So, the other day, I had this massive craving, you know? The kind that just hits you. I absolutely had to hang ah dim sum. It’s been a while, and I was really looking forward to it, like a proper, old-school session.
Getting the Ball Rolling
First thing, I had to convince the family. That wasn’t too hard, thankfully. Who says no to dim sum, right? We decided to head out on a Saturday morning. My thinking was, get there early, beat the crazy rush. Ha! Wishful thinking, as always.
We got ourselves ready, piled into the car. The journey itself wasn’t too bad, a bit of traffic here and there, but the anticipation was building. I was already dreaming of those little bamboo steamers and all the goodies inside.
Arrival and the Usual Chaos
We got to our usual spot, or at least, what used to be our usual spot. Place was already buzzing. Not just buzzing, it was like a beehive that someone had kicked. People everywhere, waiters rushing past with trays piled high. The noise level? Let’s just say quiet conversation was off the menu.
We finally snagged a table after a bit of a wait, one of those slightly wobbly ones right near the kitchen entrance. Prime spot for getting bumped into, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers when you’re desperate for siu mai.
The Main Event: Ordering and Eating!
Then came the fun part – trying to flag down a cart or get a waiter’s attention for an order sheet. It’s like a sport, seriously. We went for our classics:
- Har Gow (shrimp dumplings) – gotta have these.
- Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) – another non-negotiable.
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns) – the fluffy, steamed kind.
- Lo Mai Gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf) – my personal favorite.
- And of course, some Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls).
The food started arriving in waves. The Har Gow were pretty good, skin was nice and thin. Siu Mai was decent, though I’ve had better. The Char Siu Bao were a bit on the sweet side for me this time around. But the Lo Mai Gai? That hit the spot. Perfectly cooked, full of flavor. Just unwrapping that lotus leaf is a treat in itself.
We ate, we chatted (or rather, shouted over the din), and we drank lots of tea. It was, you know, a dim sum experience. Messy, a bit chaotic, but ultimately satisfying in that specific way only dim sum can be.
Got Me Thinking Though…
You know, this whole ‘hang ah dim sum’ ritual, it’s changed a lot. I remember when I was a kid, going for dim sum felt different. Maybe it’s just nostalgia, but I feel like the focus was more on the craft, the little details. These days, so many places seem to be about turnover, getting people in and out as fast as possible. Some of the artistry feels a bit lost. Or maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy, ha!
I also miss some of the older, less common dishes you rarely see anymore. It’s all the same popular items everywhere. But then again, finding a place that still does it the old way, that’s a real gem. This particular outing, it wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough. It filled the craving, and it was nice to just sit down with the family, even amidst the madness.
So yeah, that was my latest adventure to hang ah dim sum. We left feeling stuffed, a little tired from the noise, but generally content. Already thinking about where to try next time. Maybe find one of those quieter, hidden spots. The quest for the perfect dim sum continues!
