Tasty dim sum

Going to a Chinese restaurant for dim sum and a good chat with friends was one of Sharon´s favourite morning activities when she lived in Hong Kong.

There are many different types of dim sum, which are served in small baskets or on plates. In busy restaurants, ladies push carts between the tables and the hungry snackers choose their favourites. The noise levels are usually high as people shout and talk but that is part of the atmosphere. Sharon says:

“Going for dim sum was a big social event and I used to go at least three or four times a week. I would always meet friends. I used to go to the City Hall restaurant which overlooked the Hong Kong harbour down in the centre of the city. The restaurant was very big and spacious. Sitting with friends at their table, being women, we would yakety-yak 19 to the dozen, as women do. Although we might only have seen each other a few days previously, but you know how it is. There is always something earth-shatteringly important to discuss.

“We would catch the eye of the lady passing with her trolley to see what little snacks she had. My favourites included cha shiu bau. This is little bits of barbecued pork inside a big fluffy white ball of bread. My daughter, Julia, was raised on this. She used to come along with me in her pushchair. A couple of these would do her for lunch, followed by an ice cream as a treat for being good.

“I also liked har gau. Which was a little envelope with shrimps inside. We would drink gallons of Chinese tea, served to us in teapots. When you had finished, you would rest the lid, which was tied to the handle with a piece of string, on the top of the pot. This showed the waiters that you were empty and needed a refill. It was quite easy to get through three or four pots of tea in a session. Chinese tea is famous for helping with the digestion.

“The noise was sometimes excruciating as all the women were in there yakking to their pals. There could be 300 people in there on a quiet day. I loved the whole thing, it was heart-warming, friendly, nourishing and sociable – if could stand the racket.”

After reading the above, Julia called her mother to protest that she had not mentioned her all time favourite - "daan tats". These are luscious egg tarts, or egg custards, served piping hot. They crumble the minute you bite into them and they are only "two bites big" says Sharon. "You only get about two mouthfuls and the crumbs go everywhere."

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©Phillip Bruce 2009