DIM SUM ATLANTA EVENING FULL

Translated literally, dim sum means “touch the heart,” a poetic reference to the fact that dim sum is considered a light meal of snacks, not a full course dinner (though you’ll likely fill up quickly if you order enough from the menu). Today, dim sum is one of the most popular forms of Chinese food in America, and it’s now commonly served for dinner, though in China its generally served for breakfast and brunch.ĭim sum started out as a way to gossip, gather news, and catch up with old friends and family members, and not much has changed about the atmosphere of a dim sum parlor: Gathering for dim sum is still a high-spirited social occasion, a time to bond with friends and family over good food. Immigrants brought dim sum to America where it flourished, particularly in the burgeoning Chinatown neighborhoods of places like New York City. Popular medical wisdom at the time dictated that tea helps stimulate digestion and cleanse the palette, so the tea houses began serving small snacks to enjoy while drinking tea - a tradition known as yum cha. Eventually, farmers from the surrounding areas would drop into the teahouses, too, hoping for companionship and stimulating conversation. Tea shops popped up along the route to accommodate weary travelers. Dim sum probably first appeared at the height of the Silk Road, a trade route connecting China to India, the Middle East, and North Africa. I was curious about what they would be like to reheat later, but they were still delicious after a short time in the microwave oven the following day.Like most Chinese food popular in the US, dim sum is Cantonese, originating in the province of Guangdong (sweet and sour pork, congee, and chow mein are all Cantonese in origin). Though by then, we were both so full, we had to get the buns to go, along with all the other leftovers. Personally I find that rather bizarre that the crustaceans can watch from the tanks how their friends end up on plates on the restaurant tables, but if you have traveled in Asia, you know that this is a common layout for seafood restaurants, so you can see that what you order is a fresh catch (straight out of the tank).įor dessert I had hoped that there was space for a round of the Creamy Egg Custard Buns, which look like little angry birds, and taste divine. Long Teng is a seafood restaurant and at the entrance there are tanks with live lobsters and crabs. We also had Crystal Shrimp Dumpling, which is another dim sum classic, but which Long Teng does exceptionally well.

Though the turnip cake at Long Teng is easy to like, and the small chunks are juicy and delicious with just the right amount of XO-seasoning.Īnother thing you have to order at Long Teng is the sticky rice dumplings shaped as small chickens, but be carefull not to burn your tongue when biting the heads off, as the filling is very hot.

All my Chinese friends claims that turnip cake is a must-order when going for dim sum, but I often find it bland, and rather dry. I’m a bit torn when it comes to turnip cake. I had previously tried the cheung feung with prawns (amazingly tasty!), but this time we also tried cheung feung with barbecue chicken, which was also delicious. Though that will change, because Meydan South is only about 20 minutes by car from Long Teng and from what could easily be the best dim sum in Dubai.įirst we had a Hainan Chicken appetizer which was an elegant version of the Chinese classic, served with a delicious sauce, and then the cheung feung (Cantonese rice noodle rolls) made their entrance. I have been there a couple of years ago and I was deeply impressed with both food and service, but Business Bay was just too long away to make me a regular at Long Teng. Long Teng is a really nice Chinese restaurant in Business Bay. On Trine’s last night in Dubai, we went for dim sum at Long Teng.

Dim sum atlanta evening