Dim Sum, umbrella category for small chinese dishes

Dim Sum is an integral part of Chinese cuisine, closely associated with the tradition of yum cha, or taking tea. Dim Sum means "small heart", suggestive of a small snack that touches the heart. Dim Sum can be found all over China and in many parts of the West, where Dim Sum is a popular meal. Dim Sum is usually served in the late morning through the early afternoon, although some Dim Sum establishments are open later. It is a meal that should be lingered over, in multiple courses that traditionally have a set order.

Dim Sum is an umbrella category for small Chinese dishes. Typical examples of Dim Sum are small dumplings, wrapped foods such as won tons and egg rolls, and other more exotic foods. In general, individual portions of Dim Sum are small, so that numerous dishes can be ordered and sampled by the table. Most Dim Sum falls under the category of a savory pastry, although these foods can be prepared in a variety of ways. Dim Sum can be steamed, fried, boiled, baked, or broiled, and this wide range of options makes for a lively and varied meal.

Usually, Dim Sum is served from rolling carts, which makes it markedly different from Western foods. In a Dim Sum restaurant, servers wheel out fresh trays of delicacies and tables can take what they please. A specific type of dish is used for each food, so that at the end of the meal, the staff can add up all the dirty dishes to determine how much should be charged. Eating traditional Dim Sum is like grazing, and it encourages diners to linger and nibble, sometimes for hours.

Most restaurants have a dazzling array of Dim Sum available, with large establishments offering over 100 different varieties of food that change from day to day. The chef is given a great deal of leeway to create whatever he or she pleases, depending on seasonal availability and what he or she thinks is auspicious for that day.

Some classic examples of Dim Sum include har gow, small steamed dumplings with shrimp and water chestnuts. Consumers can also often find siu may, open faced pork dumplings with chives. Steamed buns filled with a variety of things, from barbecued pork to vegetables, are also extremely popular. Many restaurants also make sweet steamed buns, filled with things like red bean paste, sesame, or lotus root. More exotic offerings such as chicken feet or shrimp wrapped in bean curd skin can often be found as well. Dim Sum is a culinary adventure, and the small dishes are often inexpensive, which encourages people to try new things.(S.E. Smith - Wise Geek)


See also :
Hanamasa
Wine