The tofu speaks before the heat

The order in which this mapo tofu makes its impression is different. In this white dish, the first thing to come forward is neither heat nor savoriness, but the flavor and texture of the tofu itself. True to the name “white mapo tofu,” the tofu has a clear presence of its own.

Then comes the fragrance of the spices, elegant and almost regal. Rather than covering the tofu with heat, the dish lets you taste it first and allows the aroma to catch up afterward. Its refinement brings hotel dining to mind. More than the strength of the flavor, that sense of sequence is what makes the dish feel so polished.