Review Ordering dim sum is usually a pick and point operation, transcending any language barrier, as carts of foods roll by. "Dim Sum, A Pocket Guide" by Kit Shan Li explains about 50 items, giving Chinese transliterations of the names and clear, appetizing photographs. Steamed pork dumplings, shrimp dumplings, barbecued pork buns and spring rolls share the pages with duck feet and tripe. But where are the popular pot sticker dumplings? Tea etiquette (taking the lid off the pot when you want a refill) is explained, but not the protocol of different size plates for tallying the bill. There is a diagram for using chopsticks. -The New York Times Want to sound like less of a tourist from Iowa when the dim sum trolley rolls around? "Dim Sum, a Pocket Guide," by Kit Shan Li features photos and descriptions of the most common dim sum items, from dumplings to desserts. The little dishes are identified by their Chinese and English names, with main ingredients listed. The author cautions that individual restaurants may do some variations, but the sturdy little red book, which will fit into a coat pocket or purse, can take a lot of guess work out of your ordering. Don't cotton to the idea of marinated beef stomach? Just say "nor my guy," which is not a reference to your main squeeze, but indicates that you prefer glutinous rice and chicken accented with mushrooms, dried shrimp and pork, wrapped in a lotus leaf. But you always knew that. -San Francisco Chronicle Synopsis For those new to this fun feast, or regulars looking to try a different dish, this handy guide identifies the 50 most popular dim sum dishes with full-colour photographs, short descriptions, the names of the dishes in English and Cantonese, and how to pronounce them. See all Product description
A**R
Nice intro
A very small book with very good pictures of the commonest Dim Sum.For a complete neophyte to Cantonese cuisine this might be a nice start and convince you to try the fried turnip cake :)But there's just not enough content in this book for what I needed.(It's not a recipe book people, it's a guide to ordering food in restaurants)
O**H
A great dim sum survival guide
A recent visit to San Francisco encountering the Dim Sum shops of Chinatown revealed my inability to survive anything beyond an English menu (fortunately a young Chinese lady helped me out). In Chinatown typically all menus are in Chinese, many items look the same and no staff speak English but there is lots of great food, that's where this book comes in. It presents a clear guide in English and Cantonese with beautiful photos of common Dim Sum dishes along with a guide to typical etiquette. No recipes but lots of useful information. If you're looking for a recipe book then Dim Sum is much better.
P**L
Basic translations & nice pictures.
Very basic choice of dim sum, nice simple pictures. Too basic for my purchases unfortunately. Would have like more dishes included.
S**A
So for me actually it was a waste of money
Made a mistake here. Thought I was buying a recipe book but found when I received it that it was just a guide to different types of dim sum which I already know about. So for me actually it was a waste of money.
S**O
Good buy !!!
Great little pocket book, very satisfied , would recommend ,good pics, description of food very satisfied,makes me hungry just lookin at pics
M**S
A must-have, even if you live in Hong Kong!
Previous reviewers who wanted a recipe book have unfairly lowered the rating here and should really have done some advance research.This book is essential if, like me, you don't speak fluent Cantonese but travel to Hong Kong now and again or even live there. It gives the phonetic spelling of all the major Yum Cha options including teas so that you can order confidently when the staff don't speak English and when you want to do more than just dumbly point at a picture on a menu.It's also tiny so you can easily fit it into your pocket or handbag.
A**N
GREAT LITTLE REFERENCE GUIDE
For those who chose not to read the description, this is not a recipe book but a guidebook - indispensible for first (or second) time visitors to Dim Sum restaurants who want to know what they are ordering. Full colour pictures and descriptions make this little book helpful to carry in your bag or pocket (Hence the subtitle: pocket guide).
K**K
great description of dim sum but no cookbook
Unfortunately I was after Dim Sum recipes and this is no cookbook. Gives good descriptions of many resturant Dim Sums but it is a breif description only, small pocket size book and did give me some ideas for cooking different items
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