Opus 2012-170, Firsts: Dim Sum

One of the benefits of children is that they force us to learn new things.  All the lessons are not painful.  This summer, at DEFCON my son introduced me to Dim Sum.

Dim Sum is a dining experience that is best navigated with someone who knows what they are doing and is paying the bill.  It is a type of Chinese restaurant that combines a traditional menu with what amounts to a cafeteria on wheels. 

We were seated, and before we could get settled in we were offered chow mien.  I thought it was like a Mexican restaurant where they bring you chips and salsa, but when we said yes the guy picked up our bill and put a mark on it.  As we looked at the menu the mobile trays started to roll by and my son began to explain.  Each tray comes by with a selection of entrees in individual dishes like you would see in a cafeteria.  Each serving is on its own little hot or cold serving container. 

The servers we had did not speak much English so it became a pointing and nodding experience.  Almost everything looked good so the table began to fill up before we had looked at the menu.  We picked two items from the menu and continued to select from the mobile carts.

It is an interesting concept.  If you like what you tasted, the tray will be back.  It is an environment which could encourage slow eating and conversation once you know what you are doing.  It sets the stage for gluttony if you don’t understand how it works.  What surprised me was the bill.  It was reasonable when you consider what it usually costs my son to eat out.  The individual items went from $2.00 to $9.00 and the most expensive was counter-intuitive:  Broccoli. 

Give it a try or try to find a friend to introduce you.  If you are paying, I am available.

homo unius libri