Thursday, March 13, 2008

Experiments in International Dining


At Chinese New Year, last month, all the city employees were given $10 gift certificates to a local Chinese restaurant by the city's Chinese Association. Very generous. Just a couple days ago I had passed mine on to Milly, because the expiration date was quickly approaching and it didn't look like I was going to have a chance to use it. Today, though, she suggested that we go there for lunch together. I always like having lunch with her, but I was especially glad to have her as my guide on this little adventure. I had had some Dim Sum dishes before, but never served in this traditional style. Once you are seated, servers come by with their carts of stuff, lifting lids and asking you if you want some of whatever they have...given that I didn't know for sure what I was looking at most of the time, I might have had a hard time putting together a reasonable meal on my own. Milly chose some nice dishes for us...nothing too adventurous, as she knows I am not a very daring eater :-) She asked me before the food came if I needed a fork instead of chopsticks. I was all, no, no, I can use chopsticks! Well, I do know how to use chopsticks, really. But a lot of the dim sum dishes are sort of...mushy? I couldn't hold on to stuff...I ended up having to use the inelegant fork. How embarrassing. All in all, I really enjoyed the food and getting to try a variety of little dishes. Have any of you had Dim Sum? Or have you ever been to a restaurant and been sort of lost? Or am I the only one quite so bumpkin-ish? Tell me about it!

12 comments:

AlienCG said...

I haven't been to a Dim-Sum restaurant before. I do know how to use chopsticks though.

It sounds like you had a good time at lunch. Way to be adventurous.

Mrs. Hairy Woman said...

Love Dim Sum.. haven't been in such a long time.. but I'm sure glad you enjoyed it even with the unelegant fork and all..

Anonymous said...

Never Dim Sum, but I have time!!

I like using chopsticks, they force me to eat slower. Besides, when in Rome....

Last adventure was fondue. I loved the experience and want to go again. I also would love to do Mongolian barbecue, I have heard good things.

Tara said...

Haven't had Dim Sum yet, but that kind of restaurant would be so fun and interesting!

A year ago I got this extreme interest to try Thai food, so I bought some Thai noodle soup at the grocery store and, while in this weird mood, I bought some chopsticks.
It was challenging to eat the noodles with the chopsticks, but I got the hang of it and can actually twirl regular spaghetti faster on regular silverware (I usually cut up my pasta). Weird, huh?

laura b. said...

AlienCG: That is about as adventurous as I am likely to get these days ;-)

MrsBHW: It was really good, although using the fork was not among my finest moments.

Evil-E: I have had fondue, but never at one of those special restaurants. That seems fun. And Mongolian barbeque is sooooo good.

Tara: You should definitely try dim sum if you get the chance. I love Thai food too, especially pad thai. My chopstick technique is sorely lacking, but it is fun anyway. :-)

Viki said...

I love dim sum. It is so delicious.

We try to go every once in awhile. It is fun!!!!

laura b. said...

Viki: It is really good. Next time I will have a better idea of what to choose.

Churlita said...

I just had dim sum for the first time two weeks ago. I really liked it.

laura b. said...

Churlita: The things I had were so good...some of it looked like stuff I probably wouldn't eat, because I am sort of boring when it comes to food.

Ah Fong said...

Gong! The Orientals have won you over! Victory is ours.

laura b. said...

Librarian X: Does that mean I am an egg now? (white on the outside, yellow on the inside)

Ah Fong said...

You are hardboiled. Yellow to the core. Haha. :-)