I truly believe that my love affair with food began when as a kid, one of my favorite books was “Stone Soup“. Mind you the one I read was a version from like the 1960′s, but I thought it was so cool that a kid could trick an old woman to cook him a whole pot of delicious stew from nothing more than some vegetables and a stone! Maybe that’s why I gravitate towards everything soup base? Maybe my subconscious is searching for that magical broth experience?
Another thing I love: SURPRISES!
So imagine when my cousin’s introduced me to Xiao Long Bao a.k.a Chinese Soup Dumplings, during one of my trips home to the NYC. At first I couldn’t wrap my head around it because I just couldn’t understand how the soup got INSIDE the dumpling! So, when I returned to Los Angeles I was on a mission to not only share this out-of-body experience with Jason, but to also find the BEST chinese soup dumplings in town. This goal of mine ended when we found Din Tai Fung.
(L) Juicy Pork Dumplings.
(R) Menu/Order form that you submit to your waiter/waitress
If you would like to find out more info about the history of this Shanghai delicacy, just click anytime Din Tai Fung is mention in this blog. What’s most unusual and important about this establishment is they are famous for their creations, every thing is handmade FRESH at each establishment, and that there are only 3 locations in the USA. So I’m very sorry and feel your pain if you have this dying urge to try this steamy tray of awesomeness after reading my blog, but don’t live in Los Angeles or Seattle. Hey! but think of it this way…you now have another reason to prolong your life…AND… find a reason to travel to the above mentioned cities?! More importantly, maybe you don’t have a Din Tai Fung near you, but you can now have your own adventure of discovering a favorite soup dumpling place in your area, and school me on it!
In chinese culture, meal time is a social occasion. Even back in the days of imperial china, meals were shared among all members of the family. People didn’t eat alone. The bad part: this was usually the time where the hierarchy within the family was demonstrated. The good part: there were many food options since a lot of people were always at the table. Whether the good outweighed the bad I guess depends on where at the table you sat! My point is, in keeping with tradition, this is most definitely a food experience to be enjoyed with a group of people.
Anyways, back to the dumplings…I still don’t know how they actually get the soup inside the dumplings without making the dumpling wrapper all soggy, but I don’t question it anymore. I just order and enjoy! Like all foods, there is no right or wrong way to eat something. Well….unless you’re in India or something where they eat with hands. Or if you find yourself in a Japanese noodle house, in which case you want to remember SLURPING is the key to paying the chef a compliment.
(L) correct soup dumpling spoon positioning
(R) other dishes that are a MUST HAVE
In the case of chinese soup dumplings, you don’t have to worry about any of the above:) I have friends who like to dip their dumplings into a vinegar/soy sauce concoction and then just plopping the entire morsel into their mouth, where the soup is released as they’re chewing. As you can see from the picture above, I like to add ginger (that has soaked in my vinegar/soy sauce mixture), to my spoon first, then place the dumpling up towards the handle of my spoon. This way when I poke a small hole with my chopstick, the soup has a little well to pool into. I like my food pretty…what can I say?
Spicy Shrimp Dumpling
Another dish that I CAN NOT not order is their Spicy Shrimp Dumplings. They come drenched in this perfectly balanced sweet and salty, spicy, savory yet light, sauce. These have no soup in them and are like a more commonly recognized steamed dumpling, but that sauce….it’s so BOMB! Jason loves their steamed Spinach dish that is considered a side, so we always get that too.
Another important tip is that even though you can order different drinks, just stick with the hot tea they give you. The Chinese drink hot tea with their meal because it helps clean the oiliness in foods and it works as an aid in digestion. Gosh darn it…we are so clever!
