You Ate All of That..and Dim Sum?
The weekend before Chinese New Year is always reserved for last-minute-shopping and preparation- at least, it is in my family. We traveled down to Garden Grove in Orange County, Ca, to pick up some of our favorite foods in light of the celebration. Amidst the shopping, waiting in long lines, and spending an exceedingly long but necessary, amount of time deciding whether or not to buy the Pooh Bear Lucky Red Envelopes or the ones with puppies on them, our stomachs grumbled to remind us there was one thing we had forgotten to do: EAT!
We headed over to Seafood World, a restaurant located off of Brookhurst. We had been going here for years and everything still looked the same. We entered through the glass, double doors, to meet a table covered with a pink, flower-embroidered table cloth. Sitting on top of the table was two cooked ducks, one on each side of the table. A cylinder glass vase held bamboo as a bowl as a plate of fruit arrangements pushed up on its’ side. Centered, were three cups of tea, and a small bowl of rice incense were placed. You could smell the New Year approaching, as the aroma of the incense filled the entrance.
We greeted the hostess, as she led us to our table. The circular revolving glass, served as the instrument for our food. As we sat down, carts rolled past us, as servers asked the customers if they wanted a dish on their cart. The food waited patiently in their little pieces, as we decided which dishes to pick.
After a table full of sui mai, variations of delicious shrimp dishes, steamed vegetables, taro balls, porridge, and bbq pork, we were ready to dig in.
We were starving! This traditional Chinese, family style brunch was just what we needed to get our energy back…despite the small food coma we experienced after finishing our meal.
However, the hot green tea melted away all the bloat and sleepiness we were feeling. As if that was the best part.
Upon our departure, my mom looked at us as we gazed at the empty can of sui mai, our absolute favorite dish when we ate dim sum.
“Do you guys want me to order some to go,” my mother asked, as if she didn’t already know the answer.
Our wide and hopeful eyes, substituted a verbal answer as she ordered some food to go.
“You guys ate ALLLLLL of that…and dim sum,” my mother joked, as we left the restaurant with good energy, happy stomachs, and leftovers…mmmm..
Leftovers!