Dumplings For Dummies

Eating yum cha isn't rocket science, but it is an art. From tapping two fingers on the table to signal for more tea to knowing when to use your hands (like with those steamed fluffy pork buns, say) and which to pick up with chopsticks (dumplings like siu mai). Get it wrong and you may as well bury your head in your rice porridge. And while there are just about a bazillion different dishes, each with their own history, Time Out has here put together the basics so that you won't look like a clueless gwailo (Cantonese for wide eyes, or "ghost men") when you yum cha it up. 

1 Don't get fried
The easiest way to miss out on all the excellent steamed gear you'll find coming your way is to fill up on fried foods like salt and pepper squid, fried noodles and deep fried dumplings. If you must, wait until the end of the meal, then knock yourself out.

2 Flash regularly
Wanna stop being laughed at by waitresses every time you order har gau and ho fun? These flash cards (above) come with a big picture and each dish is spelled out phonetically. (get 'em at the MCA gift shop: 140 George St Sydney 2000. 02 9245 2458)

3 Pinch, don't stab
Show that you're well schooled in yum cha. Stabbing dumplings with the chopsticks is not the way. Practice with chopsticks or cheat by wrapping a rubber band around the thickest end of them to make light work of the roast pork. 

4 Dot the heart
Yum cha is all about drinking tea. Be patient. Select a couple of your favourite things instead of everything at once. Food historian Tony Tan says, "Dim sum (the snacks) literally means to touch or dot the heart - little morsels to our hearts' delight."

5 Don't go the whole hog
Eat an elegant sufficiency. Yum cha is about lots of little things, not having an all in-brawl in eating fest (if you've been out on the turps the night before it's tempting).

6 Don't rush
A good restaurant will have dozens of little dishes on offer and the longer you wait the better the selection. Not to mention your table piling up with food because you've panicked and ordered too much.

7 Drink tea
Yum cha first and foremost means 'drink tea'. It's not about stuffing your face and downing a six pack of Tsing Tao (Chinese beer that's become popular here), along with Coke. If you're a first timer, go slowly, drink the tea and be guided by the tables around you.

8 Group love
Yum cha is relatively inexpensive at the best of times but if you take a group (anywhere between four and six is perfect) you'll get more bang for your buck.

9 Pick your corner
Depending on where you're sitting in the room is where you'll find the most snacks. Sit near the kitchen and catch the trolley dollies as they roll out the door.

10 Choose wisely
Plenty of places all over Sydney - city and suburbs - do yum cha. Here are our pick of the best...

Sea TreasureCrows Nest
MarigoldHaymarket
Golden UnicornMaroubra
Sunny Harbour RestaurantHurstville

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