在山西,人們(men)壽(shou)誕生辰,聚友團(tuan)圓時,常(chang)常(chang)要吃這(zhe)(zhe)種面(mian),以示長壽(shou)和(he)(he)喜(xi)慶。龍(long)須面(mian)配料精(jing)細,制作(zuo)講究,其制作(zuo)方法過去曾(ceng)被(bei)(bei)認為是絕招,秘(mi)而不傳。龍(long)須拉面(mian)的面(mian)團(tuan)被(bei)(bei)和(he)(he)勻后,抻開(kai)(kai)(kai),卷起,再抻開(kai)(kai)(kai),再卷起,如(ru)此數(shu)扣(kou)之后,師(shi)傅們(men)將拉好(hao)的面(mian)放在撒滿面(mian)粉的幾(ji)案上抖(dou)開(kai)(kai)(kai),而后兩手像(xiang)搭毛線般地將面(mian)抻開(kai)(kai)(kai)并抖(dou)動著。整(zheng)個景象(xiang)就如(ru)瀑(pu)布嘩(hua)嘩(hua)瀉下一(yi)般,蔚為壯觀。片刻之后走上前去,看(kan)到拉好(hao)的面(mian)已如(ru)絲般纖細,這(zhe)(zhe)已是標準(zhun)的龍(long)須面(mian)了。
先(xian)用面水5∶3的比例和好面,然(ran)后(hou)在上面抹(mo)點香油醒(xing)著,將醒(xing)好的面放在案板上,揉(rou)勻或搓(cuo)成長條,雙(shuang)手提兩端稍晃,再搓(cuo)成長條狀,搟成片形,略(lve)醒(xing)后(hou)用刀橫切成小手指粗的長條,撒勻面粉(fen)或抹(mo)勻香油,逐根或幾根并(bing)拉,拉成細條投(tou)入沸(fei)水鍋(guo)內,煮(zhu)熟配(pei)上鹵即成。
龍(long)(long)須拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)的(de)源頭是(shi)始于(yu)(yu)唐朝的(de)小(xiao)(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)。《新唐書·王皇(huang)后(hou)傳(chuan)》記有“陛(bi)下獨不(bu)念阿忠脫紫(zi)半(ban)(ban)臂易斗面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),為(wei)(wei)生日(ri)(ri)湯(tang)(tang)(tang)餅(bing)耶”。這(zhe)(zhe)種(zhong)(zhong)生日(ri)(ri)湯(tang)(tang)(tang)餅(bing),已可(ke)(ke)(ke)“舉箸(zhu)食”(劉禹(yu)錫《贈進士張盥》),是(shi)和軟面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)團(tuan),用刀切(qie)條(tiao),將(jiang)(jiang)條(tiao)拉(la)(la)(la)細(xi)、拉(la)(la)(la)長(chang)后(hou)落鍋(guo)煮熟食用,民間至(zhi)今(jin)保留此(ci)(ci)法,稱(cheng)之(zhi)為(wei)(wei)小(xiao)(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)。王皇(huang)后(hou)為(wei)(wei)李(li)隆基做生日(ri)(ri)湯(tang)(tang)(tang)餅(bing)的(de)故(gu)事,發生在李(li)隆基作潞州別駕的(de)時(shi)候,可(ke)(ke)(ke)見唐代至(zhi)少(shao)太原(yuan)、長(chang)治等山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)地(di)區已將(jiang)(jiang)小(xiao)(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)作為(wei)(wei)生日(ri)(ri)長(chang)壽面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)而制作和食用了。后(hou)來,這(zhe)(zhe)一(yi)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)技藝(yi)隨著太原(yuan)玄中寺的(de)凈土宗東傳(chuan)日(ri)(ri)本(ben),形成(cheng)日(ri)(ri)本(ben)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)技術的(de)基礎(chu)。到了宋代,趙光義鏟平晉陽(yang)西(xi)(xi)北系舟山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),意(yi)欲拔掉(diao)“龍(long)(long)角”。第二(er)(er)年太原(yuan)百姓(xing)將(jiang)(jiang)二(er)(er)月初的(de)中和節(jie)改為(wei)(wei)“龍(long)(long)頭節(jie)”,并(bing)固定(ding)(ding)在二(er)(er)月初二(er)(er)以(yi)作紀念。此(ci)(ci)日(ri)(ri),百姓(xing)多吃拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),意(yi)思是(shi)你拔我(wo)(wo)“龍(long)(long)角”,我(wo)(wo)挑你“龍(long)(long)筋”、吃你“龍(long)(long)須”,以(yi)示憤恨(hen)。自此(ci)(ci),拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)又被(bei)稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)須面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),黃(huang)庭(ting)堅曾作詩“湯(tang)(tang)(tang)餅(bing)一(yi)杯銀絲(si)(si)亂,牽絲(si)(si)如縷玉簪橫”。元代時(shi),馬可(ke)(ke)(ke)波羅三訪太原(yuan),將(jiang)(jiang)這(zhe)(zhe)種(zhong)(zhong)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)技術帶回意(yi)大(da)利(li)(li),形成(cheng)影響西(xi)(xi)方面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)食技術和飲(yin)食文化的(de)意(yi)大(da)利(li)(li)通(tong)心(xin)粉(fen)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)食。小(xiao)(xiao)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)何時(shi)發展成(cheng)大(da)把拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),暫不(bu)可(ke)(ke)(ke)考,但明人(ren)宋詡(xu)《宋氏養生部》記載:“用少(shao)鹽(yan)入水和面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),一(yi)斤為(wei)(wei)率(lv)。