Deep Fried Bean Curd Shrimp Roll

Deep Fried Bean Curd Shrimp Roll

Another great starter dish, the deep-fried bean curd shrimp roll has lots of shrimp inside and a bean curd wrapping on the outside.

Deep Fried Shrimp Roll

Deep Fried Shrimp Roll

A great starter dish, the deep-fried Shrimp Roll has lots of shrimp inside and a very light coating on the outside. This dish is an excellent alternative to Spring Rolls for those who enjoy seafood courses.

Deep Fried Spring Roll with Pork and Taro

Deep Fried Spring Roll with Pork and Taro

These crispy deep-fried spring roll will make you forget about Egg Rolls! Taro and Pork filling is the traditional Cantonese style of preparation for Spring Roll. Taro is like a potato, and has a similar texture.

Sticky Rice with Pork Wrapped in Lotus Leaves

Sticky Rice with Pork Wrapped in Lotus Leaves

A traditional mixture of glutinous rice, pork and other ingredients is steamed inside a Lotus Leaf for extra flavour, resulting in a unique taste. This dish is an excellent choice for a quick light lunch.

Steamed Seafood Dumpling with Chive

Steamed Seafood Dumpling with Chive

A crystalline dumpling wrapper encloses a seafood and chive filling and steamed in a bamboo steamer. This yummy steamed dish is another Dim Sum favourite.

Pan Fried Turnip Cake

Pan Fried Turnip Cake

This dish is made with a puree of white turnip, with dried shrimp and Chinese sausage inside. This turnip puree is then pan fried to a golden brown and is soft on the inside.

Steamed Rice Noodle Roll with Chinese Donut Sticks

Steamed Rice Noodle Roll with Chinese Donut Sticks

A large rice noodle is steamed then wrapped around a Chinese Donut Stick. This dish is served with your choice of two sauces, a sweet Hoisin sauce and a special soya sauce mixture.

Chinese Donut Stick with Plain Congee

Chinese Donut Stick with Plain Congee

Congee is a rice porridge or rice soup. Congee is a popular breakfast dish and as a late night snack in Cantonese cuisine. The Chinese Donut Stick is deep fried (not sweet) and is meant to be eaten with the plain congee.

Peanut and Preserved Lo-Park with Plain Congee

Peanut and Preserved Lo-Park with Plain Congee

Congee is a rice porridge or rice soup. Congee is a popular breakfast dish and as a late night snack in Cantonese cuisine. Preserved Lo Park is a pickled Chinese "white carrot" and is meant to be eaten with the plain congee.

Deep Fried Sesame Balls with Lotus Paste

Deep Fried Sesame Balls with Lotus Paste

These may have sesame on the outside, but on the inside is a rich and sweet Lotus Paste filling that makes this an excellent dessert. This dish also makes for a nice snack.

Steamed Egg Paste Bun

Steamed Egg Paste Bun

Similar to the Steamed Lotus Paste Bun, with a sweet Egg Paste filling inside. Don't forget to remove the paper liner before eating!

Steamed Lotus Paste Bun

Steamed Lotus Paste Bun

The light wheat flour bun is filled with a sticky and sweet Lotus Seed Paste filling that is exquisitely rich. Makes an excellent dessert for brunch!

Honey Comb Tripe with Satay Sauce

Honey Comb Tripe with Satay Sauce

Some may not find it very invting, but the spicy and salty Satay sauce imparts a great deal of flavour to the honey comb tripe.

Deep Fried Squid Tentacles

Deep Fried Squid Tentacles

Lightly coated calamari is deep fried until it’s crispy on the outside and just slightly chewy on the inside. This dish is also a favourite of many for Dim Sum.

Steamed Dumpling with Minced Pork and Peanuts

Steamed Dumpling with Minced Pork and Peanuts

The Chinese name of this dish refers to Chiu Chow, the area of China where the dish originates from. These delicious crystalline dumplings have a filling includes pork and peanuts as well as chives.

Steamed Beef Tripe with Ginger and Green Onion

Steamed Beef Tripe with Ginger and Green Onion

The Beef Tripe is braised with a special sauce until it is very flavourful. This traditional dish is served steamed in a wooden bamboo steamer.

Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce

Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce

Bite-sized pork rib pieces are braised in a tasty black bean sauce and steamed. Bite sized pieces makes it easy to pick up with chopsticks. Try this dish alone or with white rice.

Steamed Beef Balls

Steamed Beef Balls

There’s no tomato sauce here! These Beef Balls are served steamed to perfection with a bean curd base. This Dim Sum dish is traditionally served with Worcestershire sauce to accent the natural beef flavour.

Steamed BBQ Pork Bun

Steamed BBQ Pork Bun

These steamed buns are made with a light wheat flour and are served traditionally served in a bamboo steamer. The sweet BBQ Pork filling is an excellent complement to the plain flour bun. Don’t forget to remove the paper liner on the bottom before eating!

Steamed Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce

Steamed Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce

A traditional Dim Sum dish, the chicken feet are full of flavour and have a red-orange colour. The Chinese name for this dish translates to “Phoenix Claws” (really).

Pan Fried Stuffed Eggplant with Shrimp

Pan Fried Stuffed Eggplant with Shrimp

Our favourite aubergine vegetable is stuffed with a shrimp filling, then lightly fried to seal in the flavour. A yummy way to enjoy eggplant!

Siu Mai (Minced Pork and Shrimp)

Siu Mai (Minced Pork and Shrimp)

A mouth-watering blend of minced pork and shrimp partially enclosed in a light bean curd wrapper. This dish is available steamed (which is the traditional way it is served) or pan fried with chives.

Crystal Shrimp Dumpling "Har Gow"

Crystal Shrimp Dumpling "Har Gow"

A delicate crystalline dumpling wrapper encloses a tasty shrimp filling. This steamed dish, is a perennial Dim Sum favourite. Many Dim Sum dishes are served in bamboo steamers like this one.

Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll

Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll

A large rice noodle is wrapped around bite-sized fresh shrimp and steamed. This dish is also available with Minced Beef, B.B.Q. Pork or Shredded Chicken and Vegetables. This traditional Dim Sum dish is served with a special soya sauce mixture.

What is Dim Sum?

Many People have asked me: So just what is Dim Sum?

Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese brunch that consists entirely of appetizer-like dishes. Portions tend to be bite-sized and made easy for eating with chopsticks. Popular Chinese dishes include Crystal Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gow), Pork and Shrimp Dumpling (Siu Mai), and my personal favourite, Shrimp Rice Noodle Rolls.

In the past, Dim Sum was served normally on rolling carts that would move from table to table with a variety of items. This doesn't work so well if you are interested in a particular dish and it is not available at the time that you arrive. Today, it is more popular to order what you want from a menu and then the dish is prepared for your table as soon as it is ordrered, ensuring promptness, freshness, and proper food temperature. Also, since you tend to order those dishes that you want to try, and how many of each dish, you have more control over your dining experience.

Dim Sum is normally a very social occasion for Chinese people. Most Chinese like to have Dim Sum in large groups to maximize the number and variety of dishes, and I think this approach makes a lot of sense. Nothing beats bringing family and friends together for a great meal!

Finally, since Dim Sum dishes are usually quite rich, these dishes are normally consumed with large amounts of Chinese tea. It is widely believed that not only will the tea work to counteract the richness of the dishes, it will also aid in digestion, and I would wholeheartedly agree.

Over the next while, I hope to use this blog to write about Dim Sum dishes and describe them in some detail so that hopefully you will be able to gain a better understanding of Dim Sum dishes that are available.