Trans Mod Dim Sum - Page 2

Originally Posted by itsstillmatt 

Seriously. I've never seen somebody only eat the meat. My wife only eats the skin (in a pancake with hoisin and green onion) which pisses me off to no end because I have an excess of meat. Also, pancakes versus buns? The two best Peking duck places in SF differ mainly in this regard, and we choose based on which we want that night.

Originally Posted by LA Guy 

Worse is when non-Chinese order entire dinner "entrees" for themselves. Who actually enjoys eating an entire plate of bok choy? It's insanity. And the next person has an entire plate of beef.

Originally Posted by dopey 

I would like to try Peking Duck one day.

Originally Posted by mafoofan 

To be fair, I'm exaggerating about how sloppy I am. Actually, I'm not at all. The point was more that it's nearly impossible to really eat dim sum unless you can eat pork--and that is broadly true of Chinese food. Also, dim sum is supposed to be a communal, family-style meal. You're supposed to share the experience together, each reaching for the same little plates, not sitting with your plate of shrimp dumplings kept to yourself. It's not the right spirit of things. I get irritated later on when I reflect on the grimaces and looks of disgust as I unpack my pork fat drenched sticky rice from its lotus leaf. But at the time, I'm too busy enjoying the delicious gooeyness. I just don't think many non-Chinese really "get" what dim sum is supposed to be. It's like people who "love" sushi, order a single $4.99 order of spicy tuna rolls for themselves, and then wonder why the waiter doesn't give a crap about serving them well.

Originally Posted by Fang66 

What rubbish, there may be a few rubes who don't get it but it isn't rocket science. Are you amazed when you see gweilo who can use chopsticks? This is especially rich coupled with the ignorant sushi comment.

Originally Posted by mafoofan 

My generation of just-turned-30's seems to have largely grown up with flaccid palates.
But for it's worth, my family members have a quirk where we do not use the scallions. I think that has to do with having started eating Peking duck when I was little kid--and no kid likes the scallions. I've passed this on to my wife, who only goes scallion-less. She vows that Peking duck is the greatest dish ever invented, which makes me happy, because I didn't need her to change religions or learn any languages for me. I just needed her to like Peking duck. And Chinese pastries and deserts. And everything in between.
I've always eaten it with pancakes. In fact, I had not encountered the buns until we lived in Chicago. But all Chicago Chinese food is discredited, so I assumed it was a fluke.

Originally Posted by mafoofan 

. . .
Let's do it, baby.

Originally Posted by dopey 

I assumed kosher Peking Duck would be awful but if you try one first and can confirm for me that it is good, you have a deal.

Originally Posted by mafoofan 

No, it is not rocket science. But it is a very different style of eating than many are used to. Using chopsticks is easy, so I would be more amazed if someone eating Chinese or Japanese didn't know how to use them. However, having lived in DC, Chicago, and New York City all my life, with a stint in New England, I can say that the people I spend time with generally aren't "rubes." They just don't understand that you aren't meant to order that plate of orange beef just for yourself. Same issue with sushi. Ninety percent of the time I eat sushi with non-Asians, everyone orders their own rolls and fish. I find that extremely odd. Yet it is somewhat to be expected given cultural differences. As I pointed out the same goes the other way around.

Originally Posted by edinatlanta 

Was more echoing Dougie's statement. My advice could apparently be adopted by me, too.

Originally Posted by mafoofan 

Also, all my friends in New York are Jews and "like" to eat dim sum even though they cannot eat pork and generally don't like anything sticky or gelatinous. Essentially, they eat the shrimp dumplings. A small plate each. And then they are done. Meanwhile there I am ordering like a proper Chinese person, with 12-15 small plates covering the table, and liquified pork fat flying out the corners of my mouth. Also, they insist on going at "lunch time," which is like 1:30 in the afternoon, and don't understand all the good stuff will be gone or stale by then.
It's not fun when you do it with people who don't do it right.

Originally Posted by itsstillmatt 

My people are good jews, and by that I mean we eat dim sum correctly.
Edit: Except for my mother. She won't let anybody else touch the black bean spare ribs. If somebody else at the table wants some, we have to get two orders.

Originally Posted by j 

My girlfriend (ex-Jewish) doesn't eat shrimp and hasn't totally warmed up to pork yet either. We met some friends at dim sum and there was almost nothing she would eat. Kind of awkward, but at least she didn't pick through anything and ruin it, which sounds inexcusable.

I do wish there were a little guide for each dish on what you are supposed to do, because I know I'm often doing it wrong.

Originally Posted by dopey 

I assumed kosher Peking Duck would be awful but if you try one first and can confirm for me that it is good, you have a deal.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH 

Do they have it at le marais?