既勻,沃(wo)香(xiang)油(you)少(shao)許……漸以(yi)兩(liang)手纏絡于(yu)(yu)直指、將(jiang)(jiang)指、無名指之(zhi)間,為(wei)(wei)細(xi)條(tiao),先作沸湯(tang)(tang)(tang),隨拉(la)(la)(la)隨煮。”可(ke)(ke)(ke)見山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)明代時(shi)已有大(da)拉(la)(la)(la)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)制作技術。清道光年間,山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)稷(ji)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)縣馬金定(ding)(ding)兄弟,千里迢迢去陜西(xi)(xi)岐(qi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)做掛面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)生意(yi),字號“順天成(cheng)”,直到今(jin)天,岐(qi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)掛面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)還(huan)沿用這(zhe)(zhe)個老字號。這(zhe)(zhe)種(zhong)(zhong)掛面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)起初就是(shi)將(jiang)(jiang)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)拉(la)(la)(la)好(hao)后(hou),掛在線(xian)上曬干銷售,是(shi)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)作為(wei)(wei)半(ban)(ban)成(cheng)品銷售的(de)典范。
清(qing)朝(chao)末年,拉面(mian)(mian)已成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)山、陜面(mian)(mian)食制(zhi)作(zuo)(zuo)的成(cheng)熟技(ji)術。清(qing)末薛(xue)寶(bao)辰著的《素食說略》中(zhong)說,在(zai)山、陜流行一種“楨(zhen)條(tiao)面(mian)(mian)”:“以(yi)(yi)水和面(mian)(mian),入(ru)鹽、清(qing)油揉勻,覆以(yi)(yi)濕布,俟其(qi)軟和,扯開細煮之,名為(wei)(wei)楨(zhen)條(tiao)面(mian)(mian)。做法以(yi)(yi)山西太(tai)原、平(ping)定州(zhou)、陜西朝(chao)邑、同(tong)州(zhou)為(wei)(wei)最(zui)。”這(zhe)種楨(zhen)條(tiao)面(mian)(mian),即山西拉面(mian)(mian),也稱龍須面(mian)(mian),在(zai)清(qing)代還進入(ru)宮廷。《清(qing)稗類鈔》、《中(zhong)國歷代御膳(shan)大(da)觀》中(zhong)記,內廷大(da)宴之一、清(qing)朝(chao)帝(di)王(wang)的壽(shou)誕宴——萬(wan)壽(shou)宴,以(yi)(yi)及滿漢全席第一宴的蒙古(gu)親藩宴,都(dou)以(yi)(yi)龍須面(mian)(mian)作(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)(wei)御宴的重要膳(shan)食。
“千招易學(xue),一竅難得(de)(de)”。拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)制作技術(shu)(shu)解(jie)(jie)放前曾被(bei)認為(wei)(wei)(wei)是“絕招”,秘而不(bu)(bu)傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)。解(jie)(jie)放后,逐漸在(zai)社會(hui)上得(de)(de)以公開,成為(wei)(wei)(wei)山西面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)案的基本(ben)功,受到山西飲食(shi)界的重視,并不(bu)(bu)斷在(zai)實(shi)踐探索中(zhong)細分為(wei)(wei)(wei)小拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(一根(gen)面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian))、大拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(6至8扣)、龍(long)須(xu)拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(10扣以上),空心拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)等。現在(zai),龍(long)須(xu)拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)除(chu)食(shi)用之外(wai),還作為(wei)(wei)(wei)一種(zhong)表演(yan)藝(yi)術(shu)(shu),拉至14扣時,共(gong)計(ji)28924根(gen),相連長達25公里。全(quan)晉會(hui)館(guan)的蒙眼拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),還曾獲得(de)(de)全(quan)國廚藝(yi)絕技超(chao)群(qun)獎,多次應邀赴(fu)日本(ben)、新加坡(po)、臺灣等國家(jia)和地(di)區(qu)表演(yan)。2008年初(chu),全(quan)晉會(hui)館(guan)作為(wei)(wei)(wei)傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)承單位的龍(long)須(xu)拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian),被(bei)列入第(di)二(er)批國家(jia)級(ji)非(fei)物質文化遺產保(bao)護名(ming)錄,受到了國家(jia)的高度(du)重視。龍(long)須(xu)拉面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)制作,這一山西面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)食(shi)中(zhong)技術(shu)(shu)性強的特色手工技藝(yi)和表演(yan)藝(yi)術(shu)(shu),將在(zai)新時代煥發出傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)承文脈、走(zou)向和諧、造(zao)福社會(hui)的無比絢麗奪目(mu)的光彩。