Yum Cha Sundays is inspired by Dim Sum King. This local Toronto restaurant that has lived in the heart of Chinatown for 14 years and is well known in the community. Hosting weddings, dance nights and so much more it has turned into my go to dim sum place. For years I have eaten there and celebrated Lunar New Year, special occasions and had casual dinners with chosen family and friends. Featured in this piece are some of their most popular plates including Curry Cuttle Fish, Turnip Cakes, Siu Mai and Fried Meat and Shrimp Dumplings. Yum Cha in Cantonese means “drink tea” and refers to a breakfast of tea and dim sum.

Growing up I ate a lot of dim sum. Every time we visited Hong Kong, we would eat it almost everyday. We would gather with family at huge circular tables, squeezing dozens of family members together so we were all around one round table. In the city I grew up in, we had a restaurant we went to almost every Sunday. When I go visit my parents, we often still go there. After over 15 years of dining with them, they still remember us and our favourite dishes.

Yum Cha Sundays is a part of my SIK JOR FAHN MEI AH Series where I consider my connection to Chinese food by showcasing some of my favourite dishes from local Toronto restaurants. The series title in English means “have you eaten yet?”. It is a meant as a phrase of love and care.