Yesterday, I tried to eat dim sum for the first time ever. Man, was it a ride! I walked into this bustling place with my friend, who’s a dim sum pro. The whole place was buzzing with people, carts with bamboo steamers, and it smelled amazing.
First thing we did was order tea. It’s a must with dim sum, you know? We asked the waiter about their tea selection, and after a bit of back and forth with my friend, we picked a nice fragrant one.
Then came the food! My friend started pointing at the carts, and we ended up with a table full of small dishes. We got these steamed dumplings that were so juicy and flavorful. I tried one with shrimp and another with pork, and both were out of this world.
- Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings): These were my favorite. The shrimp inside was so fresh and bouncy.
- Siu Mai (Pork Dumplings): Also super delicious, with a savory and rich flavor.
- Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls): These were slippery and fun to eat, filled with shrimp and doused in a sweet soy sauce.
- Char Siu Bao (Barbecue Pork Buns): Fluffy buns with a sweet and savory pork filling. So good!
- Lo Mai Gai (Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf): This was a surprise. It was sticky rice with chicken, mushrooms, and other goodies, all wrapped in a lotus leaf.
The Sweet Stuff
We also tried some sweet stuff. The egg tarts were warm and creamy, with a flaky crust. And we got these mango puddings that were the perfect way to end the meal, they were so refreshing.
What I learned is that dim sum is not just about eating; it’s a whole experience. Sharing small dishes with friends, trying out different flavors, and enjoying the busy, lively atmosphere. I found out that there are hundreds of different dim sum dishes out there, but we only scratched the surface yesterday. It’s cool how dim sum has evolved over time, from old tea houses to what it is today, with all kinds of modern takes on it.
I definitely want to go back and try more. There’s a whole world of dim sum out there waiting for me to explore. It’s a bit overwhelming to know where to start, but I guess that’s part of the fun. Next time, I’m going to be more adventurous and try some of the dishes my friend was too scared to order!
This whole dim sum thing got me thinking about how food can bring people together. It’s not just about filling your belly; it’s about the experience, the culture, and the memories you make. I can’t wait to make more dim sum memories in the future!