Ya Win Some, Ya Dim Sum
I was invited to have "Dim Sum" at the new Ranch 99 Market today.
I've never had Dim Sum.
What IS Dim Sum?
So they tell me that it's little servings of little food items...like appetizers. That sounded perfect, so I went.
I arrive to the Ranch 99 Market. It's an Asian grocery store and the Dim Sum counter is sort of like the hot counter at your local Safeway...but the interesting and frustrating thing is that there are not any signs on any of the foods. I was to get a styrofoam container and put what I wanted in it as I went down the line.
I'm pointing and asking the smiling face behind the steam counter, "What's that??" She is very patient with me as my face screws up at some of the descriptions. It's all I can do to keep from saying, "Ew".
I picked 5 items and then she told me that I had to get 1 more to get the special price. This would seem like a good thing, however, I struggled just to get through the 5 that I had in my container. Okay. I can do this. Random pick of that shiny seeded thing in the back. 6 items for $5 even. Really, a great bargain for lunch these days.
My friends were still at the counter getting their items (I'd hate to think that I slowed anyone down) so I was first to sit at the table with my plastic fork, 4 paper napkins and my styro that had 6 items of which I still wasn't too sure about.
I had something that looked like this:
Did I like it? Eh. I pulled the meaty substance out of the middles and chewed a little on the starchy parts. Lots of sweetness in these otherwise savory items. Being a child of a Korean, this didn't really appeal to my taste buds. Me likey spicy.
The others were still chowing down when I politely, and demurely, covered my styro container that looked to still be full...honest, it was meatless at this point. I excused myself and made like I was going to take my leftovers home. When I was out of sight, I tossed it in the nearest trash.
I walked the aisles of Ranch 99 and found myself with a jar of Cosmos brand Kimchee. ONLY THE BEST that's on the market! Under $4 for a jar of this stuff. I also picked up some black sesame candy and some toasted seaweed. As a kid, the seaweed and sesame candy were a big time treat to have. I took a glance at the dried anchovies, but decided to pass. I just don't think that I could eat them now as an adult. As a kid, I ate loads of them...along with dried cuttle fish. My mom used to call that stuff "fishy beef jerky".
Coming back to the office with my bag of goodies was a good thing. I just hope that nobody here in the office throws my kimchee away thinking that it's rotten...
I've never had Dim Sum.
What IS Dim Sum?
So they tell me that it's little servings of little food items...like appetizers. That sounded perfect, so I went.
I arrive to the Ranch 99 Market. It's an Asian grocery store and the Dim Sum counter is sort of like the hot counter at your local Safeway...but the interesting and frustrating thing is that there are not any signs on any of the foods. I was to get a styrofoam container and put what I wanted in it as I went down the line.
I'm pointing and asking the smiling face behind the steam counter, "What's that??" She is very patient with me as my face screws up at some of the descriptions. It's all I can do to keep from saying, "Ew".
I picked 5 items and then she told me that I had to get 1 more to get the special price. This would seem like a good thing, however, I struggled just to get through the 5 that I had in my container. Okay. I can do this. Random pick of that shiny seeded thing in the back. 6 items for $5 even. Really, a great bargain for lunch these days.
My friends were still at the counter getting their items (I'd hate to think that I slowed anyone down) so I was first to sit at the table with my plastic fork, 4 paper napkins and my styro that had 6 items of which I still wasn't too sure about.
I had something that looked like this:
All of the items were chopped meat in a doughy covering. Steamed, fried, baked...I swear it was the same stuff, just shaped a little different.
Did I like it? Eh. I pulled the meaty substance out of the middles and chewed a little on the starchy parts. Lots of sweetness in these otherwise savory items. Being a child of a Korean, this didn't really appeal to my taste buds. Me likey spicy.
The others were still chowing down when I politely, and demurely, covered my styro container that looked to still be full...honest, it was meatless at this point. I excused myself and made like I was going to take my leftovers home. When I was out of sight, I tossed it in the nearest trash.
I walked the aisles of Ranch 99 and found myself with a jar of Cosmos brand Kimchee. ONLY THE BEST that's on the market! Under $4 for a jar of this stuff. I also picked up some black sesame candy and some toasted seaweed. As a kid, the seaweed and sesame candy were a big time treat to have. I took a glance at the dried anchovies, but decided to pass. I just don't think that I could eat them now as an adult. As a kid, I ate loads of them...along with dried cuttle fish. My mom used to call that stuff "fishy beef jerky".
Coming back to the office with my bag of goodies was a good thing. I just hope that nobody here in the office throws my kimchee away thinking that it's rotten...
posted by Kim @ 12:42 PM
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