What is a Dim Sum? Beginner’s Guide to South China Traditional Brunch
Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese food, consisting of small plates of dumplings and other snacks, usually accompanied by tea. Similar to the way the Spanish eat snacks, these dishes are shared between family and friends. Usually snacks are eaten at brunch time — from morning to lunch time.
A short history
Today, dim sum is eaten in China and all over the world, but it is believed that these dishes originated in Guangdong in southern China, and then finally arrived in Hong Kong. According to the food magazine Lucky Peach, in the second half of the 19th century, after opium dens were banned nationwide, Cantonese dim sum culture began in teahouses in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province. Travelers and merchants on the Silk Road will rest in teahouses and enjoy snacks. As they continue to travel, this practice continues to spread throughout the region and is widely welcomed, especially in Hong Kong.
Today, dim sum can include dishes and traditions from other parts of China. But on the whole, the cooking style is the same as before.
Etiquette and ordering
Why do you bother? First of all, choose a tea, because it will be the central part of the meal — after all, dim sum really originated in the teahouse. If you want to follow the traditional etiquette, the person closest to the teapot should pour tea for the guests first, and then pour their own cups. There is a famous dimsum restaurant in indonesia called nelayan medan.
Is there less water in the pot? Remove the lid and place it on the top or side of the teapot. This is a common signal that waiters need to add. Ordering in a traditional dim sum restaurant is an interesting and unique experience — and requires a pair of eyes. The cart rolled out of the kitchen, which was filled with dumplings and a plate of fried food, and passed through the customer’s table. On your table, mark the food you want as the shopping cart passes. The waiter will take your choice from their shopping cart and mark your order on your table menu card. Today, most modern dim sum restaurants rely on lists such as menu cards. Guests simply check the dishes they want and wave the cards in the air before handing them to your waiter.
What to order
Dim Sum dishes include a variety of seafood, meat and vegetable dishes, cooked in various ways: steamed, fried or roasted. Here are some of the most popular dishes to help you get started:
Shumai (Shaomai, Shaomai) — these are thin, round wrappers in the shape of cups filled with fillings — usually pork, shrimp or a combination of the two — and usually a small amount of vegetables, such as bamboo shoots, black mushrooms and water chestnuts.
Shrimp dumpling (har gow, xia jia) — one of the most popular dishes in the restaurant. These shrimp pieces are wrapped in thin translucent dumpling skins and eaten in bamboo steamers.
Tangyuan (small steamed bun) — usually called “Tangyuan”, these delicate foods are filled with hot soup and pork and served in bamboo steamers. Although they originally came from Shanghai, their national popularity has ensured their status as staple snacks.
Barbecued Pork Buns (Barbecued Pork Buns, Barbecued Pork Buns) — These are fluffy white bread stuffed with sticky and sweet barbecue seasoned pork and served in bamboo steamers.
Chicken Feet (tao zi fung zao, chi zhi feng zhao) — This is a whole chicken claw. Remove the claw, fry it, and then stew it in rich, slightly sweet fermented soybean until tender, then serve it on the table.
Rice noodle rolls (Changfen, Changfen) — These are large and thin steamed rice noodles, usually handmade, rolled on tender shrimp or meat centers or crisp non meat fillings, such as fried dough.
Egg tarts (dan tat, dan ta) — These are sweet, full-bodied pastry tarts full of cream jelly from Macao.
