Anran Xiaohun Stinky Tofu (黯然銷魂臭豆腐)

On the way back I stopped at Anran Xiaohun Stinky Tofu (黯然銷魂臭豆腐), marked by a yellow sign by the road. As a lover of natto, I had long been curious about stinky tofu, another fermented soybean food. The handwritten menu listed stinky tofu, spicy grilled stinky tofu, shishamo, shrimp balls with mayonnaise, salt-fried peanuts and pickled cabbage. Let's buy one and take it home.

Back at the house, a tabby cat on the wall greeted me: "Welcome back." I'm home.

Crispy fried stinky tofu and pickled cabbage (paocai). The smell is strong enough to make you flinch, but the tofu, soaked in a soy-based garlic sauce, has a savory depth all its own, and the fresh cabbage pickle went with it beautifully. I could see why it has such a loyal following. Stinky tofu goes well with non-alcoholic beer.

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