Dim sum explained
Dim sum - 'bits that touch the heart ' - are an ancient snack. They began in the 10th century when tea-drinking became an art as well as a fashion, and tea houses began serving small tastes of food to accompany the drink. Then, as wealthy merchants in Guangzhou in Southern China encouraged their chefs to surpass each other in the inventiveness of the dim sum they could offer their guests, the dim sum became as important as the tea.
Bags of ready-made dumplings are a useful freezer standby. Oriental markets have a wide range of very acceptable versions. Trader Joe's sells more Westernized varieties.
Key to authenticity is the dipping sauce you serve with them. Dilute soy sauce to taste with a little rice vinegar and a small jigger of sesame oil. Add, if you like, finely minced scallions, a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, or granules of Red Pepper Powder found at H Mart.
You can now find dim sum served daily, not just at weekends, at a number of local restaurants, usually between 11 - 3. Among these are the following. Reservations are recommended.
China Doll Gourmet, 627 H St NW, 202 289 4755
Mr Yung's, 740 6th NW, 202 628 1098
Hunan Number One, 3033 Wilson Blvd, 703 528 1177 Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant, Seven Corners Center, 703 538 3333
Fortune of Reston Restaurant, North Point Village Shopping Center, 703 318 8898
China Chef, 11323 Georgia Ave, Wheaton, 301 949 8170
Good Fortune, 2646 University Blvd West, 301 929 8818
Lucky Three, 5900 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703 998 8888, serves a dim sum buffet from 11 to 3 , Monday to Friday, and dim sum to order on weekends from 11 to 3
Fu Shing Cafe, 1350 Rockville Pike, 301 881 7088
Silver Fountain Restaurant, 13665 Connecticut Ave, Wheaton, 301 460 1200
Oriental East, 1290 East West Highway, Silver Spring, 301 608 0030
China Garden, 1100 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 703 525 5317, dim sum Sundays
Mark’s Duck House, 6184 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA, 703 532 2125
Bamboo Garden, 6331 S Kings Hwy, Alexandria, VA, 703 768 2338, dim sum buffet on Saturdays and Sundays
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