Dim sum
Much more than dumplings
So, what is dim sum?
The word dim sum is Cantonese and refers to small bite sized dishes that are served in bamboo steamer baskets or on small plates. In ancient China travelers along the Silk Road broke their journey by stopping at tea houses. It was discovered that drinking tea helps digestion, so small pieces of food were offered with the tea. With that, the tradition of dim sum began.
Many dim sum restaurants, especially older ones, are centered around push carts laden with various steamed dumplings and dishes, all placed in bamboo or metal steamers. These carts are pushed around the restaurant by different attendants, allowing diners to order directly from them.
Here are some of the classics that will be featured at every dim sum restaurant:
Food, Family and Tradition
It has become an integral part of culinary culture that has lasted through generations, where whole families gather to chat and eat dim sum and drink Chinese tea. Here, stories old and new are recounted over a table full of bamboo baskets that hold a variety of dim sum – small bites that includes everything from smooth rice rolls and succulent prawn dumplings to sweet roasted pork buns and delicate lava custard buns.
Dim sum is certainly more than just food, representing history, tradition and a sense of family camaraderie. It's no wonder that the Chinese meaning of dim sum is commonly translated to “touch the heart”.
From Wikipedia