After a month or so of being 1200 miles away from home, I've finally gotten home and after a long alcohol filled birthday weekend; dim sum (Cantonese breakfast) was my pick and oh how I absolutely enjoyed it.
Dim Sum, a style of Chinese cuisine, particularly Cantonese, are prepared in small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer and driven around in small steamed carts to readily serve any hungry patron. An assortment of tea usually accompanies the meal as one consumes the endless amounts of foods and soon enough, the worst hangover in the world could be reduced to none. Originating in Guangzhou and then spreading into many parts of Asia before reaching the United States, Dim Sum or also known as "Yum Cha" is served as early as 5 A.M. This allowed the common working Chinese people to be able to consume it before a hard day at work. But now in modern society, Dim Sum is more or less consumed by many families over a weekend breakfast and all the way into the mid afternoon. Aside from the numerous steamed selections, there are also many sweets that would satisfy the sweetest of tooth. Without ado, here are the few things that I was able to enjoy on my last visit to ABC Seafood Restaurant in Arlington, Texas.
Shrimp Xiu Mai
- Steamed dumplings with pork , topped with a piece of prawn. As a child, I wasn't much of a fan of this dish but through the years, it's since become one of the best things that I've ever tasted. Such succulent porky taste with the sweet flavors of shrimp melds perfectly together that you crave for another bite every bite you take.
Shrimp Dumpling
- Steamed dumplings w/shrimp. The thin layer of rice dumpling will melt right in your mouth as soon as it touches the heat of your tongue, then you will be engulfed with an amazingly natural sweet and salty aroma of the shrimp that lies within each piece.
Rice Noodle Roll
- Steamed rice noodles, rolled a filled with shrimp and topped with a sweet soy sauce. This dish can also be filled with different types of meats and vegetables
Chinese Roasted Pork
- A bite follows by a crunch, every single piece of this pork sends your taste buds tingling. The saltiness of the pork pairs so well with the side of Hoisin sauce that it feels like the meat's been cured for days. This may be one of the most well known Chinese dish and it well should be!
Steamed Short Ribs
- Steamed to the point that each and ever piece is fall off the bones amazing. It's sweetness and tenderness draws your mouth to an uncontrollable state of salivating and before you know it, the dish is entirely gone.
Egg Tart & Egg Custard Bun (Pineapple Bun)
- Both of these desserts are wonderfully sweet and equally as delicious. The crusty outer layer flakes off in every bite and the creaminess of the sweets surrounds you. These two dishes is a must to round up the amazing Dim Sum meal.