Dim sum is a culinary practice that can be traced back to ancient Cantonese origins. Transliterated as "to touch the heart," dim sum is fast becoming a breakfast or lunch choice for many. Available in many authentic Chinese restaurants, dim sum are tiny helpings of special food items which usually comes on carts or trays and delivered to you by a server. The benefit of dim sum is that it can be enjoyed by everyone, between two people, to a group of many eaters. Dim sum offers one a chance to taste and sample from a miscellaneous variety of foods. Here are some tips to make the dim sum experience more comfortable for first timers.
Selecting a Dim Sum Restaurant
If new to feasting on dim sum, diners should ascertain with friends or locals who frequent dim sum establishments for recommendations. It is true that no two dim sum restaurants are exactly alike. Those who eat dim sum fairly regularly end to eat at many locations, checking off a place or two that they deem to be the best. The general rule of, the more crowded the restaurant-the better the food, is often true in the case of dim sum. In some restaurants, dim sum is available daily at any time, while in some, it's only served on specific days or hours. The latter kind of dim sum restaurants tend to be crowded on these hours, so be prepared for the long queues. Although dim sum restaurants serve a basically similar sampling, each wil hae an unique way of presentation. In addition, each place may offer an unique dim sum dish prepared by its chef.
Dim Sum Waiter
Since the restaurant servers are assigned to push food carts and carry trays to many different tables, each table is assigned a waiter from which drinks and tea can be ordered. Upon seating, the waiter will introduce himself and begin to fill the table glasses with water. Also, customers at this point can begin to ask the waiter for pricing and assistance in packing up leftover dim sum.
Prices of Dim Sum samplings
For first timers, perhaps the most confusing part in eating dim sum is regarding pricing. There is usually no menu that contains listed prices for food items and prices are also absent on the carts being wheeled around. Dim sum restaurants may have a price list around the entrance to the place, categorizing prices by the size of the dish, but often do not indicate which food items are classified into each size group.
Patrons are handed a cardboard the size of a brochure with boxes. The server ticks off the boxes to make a tally of what the customer has ordered. When the customer is done eating, the card is then presented to the counter where the bill is issued. Unfortunately, it is difficult to calculate the bill total until it has been taken to the register. To have an idea of the prices, ask the server about the pricing for specific items. It's also a good idea to ask the cashier if tips and service charges are already included in bill.
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