Dimsum Chinese: Family and Friends Gather For Dimsum In Guilin Restaurant.

Dimsum in Chinese is sometimes refered to as Yum Cha, the meaning of which is 'Drink Tea'', but whatever it is called, it is a meal of several small dishes, from which to pick and choose, and certainly to enjoy. A visit to Guilin coincided with Grandma's birthday, so to start the day of celebrations, family and friends gathered in a Guilin restaurant for dimsum in Chinese style. As soon as everyone was seated and comfortable, waiters or waitresses would wheel their trollies to the table. Perhaps on the trollies would be one or two different dimsum dishes. Each trolley had its own selection of dimsum dishes to offer. Lao Ma would select suitable dishes of dimsum from the trollies that called at the table. The dimsum meal was very much like a buffet meal, except that the dimsum dishes came to the customers, so the customers did not have to move from the table.

Inevitably, the dimsum dishes on the table were not empty at the end of the dimsum meal. If that had happened ''the host or hostess'' would have been embarrassed, thinking that not enough food had been provided for the guests. Our dimsum meal was well provided for and the waitresses brought containers to the table so that any of the uneaten food could be taken home if that was needed.

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Dim sum (literally meaning "touch the heart") is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea. It is usually served in the mornings until noon time at Chinese restaurants and at specialty dim sum eateries where typical dishes are available throughout the day. Dishes come in small portions and may include meat, seafood, and vegetables, as well as desserts and fruit. The items are usually served in a small steamer basket or on a small plate. Yum cha (literally "tea drinking") is the term used to describe the dining session, especially in contemporary Cantonese. Chinese families in particular typically like to gather at Chinese restaurants for dim sum on special occasions such as Mother’s Day or Chinese New Year. ** Src: Wikipedia.org