a color story: the killer dimsum

Little Soo reconnected with a crypto friend. They met in a different city and discussed their involvement in the crypto space. Let’s just say that this friend was a high roller in our eyes. He didn’t collect or simply purchase an NFT — he invested. This was interesting and it was worth the time to pick his brain. Of course, the story went with “I got in early or I lucked out”. How did one convince themselves to pull the trigger when most thought it was foolish? But, I’ve heard this story once too many times online but it was refreshing hearing it in person.

Well, we hung out in New York City Chinatown. Initially, I suggested the James Beard award-winner fly-in-a-wall basement restaurant. Little Soo thought we should check out other places. Eating at a place twice in New York City wasn’t reasonable even if it was award-winning. We weren’t locals, we were tourists. There had to be more gems right?

We walked further and explored new areas. Some parts of Chinatown did remind me of some movie scenes like from Kung Fu Hustle. It could be the lanterns or the people. Sheesh, I entered political dangerous territory. I couldn’t grasp the vibe but it alluded to something from a movie I watched. I thought about Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentleman” and the Chinese Mafia opium labs with Hundred Eyes as the leader. For some odd reason, little Soo must have read my mind, or maybe I just said it out loud but he mentioned the deadliest street in America was here in Chinatown. There was an event where 50 people died from hatchets. Later on, with further investigation, we discovered that it was due to a turf war — I assumed the opium trade had great margins.

We found the street with a pork chop shop and a hand-made noodle shop with a patio accompanied by great google reviews. We were a soft yes about them. But, a line appeared as we approached a corner. Nom Wah’s Tea Parlor? Established in 1920… A Chinese establishment that lasted for more than a century? Only accepting cash… probably generational family-owned… They probably owned half of China Town by then. I wondered if their margins were purely culinary…

Once I lined up and little Soo tried to find his crypto friend, a person with a gas tank of something verbally assaulted me. I didn’t know how to handle the situation. Puzzled. I didn’t say anything back. I sighed and enjoyed the New York City experience. Maybe he didn’t like the fact that I was the only Asian person waiting in line. Huh. I wondered where the Asian locals go then. I was sold on the history of this street and the history of the restaurant. The food must just be mediocre at best if the Asian people weren’t eating here.

CJ was his name. When he first said it, I thought he butchered my name. But, no the resemblance was a funny ice breaker. We talked about crypto. movies. food. culture. etc. Then, we finally entered this dim sum institution. My memories of old dim sum shops had red carpets, white-clothed tables, and aproned staff pushing the food trolleys. I didn’t expect the American diner look with the fixed stools and metal rounded edges covering the tables.

I assumed he was authentic Chinese but he confessed he didn’t know what to really order. Check, check, check, stars, check, check. Extra for tea? I saw why the Asians didn’t eat here. I wanted to call the dim sum police. This should be a crime to charge money for tea at the dim sum — that was gusty. But, for a place called the Tea Parlor, they served interesting tea — it had an immediate sweetness then a mellowing bitterness. They were brewing magic in this parlor.

The plates came out quickly. And none of the dishes came out in bamboo steam baskets. There were handed in square plates and the dumplings arrived in small custom metal containers. The food was good. The shrimp was juicy and tender. I found an interesting garnish situation with mustard and a dark sauce with a tang. Munch, munch, munch. The bill came out.

CJ made a rookie mistake. He didn’t bring enough cash. I laughed as I told him a story about a good friend who committed this mistake a little too often even though he would suggest the restaurants for our social gatherings. Of course, we just nagged him for it twice. NFT rich but cash-carrying poor. Covering his portion, we took the L. Without the expectation or the weight of anything in return, we went our married ways.