Wednesday, December 25, 2013
by Unknown
Recently, I took Rick and my best friend Briana to have "Dim Sum" for lunch at Seafood Cove. "Dim Sum" is a kind of Chinese food, served during the times of breakfast, brunch and lunch. Upon sitting down, the waiter comes by with tea, because Dim Sum is always served with tea. Then little Asian ladies come by each table, pushing big metal carts.
When peering into the carts, you will see stacks and stacks of steamer baskets and small plates, filled with more food than you can imagine. The ladies open up each basket, releasing heavenly steams. "Try this one! Or this one! Or this one!" She pushes you to buy in her broken English. Your mouth salivates, because you skipped breakfast and your hungry as hell. In the midst of all the confusion, you find yourself agreeing to just about everything, even though you have no idea what the heck you just pointed at. One of the more popular Dim Sum items is called "siu maai." Theyre tiny pork dumplings, wrapped in thin pieces of wonton. Theyre soft, warm and oh, so greasy. They blew Ricks mind. Theyre certainly my favorite!
The photo above shows "Har Gow," which are dumplings filled with minced shrimp. Another favorite is "Bao," which are warm, fluffy buns filled with various ingredients. Typically, theyre filled with pork and a sweet smokey sauce. You cant go wrong with them. This particular kind is steamed. The next item is called "Shanghai steamed buns," I think. Theyre tiny dumplings, typically filled with pork and a warm, rich broth. Be careful when you bite into them though, because you might just squirt your neighbors. The flavors reminded me of a chicken pot pie-- so hearty and satisfying. This is one of Brianas favorite dishes. I have no idea what its called, but its a kind of thick rice or flour paper filled with shrimp. When you order it, the waiter pours a brothy, sauce over it. Yum!Here comes the chicken feet...!!!Yeah, Im weird. I like chicken feet. Its basically braised until the skin falls off the bones. Chicken feet itself is more of a texture than a taste. It doesnt really have a taste, unless if you season it. I would say its a cross between eating fat and gristle. Briana and Rick thought it was just too weird for them. But I recall back to when I was a little kid. For some reason, Stater Bros. would actually sell trays of chicken feet, for none other than the Asian crowd. My dad would buy them and my mom boil them at home. Then wed all sit around the table, gnawing on chicken feet... Sorry if I grossed you out. But its one of my fondest childhood memories. :-)The next dish is called "Char Siu Baau." Its very similar to "Bao" because its filled with BBQ pork, but its baked and sugar glazed instead of steamed. Its delightfully sweet!
Although we couldnt try everything, know that there are hundred of kinds of dim sum out there. Its always fun to come in and try something new. And its often different from restaurant to restaurant.
If you are lucky to live by a restaurant that serves Dim Sum, I suggest that you go with someone who has been there before. It can get a little overwhelming.
One very important thing to keep in mind is that service is quite different at a real Asian restaurant. (And Im not taking about the likes of PF Changs.) At an Asian restaurant, waiters dont work for tips, because tipping is purely American. Although tips are appreciated, theyre not expected. So dont get offended or angry if the waiters seem like theyre a little rough around the edges. Its just how it is. You have to be assertive when you want something. If you go to Asia, youll experience the same thing. And dont be afraid to say "no." Rick thought that the ladies selling Dim Sum were surprisingly very assertive, but theyre just doing their job. Dont get intimidated by it. And if you dont know what to order, stick with items that have pork or shrimp in them. Youll like it.
Rick decided to be a tourist.
Hes very good at it. :-)
The Asian Garden Mall features many small vendors that sell Vietnamese food, clothes, jewelry and random knick knacks.
Its ok if you dont know how to speak Vietnamese. Most vendors know how to speak a limited amount of English. If not, just point and use your fingers. Youll get through it.
Rick liked this.
You will also find fruits that you dont normally see in American grocery stores, like Chinese apples, dragon fruit, lychee, longan and durian. And also odd statues and images of animals... because theyre supposed to be lucky, or something. Asians think everything is lucky.
The moral of the post is, if you have the opportunity to experience something different, do it!
Of course, one must not forget to visit the hanging, Chinese BBQ ducks.
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