面(mian)(mian)(mian)和(he)吊(diao)湯有一套獨特考究(jiu)的(de)做(zuo)法。清末時(shi)期,拱(gong)北(bei)樓(lou)做(zuo)面(mian)(mian)(mian)是(shi)將木(mu)棍(gun)插在厚(hou)皮子中(zhong)央,用手臂不(bu)斷跳壓,一面(mian)(mian)(mian)拍上小粉,使(shi)皮子薄而不(bu)粘,而后(hou)用刀(dao)切,故名(ming)(ming)曰“跳面(mian)(mian)(mian)”或(huo)“刀(dao)切面(mian)(mian)(mian)”。1924年無(wu)錫(xi)出(chu)現(xian)(xian)了手搖面(mian)(mian)(mian)機,結束了手工拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)和(he)刀(dao)切面(mian)(mian)(mian)的(de)歷史。但另(ling)有一說,拱(gong)北(bei)樓(lou)自設(she)加工場做(zuo)面(mian)(mian)(mian),從1919年到1945年一直保(bao)持著刀(dao)切面(mian)(mian)(mian)的(de)傳統(tong),1946年以后(hou)才改為(wei)(wei)機軋面(mian)(mian)(mian)。面(mian)(mian)(mian)條(tiao)現(xian)(xian)軋,均勻細長(chang),韌勁好(hao),下鍋后(hou)軟而不(bu)爛(lan),滑爽不(bu)膩,面(mian)(mian)(mian)湯用豬骨(gu)(gu)、鱔骨(gu)(gu)、雞湯吊(diao),放入蔥(cong)、姜、鹽、酒(jiu)提香味(wei),碗內加醬油、味(wei)精,并(bing)添加甜汁吊(diao)鮮頭,所以拱(gong)北(bei)樓(lou)的(de)面(mian)(mian)(mian)點(dian)成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)無(wu)錫(xi)一絕(jue)。
無錫(xi)拱北樓的饅頭和(he)餃(jiao)面(mian),美(mei)味可口,價廉物美(mei),飲(yin)譽(yu)江浙(zhe)兩省,它所以有(you)如此名聲,傳(chuan)說和(he)清(qing)代奇案之一(yi)——“楊(yang)乃武和(he)小(xiao)白菜”有(you)關。
據傳,楊乃(nai)武(wu)與小(xiao)白菜冤案昭雪后,楊乃(nai)武(wu)搭船從京城(cheng)返回浙(zhe)江(jiang)余杭老(lao)家,途中,船到無錫(xi)停憩(qi),楊乃(nai)武(wu)上(shang)岸觀(guan)市(shi),見“拱(gong)北樓(lou)”顧客盈門(men),便進(jin)店小(xiao)坐,點了小(xiao)籠(long)(long)饅(man)頭(tou)和(he)一碗餃頭(tou)面(mian),邊(bian)吃邊(bian)與食客聊天(tian),對無錫(xi)小(xiao)籠(long)(long)饅(man)頭(tou)皮薄鹵多、咸(xian)甜適口(kou),大(da)(da)加贊美,對鮮(xian)湯餃面(mian)也(ye)很滿(man)意,老(lao)板(ban)聽了,靈(ling)機一動,立(li)刻(ke)宣(xuan)揚,來(lai)往客商(shang)與當地百姓聽說大(da)(da)名鼎鼎的(de)楊乃(nai)武(wu)在此(ci)小(xiao)吃,便紛紛前往觀(guan)看,一時樓(lou)上(shang)樓(lou)下人(ren)到處是人(ren)。老(lao)板(ban)把楊乃(nai)武(wu)的(de)贊美之詞,傳遍了無錫(xi)城(cheng)鄉,“拱(gong)北樓(lou)”的(de)饅(man)頭(tou)和(he)餃面(mian)隨之名揚于江(jiang)蘇、浙(zhe)江(jiang)兩省,生意格(ge)外紅火,許多到無錫(xi)辦(ban)事(shi)和(he)旅游者都要到“拱(gong)北樓(lou)”品嘗一下饅(man)頭(tou)和(he)餃面(mian)。
1932年(nian),拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)失火(huo),營業一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)度(du)中(zhong)(zhong)止。直(zhi)到1934年(nian)在無(wu)(wu)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)縣商會(hui)會(hui)長楊(yang)翰西的(de)幫助下(xia),拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)老板周(zhou)云亭籌資在原址重建(jian)了(le)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)幢鋼筋水(shui)泥結(jie)構洋房(fang),7月(yue)份重新(xin)開張,是當時無(wu)(wu)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)規模較(jiao)大(da)建(jian)筑較(jiao)新(xin)穎的(de)店堂(tang)。樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)上共辟(pi)三(san)(san)個堂(tang)口,其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)個是專供(gong)士紳商賈品茗(ming)談生意的(de)茶會(hui),一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)個是專供(gong)官商豪門宴客(ke)的(de)餐廳,另(ling)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)個是一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)般顧客(ke)光顧的(de)大(da)堂(tang)口,三(san)(san)個堂(tang)口設置大(da)理石臺面(mian)(mian)八仙桌十二張,四周(zhou)玻璃窗,空氣清新(xin),座位舒(shu)適。拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)聘(pin)請出名撈(lao)面(mian)(mian)師(shi)傅蔣阿(a)盤掌灶,李仁泉做饅頭(tou),胡阿(a)全(quan)為招(zhao)待員,并可以(yi)電話叫喚,送外賣(mai)(mai)上門。樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)下(xia)有一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)個小堂(tang)口,既(ji)賣(mai)(mai)面(mian)(mian)點又供(gong)茶,另(ling)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)邊是浴室。拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)的(de)業務進入鼎盛時期,賓客(ke)如云,食客(ke)如織,聲譽名揚四方。據1935年(nian)1月(yue)3日《大(da)錫(xi)(xi)(xi)報》的(de)報道,國民黨元老吳稚暉偕朋友赴拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)(lou)嘗饅頭(tou)和面(mian)(mian),連吃了(le)八只饅頭(tou),不(bu)住稱(cheng)贊“其(qi)味(wei)絕佳”。
1937年(nian),無錫(xi)淪陷,拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓被日(ri)寇(kou)縱火(huo)焚毀,周云(yun)(yun)亭瀕于破產。直至1940年(nian)才租賃到崇安寺皇(huang)亭西(xi)南(nan)首的(de)(de)平房一間,重新(xin)復業,拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓的(de)(de)早面和饅頭(tou)仍負盛(sheng)(sheng)名(ming)。周云(yun)(yun)亭病故(gu)后,由其妻支撐了兩年(nian),1949年(nian)將店盤給了朱氏(shi)。1956年(nian)拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓公私合營(ying),遷(qian)進了整(zheng)修后的(de)(de)原金(jin)剛殿營(ying)業,生意一度(du)很(hen)紅火(huo),創造了拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓后期的(de)(de)興(xing)盛(sheng)(sheng)。老(lao)無錫(xi)心目中(zhong)的(de)(de)拱(gong)(gong)北(bei)(bei)樓,其實大都是(shi)對1956年(nian)期間的(de)(de)印(yin)象。
2011年1月19號歇業歇了(le)一年多(duo)的百年老字號無錫(xi)(xi)“拱北(bei)樓”在無錫(xi)(xi)崇安寺試(shi)營業。原來的經(jing)營人(ren)馬(ma)已經(jing)全部換掉,“拱北(bei)樓”這塊牌子也在新一任老板(ban)接盤后被(bei)注(zhu)冊(ce)了(le)商號。不少老無錫(xi)(xi)聽說重(zhong)新開業特意趕來。
2009年(nian)(nian)9月初,在崇安寺經營了(le)兩年(nian)(nian)的“拱北(bei)樓(lou)”,因為種種原(yuan)因,還是宣告停業了(le)。一年(nian)(nian)多來,這(zhe)家店(dian)一直大門緊閉,令人關注。但實(shi)際上(shang),當年(nian)(nian)的10月份,這(zhe)家店(dian)就(jiu)被現任(ren)老(lao)板(ban)接盤,不過直到2011年(nian)(nian)才花費200萬(wan)元(yuan)重新裝修后試營業。拱北(bei)樓(lou)”這(zhe)塊牌子原(yuan)來由(you)無錫元(yuan)盛(sheng)有限公(gong)司(si)在經營,現任(ren)老(lao)板(ban)已經把包(bao)括房屋產權、注冊(ce)商標在內的所有資產全(quan)部買下,消息人士透露總共花了(le)2100萬(wan)元(yuan),同時為“拱北(bei)樓(lou)”這(zhe)塊牌子注冊(ce)了(le)商號。