Dim Sum 101: How to Liven Up Business Meals with This Cantonese Classic
Posted by Sara on Monday, August 4th, 2014 with 6 Comments
If you’re on the lookout for a way to liven up office breakfasts or business lunches, here are three words that could solve all your problems: dim sum delivery.
Now, purists might consider the whole idea of dim sum delivery a cardinal sin – after all, half the fun lies in the chaotic flow of classic Cantonese dim sum restaurants. The rumbling of carts, delivering little steamer baskets from table to table, newbies trying to identify the contents of a pillowy bun or tightly-wrapped dumpling… there’s nothing quite like going out for dim sum.
But, consider how bringing at least part of that experience to the office might bring a little energy to the typical breakfast meetings or business lunches. Attendees can sample a wide range of dishes (kind of like tapas), likely try some new and unfamiliar foods, and there will be no shortage of conversation starters when chicken feet are on the table.
Bring the excitement of a dim sum restaurant right to the office.
Image source: flickr user dnyluong
Traditionally, dim sum (also known as “yum cha,” which translates to “drink tea”) is a breakfast event – in cities like Hong Kong, Sunday mornings find dim sum restaurants packed with families sharing a table full of baskets and plates. Take a cue from this lively occasion and order up a dim sum delivery buffet for your next office event! Most dim sum dishes will include three to four pieces per order, so plan on approximately two orders per person to ensure you have enough. And to get you started, here are a handful of the most popular kinds of dim sum dishes you should include in your first foray (note that spelling may vary slightly by restaurant):
Har gow
Perhaps the most popular dim sum dish, har gow are essentially shrimp dumplings. Their delicate-looking, semi-translucent skins are surprisingly toothsome, and stuffed with shrimp – as well as some combination of pork, scallions, and bamboo shoots.
Siu mai
These dumplings stand out because they’re usually topped with a little colorful dot: a pea, a bit of grated carrot, even fish roe. You’ll be able to see the shrimp or pork filling (usually a mixture of chopped shrimp and/or ground pork, scallions, and mushrooms) peeking out the top, while the sides will be wrapped in a thin cylinder of dough.
Cha siu bao
These pillowy buns contain a savory and sweet filling of Chinese-style barbecue pork, flavored with five spice, fermented red bean, and hoisin… but the barbecue notes are still familiar enough to please less-adventuresome palates. Order a few extra so the pickier eaters have plenty to enjoy!
Cheong fan
This savory dish takes freshly steamed rice noodles and wraps them, almost burrito-style, around meat-and-veggie fillings starring shrimp, pork, or beef.
Lo baak gou
Also called turnip cakes, lo baak gou is a mixture of shredded daikon and rice flour, plus ham, sausage or shrimp, and pressed into a little cake before frying. That’s right, there are no turnips in turnip cake.
Fung zao/phoenix claws
Call them fung zao, call them phoenix claws… whatever you call them, they’re still chicken feet. BUT, there are no actual claws involved (the toenails have been removed), and the meat has been deep-fried to a uniquely puffed-up, gelatinous texture… and then simmered away in a slightly sweet sauce made with fermented beans. You’ll either love them or hate them, but they’re sure to be a conversation starter – and you should include at least one basket for adventurous eaters to try!
Lo mai tai
This hearty dish includes sticky rice flavored with chicken, mushrooms, sausage, and scallions, wrapped in a lotus or banana leaf and steamed. Again, a nicer choice for pickier eaters, this looks a little more approachable than many dim sum dishes (like fung zao).
Daan taat
Every good meal needs a sweet finish – and these little egg custard tarts are the classic dim sum dessert.
And don’t forget the hot tea – even if you’re sitting around a conference table while you eat, some traditions must be honored! For all your dim sum delivery needs, contact the experts at Waiter.com. With a wide range of menus, easy online ordering, and prompt delivery, you might not even miss the clatter of the dim sum carts.
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That’s an interesting idea that I’ll have to try to spice up some business breakfasts. I can see it opening up conversation and that is a good thing for a early AM business meeting when everyone is still half asleep.
It’s true – sometimes you need a breakfast that’s a little more stimulating than oatmeal or donuts to get the energy flowing at early meetings. (No offense to oatmeal and donuts, of course.)
My mouth is watering just from reading this, I will be recommending Dim Sum for my next catered office lunch. In the mean time, I know what I’m having for lunch tomorrow, thanks!
Awesome, Dustin – have an extra order of barbecued pork buns for me! Enjoy!
Dim sum seems like an excellent idea for my office, and one that I’d not even considered – looks like there’s something here to please everyone. I see a couple here that are new to me, I look forward to sampling them myself.
Thanks Sebastian! It’s definitely a conversation-starting cuisine – and there are so many dishes to try, you’ll never run out of novel meals!