Yum Cha
Any given Sunday strolling the length and breadth of Northbridge, you will see queues of impatient diners hungrily awaiting their ticket to be called outside their favourite Dim Sum Tea House. From the ordered chaos that ensues inside many; as quickly as a table is vacated, it is cleared, wiped and reset with impressive military timing. No sooner are you seated, tea of your choice is brought brewing to the table, your gastronomic venture into the depths of Canton kitchens begins.
Dim Sum aka Yum Cha is a style of dining many of us are now familiar with here in Australia. Dishes more often than not are brought round on trays or trolleys steaming like the fumes of a Turkish bath. The West’s equal would probably be Meze or Tapas. Smallish sized dishes served on the table, diners picking what they like into their own separate bowls. It’s a communal event. Cantonese conversation thickly spread in the air, utensils tinkering to progress being made by happy diners.
Dishes include: Char Sui Bau, Har Gau, Sui Mai, Cheong fun, Gai Lan, Fung zao, Yau yu sou, Hai Zhu, Daan Tar
It’s definitely an asset dining with somebody fluent in Cantonese as communication lines are not always through. Even at the best of times, orders get mixed, wrong tea is brought, and multiple dishes appear. But all it serves as the experience of chaos of a tea house in full swing.
Tags: Catonese, Chinese, Dim Sum, General, Northbridge, Yum Cha
May 27th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Nice work Jason, lovely shots. But now the ultimate dilemma. When you’ve moved past the novelty of the chaos of yum cha… how do you work out what is good from what is crap ?
I have a long standing post I’m working on about determining good from bad in the world of yum cha… but lack of Cantonese skills and my relative ignorance about what goes on in the kitchen of one of these places is holding me back…
May 28th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Yum Cha = YUM YUM!
If you had to name a Perth top 3, what restaurants would you list?
Not a happy camper atm, it kills me that during the past ~3 years, I’ve had better dim sum in a suburban Sydney RSL club – off all places – then I’ve had in Perth, so I’m game to try out any suggestions you might have
May 28th, 2008 at 2:44 am
Welcome Inn Tea House (William St): is good for cheap eats, and the food is decent quality. Good value for money. go early or you will have to wait outside!
Jade Seafood Rest. (Francis St): a biggie, fancy, higher class and a bit more expensive.
Dragon Seafood Rest (James St): relativley expensive, licensed, food is good.
…and bring a Chinese friend fluent in Cantonese with you!
May 29th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I don’t see any silken tofu desserts!!
You should have requests section .. I was thinking the other day that I’d like you to review something .. I’ll let you know when I think of it again.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I had tofu desserts!! They are very nice but only when fresh!! I do understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but boy do they bring back some good memories of China.
I’ll be trying out a new-ish place this coming Monday. Will let you know whether it’s any good.