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DIM SUM
What is dim sum?
Introduction
In the Canton provinces, many people gather at tea houses during the morning and early afternoon to socialize or conduct
business over small meals. In China this is most popularly called going to yum cha -- going to tea -- because the drinking of tea is so strongly associated
with the snack foods served. In the United States, however, we are most familiar with the term dim sum to describe
these small meals. Dim sum, literally translated from the Cantonese, means "dot-hearts," small treats that touch the
heart.
What Is Served
Most dim sum foods are savory pastries -- steamed or fried dumplings, filled buns, noodles. There are also sweet
pastries, vegetables, meats. The portions are bite-sized, and they are served in small quantities, usually three or four to
a plate, so that the diners can enjoy a variety of foods, whether they eat very little or indulge in a huge feast. Variety is one of the keys to dim sum. Some restaurants offer over 100 different items on a busy day.
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| Steamed Cart at the Pandan Room |
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How Dim Sum Is Served
The presentation of the dim sum meal has no equivalent in the West. Servers push carts, loaded with a variety of
foods, through the dining room, past the customers, who keep an eye out for appealing dishes. Once a desired item is in sight,
the diner flags down the cart and points out what she wants. The dining room bustles with the activity of carts wending among
tables, calls for attention, and the clatter of plates. The idea is to choose things continually throughout the meal, rather
than to gather all the food at once before eating. Sweet items are interspersed with the savories; Chinese custom does not include saving sweets for the end of the meal, although they are reserved for special occasions, such as the pauses
between courses in a banquet or indulgences like dim sum.
Tea
Just as the arrival of food is ongoing, the supply of tea is endless. When a teapot is empty, the customer need only leave
the lid up, and it will be whisked away and refilled. One story told to explain this custom involves a poor student who hid
a bird in his teapot. When the waiter came to refill the pot and lifted the lid, the bird flew away. According to his plan,
the student made a loud fuss. It was a very valuable bird, he said, and the restaurant owed him recompense. After this, the
restaurant-and all others--decided to wait for customers to lift the lid of an empty teapot if a refill was needed.
The Bill
When the diners have eaten their fill, the bill is calculated by counting up the number of plates on the table
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| Fried Items at the Pandan Room |
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Dim Sum is served Saturday and Sunday only from 11 AM - 2 PM
Pandan Room Restaurant
100 East Moore Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Ph: 908-850-5999 Fax:
908-850-5996
We recommend making reservation by calling
908-850-5999
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