Homeland

Have you been to any Cantonese restaurants in Canada? Have you heard about the phrase "Dim Sum," which means "touch the heart" in Cantonese? There is a saying in China, "Eating in Guangdong—what does this convey? I have settled down in Toronto for over 8 years and have tried many kinds of foods from all over the world since Toronto is a multicultural city. However, when I went back to my home country last month and had a chance to enjoy the wonderful cuisine in Guangdong again, I still believe the traditional Cantonese cuisine is the best cuisine I have ever tried. Also, there is a very common practice in my home country where a conversation between friends, relatives, or even colleagues usually ends with "Why don’t we enjoy a teatime when you are free?" So, you can imagine how popular having teatime is. In other words, it is all about enjoying Dim Sum.

Today, I would like to introduce one kind of our traditional cuisine—Cantonese Dim Sum—to all of you. Even if you have no idea about those snacks, I bet your mouth will start watering after reading this article.

First, I am going to talk about the features of Cantonese cuisine. Cantonese dishes use fine and rare ingredients, and they are cooked with refined cooking skills in a dainty style, emphasising a flavour that is clear but not light, refreshing but not common, and tender but not crude.

Next, I will mention the traditional food customs of the Cantonese people. Every morning, there is a very interesting scenario everywhere in Guangdong province. If you travel to Guangdong and walk along the side streets, you will notice that a lot of seniors are waiting for restaurants to open their doors before 6 a.m. every morning. Don’t be surprised! The seniors are just waiting for their morning teatime to enjoy a wide variety of Dim Sum. Having Dim Sum for breakfast is a custom in Guangdong Province, China. There is quite a crowd in almost all the restaurants in the morning, especially on weekends. There are long lines. Sometimes, people are even willing to share tables to save time. There are Dim Sum carts moving by the tables, and the person who is carrying cards tells the customers what kinds of Dim Sum are being served that day. The customers are looking for their favourite Dim Sum. In fact, there are so many awesome little things that people cannot try them all at once.

There are so many varieties of Cantonese Dim Sum such as Lotus Paste Bun, Chicken Feet, Taro Cake, Egg Tart, Sesame Ball, Dumpling Soup, etc. I bet you will have an unforgettable teatime, no matter whether it is at a fancy Cantonese restaurant or a small family restaurant. Once you try it, the fabulous Cantonese Dim Sum will entice you to come back soon.