what is dim sum?

Answer 1

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Who hasn't spent a lazy afternoon in their favorite Chinese restaurant, sipping tea and feasting on the innumerable assortment of delicacies that make up Chinese dim sum? Literally meaning "to touch your heart," dim sum consists of a variety of dumplings, steamed dishes and other goodies such as the famous egg custard tarts. They are similar to hors d'oeuvres, the hot and cold delicacies served at French restaurants.

Originally a Cantonese custom, dim sum is inextricably linked to the Chinese tradition of "yum cha" or drinking tea. Travelers journeying along the famous Silk Road needed a place to rest, so teahouses began springing up along the roadside. Rural farmers, exhausted after long hours working in the fields, would also head to the local teahouse for an afternoon of tea and relaxing conversation. Still, it took several centuries for the culinary art of dim sum to develop. It was originally considered inappropriate to combine tea with food - in fact a famous 3rd century Imperial physician claimed this would lead to excessive weight gain. However, as tea's ability to aid in digestion and cleanse the palate became known, tea house proprietors began adding a variety of snacks, and the tradition of dim sum was born.

Today, dim sum is served throughout China, particularly in Shanghai. In The Taste of China, Ken Hom shares his memories of enjoying regional variations in "small eats": jiaozi dumplings in Beijing, pearl balls and spicy wontons (known as huntuns) in the Szechuan province. But he agrees with the majority that the best dim sum can be found in Canton, with its wide assortment of sweet and savory dishes ranging from meatballs to sweet cakes. Still, it is probably true that the best dim sum chefs are found not in China but in Hong Kong, where restaurants begin serving dim sum as early as 6:30 in the morning and continue through mid-afternoon.

In the west, dim sum came about as a natural result of 19th Chinese immigrants - most of whom were from the Canton region - settling on the East and West coasts. Some gourmands believe that dim sum inspired the whole idea of "brunch" - combining breakfast and lunch into one large midmorning meal. It is true that the word brunch only came into existence in the late 1800's. (There's also some thought that the Denver sandwich - the quintessential cowboy snack - came about when a Chinese cook tried to adapt Eggs Foo Yung to suit western tastes).

But back to dim sum. What is it, exactly? Let's start with what it is not. If you're the type that enjoys browsing through a menu, then a dim sum restaurant is not for you. There's no ordering; instead you choose from a wide assortment of snacks that the waiters bring out on carts and trays. Also, if you're looking to have a romantic lunch, then a dim sum restaurant probably isn't a good choice. First off, the atmosphere is hardly conducive to romance, what with the clattering of trays, people calling out their orders, and large groups of people talking at each table. Besides, the best way to enjoy dim sum is with a large group; otherwise you'll fill up on a few items and miss the opportunity to sample everything.

What types of foods are served at a typical dim sum lunch? When it comes to cooking methods, many of the dishes are either steamed or deep-fried. Among the former, you'll find everything from steamed pork spareribs and char siu bao - steamed buns with roast pork - to har gao, those wonderful shrimp dumplings with the translucent skin. Deep-fried treats include mini spring rolls and Wu Gok, a type of taro turnover. Not to mention whatever other culinary creations the chef may come up with. At a dim sum recently we were treated to delicious shrimp dumplings wrapped in seaweed and topped with a dollop of salmon caviar. Finally, there's dessert. Custard tarts are a must; you may also have a choice between mango or almond pudding. All of the above are washed down with copious amounts of green tea.

Although it may not be evident in the hustle and bustle of the carts rolling by, there is a certain order to how dim sum is served, with the lighter, steamed dishes coming first, followed by exotic items such as chicken's feet, then the deep-fried dishes, and finally dessert. An Asian acquaintance once told me that beginning dim sum with heavier, deep-fried foods is a little like inviting a friend for dinner and serving rice as the first course.

For the novice, the noisy atmosphere in a dim sum restaurant can take a bit of getting used to. But it's a great way to sample a large variety of tastes and flavors without feeling overly full. Somehow the typical Sunday brunch - consisting of eggs, sausage, bacon and various other dishes - just doesn't reach the same level of culinary art that you'll find at a dim sum restaurant.

