Right, so I found myself wandering around the Bond Street area the other day. Wasn’t really planning anything specific, just needed to get out. Work had been absolutely mental, one of those projects that just sucks the life out of you, you know? Long hours, endless meetings, felt like I was running on empty for weeks.
Anyway, I was just walking, trying to clear my head, and suddenly got this massive craving for dim sum. Like, proper, steamy, flavourful dim sum. Comfort food, I guess. Didn’t even know if there was anything decent right there, but I figured I’d have a look.
Stumbled upon this place, looked busy enough which is usually a good sign. Decided, yeah, why not. Went inside. It was bustling, noisy, exactly what you’d expect. Trolleys rattling past, people chatting loudly, the smell of tea and steamed goodies in the air. Found myself a small table squished in a corner.
Getting Down to Business
Didn’t mess about. Got the tea sorted first, essential. Then flagged down one of the servers pushing a trolley. You gotta be quick sometimes!
Here’s what I grabbed:
- Har Gow (prawn dumplings) – Always gotta start with these.
- Siu Mai (pork and prawn dumplings) – Another classic, can’t skip it.
- Cheung Fun (rice noodle rolls), went for the prawn filling. Silky smooth.
- Some Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns) – Fluffy and sweet.
Just started digging in. Honestly, that first bite of Har Gow… pure bliss. The simple act of just sitting there, eating something genuinely tasty, felt amazing after the chaos of the past few weeks.
Why It Hit Different This Time
It got me thinking, actually. That work project I mentioned? It was a beast. We were building this new system, supposedly simplifying things, but the process was anything but simple. Different teams involved, nobody talking to each other properly, requirements changing daily. Felt like trying to assemble flat-pack furniture designed by about five different people who’d never met. Utter nightmare.
We had developers using one tech stack, QA guys on another planet, and management just wanting it done yesterday. Bits bolted onto other bits, stuff breaking constantly. Trying to get a simple feature out felt like wading through treacle. Honestly, there were days I just wanted to chuck my laptop out the window.
Sitting there, eating those perfectly formed little dumplings, it struck me. This is complex in its own way – skill, tradition, getting the textures and flavours just right. But it works. It’s satisfying. Unlike that mess of a project which just left everyone drained and frustrated.
Maybe that’s why I needed it. Needed something straightforwardly good. No hidden complications, no political BS, just good food, done well. It kind of put things in perspective. Made me realise I needed to find ways to step back from that kind of work stress more often, appreciate the simpler things that actually deliver.
Finished up, paid the bill, and walked back out. Felt calmer, properly fed, and just… better. Sometimes a good plate of dim sum is all you need to reset a little. Definitely doing that again soon, maybe without the preceding weeks of torture next time, eh?
