Mandarin Lessons from the Pros

In American culture, we reach for Hot Pockets, Totino’s Pizza Rolls, or McDonald’s apple pies when we want to satiate our cravings for handheld filled goodies. But when our neighbors to the east get that urge, they grab fried and steamed packages of joy called dim sum. These ain’t your...

By Raina McLeod

August 14, 2008

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In American culture, we reach for Hot Pockets, Totino’s Pizza Rolls, or McDonald’s apple pies when we want to satiate our cravings for handheld filled goodies. But when our neighbors to the east get that urge, they grab fried and steamed packages of joy called dim sum. These ain’t your frozen egg rolls either; they’re pork, shrimp, beef, chicken, or veggies enveloped in fluffy buns, rice-flour skins, rice noodles, or even a lotus leaf. Unwrapped fare such as steamed meatballs, spareribs, and fried squid is also considered dim sum — and equally delish. Mr. Chu’s Hong Kong Cuisine is the place for these bites (we should know — we named it Best Dim Sum this year), and we’ll let you in on how to get your nosh on for free.

Well, not completely free. Tuesday night from 6:30 to 7:30, the restaurant will offer Mandarin lessons for just $25. The yummy bonus: You get to gnaw on dim sum while learning phrases such as xiè xiè and huān yíng nín. Score!
Tue., Aug. 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 2008

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