Answer 2

Dim Sun is best translated as "Small Savories". There are many kinds. Some are steamed bread, plain, but others have beans, and pork inside. There are many kinds of dumplings filled with pork, shrimp, and there are just too many varieties to choose from, the we have barbequed chicken feet, sweet buns, small egg custards, cakes similar to pound cakes. The best dim sum restaurants have people bring steaming carts around the table and you choose what you like...there are usually three pieces to a dish, and don't ask your host what they are. Chinese people believe that it should be the taste, not the name...but you'll enjoy them. I like congee...a kind of thick rice soup with ginger, green onion, perhaps crab or shrimp and preserved egg...it's great. Try some of each. Normally a host will order a dish and if you seem to enjoy it, he'll order a second dish, of the same. Yes, it is polite to use your fingers for the chicken feet....not much meat but great flavor. Dim Sum is also an important Sunday morning time for the family to spend time together...it often takes two hours just to chat, and eat the great foods. My favorite food is shrimp dumplings but I try to restrain myself to only about 7 dishes (21 dumplings)...you dip these in soy sauce or other condiments served with the individual foods. If you're not good with chopsticks, ask for a fork...some are a little tricky. For steamed bread...pick it up, peel off the paper on the bottom and you can use your fingers to eat it. Please treat yourself to a wonderful experience. I have lived in Asia for a long time (an American) and Dim Sum is better than many of the elaborate dinners...it's fun, comfortable and delicious.

Answer 3

I don't know but i see it everyday ...I think it means
Dim Sum is a Cantonese phrase (点心), literally "touch the heart" but meaning "morsel/snack". It may be derived from yat dim sum yi, meaning a "a little token". Though the English word "dim sum" refers to the Cantonese variety, the idea of a wide variety of small dishes for lunch also holds for other regions of China.

Equivalent terms, such as dian xin in Mandarin, exist in other varieties of Chinese, as a generic term for any of a variety of snacks or small food items. The terms "northern dian xin" or "Shanghai dian xin" have thus come into use. These dian xin are, however, not necessarily Cantonese dim sum, although the two still share the same written script in traditional and simplified characters.

In Australia the word dim sim is used for a particular kind of dumpling
p.s well now I know thanks for you.

Answer 4

Dim sum is a Chinese light meal or brunch served with Chinese tea. It is eaten some time from morning to early afternoon with family or friends. Dim sum consists of a wide spectrum of choices, from sweet to salty. It has combinations of meat, vegetables, seafood, and fruit. The various items are usually served in a small steamer basket or on a small plate, depending on the type of dim sum.

Traditional dim sum includes various types of steamed buns such as char siew bao, dumplings and rice rolls, which contain a range of ingredients, including beef, chicken, pork, prawns and vegetarian options. Many dim sum restaurants also offer plates of steamed green vegetables, roasted meats, congee porridge and other soups. Having a meal in a Chinese teahouse or a dim sum restaurant is known as yum cha (饮茶), literally "drinking tea", as tea is typically served with dim sum.

Dim sum can be cooked by steaming and frying, among other methods. The serving sizes are usually small and normally served as three or four pieces in one dish. It is customary to order family style, sharing dishes among all members of the dining party. Because of the small portions, people can try a wide variety of food.

Dim sum dishes can be ordered from a menu or sometimes the food is wheeled around on a trolley by servers. Traditionally, the cost of the meal is calculated based on the number, size, and sometimes color of the dishes left on the patron's table. Some modern dim sum restaurants record the dishes on a bill at the table. Not only is this tidier, it also prevents patrons from cheating by concealing or stealing the plates. Servers in some restaurants use distinct stamps so that sales statistics for each server can be recorded

Answer 5

Read more and let's see the picture of Dim Sum set

Answer 6

'Dim' means little.
'Sum' means hearts.
Together it refers to little morsels or bite sized portions of tasty snacks that, when accompanied with tea, amount to a meal.
Dim sum is usually eaten from late morning to mid afternoon.
Usually a selection of steamed and fried items is served.
Steamed items include pork buns, rice rolls, dumplings, glutinous rice, and even chicken feet.
The fried items feature spring rolls, fried wonton, barbecued pork rolls and fried shrimp.
The food is typically served in a platter of 3.
Dim sum is usually a social event - a leisurely meal where friends and family can meet to gossip and share news in an unhurried fashion.

Answer 7

dim sum is good food. =D

Answer 8

Small serving of chinese food. This is served in bamboo steamers. Examples are: Siopao, Siomai, Chicken Feet, Dumplings, Sparribs...

Answer 9

Outstanding small Chinese munchies!!!!! my fav is the Barb-b-que pork dumplings. So straight to China town!!

Answer 10

a restaurant that serves you at your table by going around with a cart of food and its mostly steamed vegetables, chicken feet, dumplings etc.