Dim Sum Stories

Larry Wong, a Vancouver resident who grew up in that city's vibrant Chinatown, has captured his memories in a book called Dim Sum Stories:  A Chinatown Childhood.  Check out this audio interview with Larry and more of his background from CBC Books.

Yank Sing Offers Gluten-Free Options

Our most recent visit to Yank Sing in San Francisco was wonderful -- with the added bonus of the staff working carefully with our table to choose gluten-free options as well as regular courses.

The visit was the perfect was to kick-off a week-long stay by the Bay -- and touring the culinary delights of the regions, including visits to the Ferry Building Marketplace, Hubert Keller's Fleur de Lys french restaurant, Fenton's Creamery in Oakland, and more.

The Rincon Center location was bustling on a holiday Monday -- with lots of traditional as well as new, more contemporary choices. There are those who believe Yank Sing is past its prime, but our experience in early January was anything but.

One challenge for some is the price -- it is easy to run up a pretty good size bill when your choices run $5 - $12.  Oh, what the heck. Go for it.

Dumplings to the World

You've got to love this.  The Ledyard Libraries are pushing dim sum (or its equivalent) to seniors as part of an outreach event.  This truly marks a tipping point in dim sum going mainstream.  Here's the story in the Norwich, Connecticut, Bulletin.

Ledyard Libraries seek teens to help with dumpling program

The Bulletin

Posted Jan 25, 2012 

Ledyard Libraries is looking for teenagers in grades 7 through 12 to help with its “Dim Sum to Modak: Dumplings from Around the World.”


The final event will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Ledyard Center Senior Center on Van Tassell Drive in Gales Ferry and will serve up to 50 guests. Teens interested in assisting can sign up for blocks of time from Feb. 17-19. To learn more call (860) 464-9912 or email teenlibrarian@ledyard.lioninc.org.

Playing Ping Pong Dim Sum

Serving style is a bit more 'uptown' than most dim sum restaurants.

Finally got to Ping Pong Dim Sum in DC -- with my son.  This is a bit more contemporary location than many dim sum restaurants -- sleek, new, no carts and everything off the menu.  A good selection, freshly steamed or fried and served hot.  We were there mid-afternoon on a Sunday and sat at the 'steam bar' watching the cooks do their jobs -- steam bamboo baskets of the nearly two dozen menu choices.

We voted that we would go back -- but being fans of open kitchen concepts -- wished we would be able to watch more of the food prep and not just dropping dumplings on the steam table or in the fryer.

It's evidentially very popular -- a second location is opening later this year near Dupont Circle.

Yank Sing Sings

The "Top 100" list is out -- you may have seen the story on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday.  Our favorite, Yank Sing, was ranked number two in the US as "top Chinese restaurant."  Enjoy. http://top100.chinesemenu.com/us/?lang=zh-CN

Yank Sing Revisited

Here's a fresh take on Yank Sing by Miriam Hosseini.   Net -- great food, costs a lot. But, golly, there's a reason this place is packed (still) after many, many years. Maybe next Father's Day.  After our little trip to Jan's Chinese (see prior post), my son suggested we make it a Father's Day staple and call it 'dad-sum'.  Now, that's a family tradition I can digest.

Jan's Coming of Age

Father's Day at Jan's Chinese in Cincinnati today with friends from DC.  Since my last visit in December, Jan's has expanded its decor and its menu, and has added wait staff that makes for a more pleasant experience. Today, it's the best choice for dim sum in the city. The variety is reasonable, food is well prepared and the staff is helpful in ordering from the cart or menu.  Give it a try!