NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. Now they're just glad to be back at their favorite neighborhood spot, enjoying dumplings and tea with friends old and new.įor NPR News, I'm Daniel Lam in New York.Ĭopyright © 2021 NPR. LAM: The regulars say the pandemic has proved nothing will prevent Mee Sum from serving the community. Lilian Ting and Joyce Gong say they're not surprised at how this humble dim sum shop stepped up in a time of need. They still partner with a local organization to provide culturally appropriate meals to Chinatown seniors. So Mee Sum distributed meat, coffee and other supplies. Basic goods were sold out in many stores. The older generation (non-English language spoken).
GONG: Yeah, (non-English language spoken). LAM: She tells Grace Young that she recalls hearing cries for help echo around the close-knit neighborhood. I was up here for, like, three or four weeks. She says that some staff were reluctant to come in. Joyce Gong is the owner's niece and a regular. LAM: Unlike many restaurants, Mee Sum never closed during the pandemic and hasn't raised prices.
#Dim sum chinatown nyc gothamist full#
Instead comes a big steamer full of chive dumplings or snow pea shoot dumplings. YOUNG: The waitress is pushing the carts around, and you're in the mood for har gow, the shrimp dumplings. She says that the other experience you don't get with takeout is spontaneity, another feature of life the pandemic put on hold. She believes that for dim sum to truly touch a diner's heart, it must be consumed at the restaurant with friends and family. And you just don't get that experience when you get it for takeout. GRACE YOUNG: It's about pulling off the lid of the steamer and seeing the steam come up and the dumplings absolutely glistening. LAM: Another name for dim sum is yum cha, which means to drink tea. You know, they were like, yeah, you know - I said, where do you go for tea now? That's the big thing. And, you know, you would stop and go, hi, how are you? You know, you look good. With dim sum, even strangers become fast friends. Ting calls dim sum Chinese church and Chinese Cheers, referring to the sitcom bar where everybody knows your name. It's about being with friends and family. It's a time to catch up, gossip, even conduct business. And then all of a sudden, to have it taken away you - and it's like, oh, hello, I lost it, you know? Like, that was. TING: You know, it's something that's tangible.
When the pandemic shut down indoor dining, Ting says she experienced dim sum withdrawal.
But at Mee Sum, all you need to do is take a seat at the counter. At larger restaurants, little dishes of dumplings and bao buns are served on carts pushed around the dining room. For over 50 years, Mee Sum has used the same handmade recipes and antique cash register. Ting's been coming to the cafe for decades. LAM: The chorus of hellos Lilian Ting receives when she walks into Mee Sum isn't unusual. Daniel Lam has this audio postcard from a restaurant in New York City's Chinatown neighborhood that is once again welcoming diners.ĭANIEL LAM, BYLINE: At Mee Sum cafe, the regulars are finally back. During the pandemic, that tradition was put on pause. The small plates of aromatic shrimp dumplings and pork buns washed down with hot tea are also a way to build community, a means of staying connected. For many Chinese American families, dim sum isn't just a delicious meal.
0 kommentar(er)
