Ganzi Dining
Ganzi is known for being heavenly. The snow-capped mountains, the green fields, the very laid-back atmosphere, the sacred peaks, the natural hot springs and many lakes—it’s surely a paradise for anyone who’s brave enough to conquer the cold and do the trek. But visiting the attractions is just half of the journey. The rest is all about dining and entertainment.
The cuisines in Ganzi can be divided into two types: Sichuan and Tibetan.
Sichuan Cuisines
The autonomous prefecture is composed of a lot of Tibetans and a very small population of the Han Chinese and other minorities such as Mongolians. However, the Chinese influence is very much alive even in the manner of cooking. This could be due to a couple of reasons. One, Ganzi is still part of the large Sichuan Province, and since nothing makes it inaccessible for any Chinese unless there’s some political tension, it’s quite easy to bring the dishes of the entire region to Ganzi. Second, over the last few years, more tourists, especially locals, are visiting Ganzi, and some are looking for the food they’re familiar with. Third, a number of businesses and the government are operated by the Chinese.
Sichuan cuisine is considered to be one of the best not only in China but also in the entire world. In fact, Chengdu has just been awarded by UNESCO as a gastronomy haven. The beautiful climate down south of China and the presence of a lot of natural resources make it convenient for the people to come up with flavorful and delectable dishes. Nevertheless, one of the things you need to remember about Sichuan is it can get spicy. If you’re not used to it, you can tell the chef or the host beforehand to lessen the spice, which can be pepper or chili. The manner of preparation can involved some drying and salting.
The cuisine, which has a very long history, also has produced a long list of great recipes, but some of the best are the following:
Kung Pao Chicken: This is one of the most adopted Sichuan dishes. Some of the Westerners would cook this using breaded or battered chicken, complemented by some hot chili sauce, which is then used to coat the chicken. The original version, however, doesn’t utilize any batter but instead diced chicken cooked in peanuts, peppercorns, and chili for a lot of flavor and spiciness.
Hotpot: Hotpot is actually a broad term, and it’s not exclusive to Sichuan dishes. In Japan, it’s referred to as shabu-shabu. A metal pot that can help maintain heat is placed at the center of the table and the diner can cook the food right there using the ingredients set before them. Nevertheless, this type of cooking and dishes are common among Sichuan cuisines.
Dandan noodles: Noodles will always be part of Chinese cuisine, even in Sichuan. This one contains minced pork flavored with a lot of spices such as chili and Sichuan pepper.
Where to Eat Them in Ganzi
Sichuan dishes are served in the following restaurants:
- Bashu Lianmeixian Sichuan Restaurant at Xingfu East Road, Litang
- Desha Elegant Restaurant (De Sha Jie, Dao Cheng)
- Chengdu Tiandixiang Restaurant (Dao Cheng)
- Shangri-La Restaurant (Bo Wa Jie, Dao Cheng)
When you get off the bus station, you can also find small dining shops that serve this cuisine.
Tibetan Cuisine
Ganzi is also greatly influenced by Tibetan way of cooking, especially once you move out of the center and travel toward the more rural areas. Their dishes are often hearty or heavy; this is very important for the people since they are mostly involved in labor—farming, for example. Moreover, they have to beat the coldness of the climate on high altitudes. They can therefore be starchy and creamy. The Tibetans are also known for cooking using the ingredients they can find in their surroundings, and usually they make the most of everything. For instance, yak’s meats and entrails can be included in the soup. Besides, the plateau is usually not the best place to grow a lot of vegetables, so they have to rely heavily on meat for their food.
When you’re in Ganzi, make sure that you can taste the following:
Yak Butter Tea: The name is actually a misnomer since it’s the female equivalent of yak called dri that produces dairy. Nevertheless, the yak is a familiar word, which could probably explain the name. The tea includes some butter made from yak milk. It is also made up of brewed tea with some salt. This is creamy, salty, sweet, and heavy altogether.
Tsampa: This may sound simple, but it is actually quite complex. It is composed of two ingredients: the paste, which is made from yak butter, and flour that is made from barley. Barley and wheat are aplenty in the region. Anyway, to produce the powder, the barley needs to be roasted first and made into flour. Then you need to pour and roll them, making them into balls. Then you pour in the milk and the yak butter. Combine them together using your hands. Once everything has already been mixed, the food is ready to eat. It does take some time, you see, but then it’s also a fun thing to experience.
Kangding Jelly Bean: It’s a well-known snack that is normally taken during weekends and mornings. This doesn’t refer to a specific name of a bean but rather to a place where it has become very famous. Kangding is the capital of the prefecture. The bean is filling without causing any stomach bloating.
Momos: Momos are the dumplings from Tibet. They look really similar to the dumplings prepared by the Chinese, and they are just as flexible when it comes to ingredients. They can be made from yak meat, for example.
Where to Eat Ganzi Cuisines
Zhilam Café
Operating Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Average Price: RMB 30
Khampa Café and Nomadic Arts Center
Operating Hours: all day (March 21 to November 21)
Average Price: CNY 20
Lam-ze Lin-Ka Hotel
Average price: RMB 250 with free breakfast
Address: near the bus station in Kangding