Skip to main content

Tastespotting in Dumpling Days by Grace Lin


One of my many favorite food scenes in Dumpling Days by Grace Lin (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012):
"Careful when you eat these," Auntie Jin said. "They're special."

I'd had dumplings lots of times. How special could these be? But as I took a bite, I almost stopped in amazement.

"There's soup in these dumplings!" I said.

All the adults at the table laughed.

"I told you they were special!" Auntie Jin said. "They are called xiaolongbao. They have soup inside of them. They're good, aren't they?"

I took another bite. The hot soup filled my mouth, and the mixture of soup and meat and dumpling skin seemed to melt into a warm, rich flavor. They were good. Very, very good. I began to realize why Uncle Flower said Taiwan had the best dumplings in the world.

They were so good that I didn't even notice that I had soup dribbling down my chin. I quickly wiped it away.

"They say if you can eat these dumplings without making a mess, you are a 'real Chinese' person," Uncle Flower said.
Labels:

Comments

  1. JennieFebruary 19, 2012 at 9:21 AM

    I've been holding off on reading this, because I know when I finish, I will just want to eat ALL THE DUMPLINGS. But we are going out to eat on Monday at a place with awesome dumplings, so I feel safe reading it this weekend.

    But, OMG xiaolongbao. Best thing in the universe. Very hard to find in the US. I make a cheater version that's close, but it's not the same.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tarie SabidoFebruary 19, 2012 at 2:37 PM

    The book also makes me want to buy a ticket to Taiwan!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ChachicFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:09 AM

    Aaaand you just made me crave xiaolongbao.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tarie SabidoFebruary 21, 2012 at 2:20 AM

    I have never had any. *shame*

    =<

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino (I Am A Good Filipino) by Noel Cabangon and Jomike Tejido

This one is a real crowd pleaser: Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino , Lampara Books ' 2012 picture book adaptation of Noel Cabangon 's song, with Cabangon's original Filipino lyrics, functional English translations by Becky Bravo , and illustrations by Jomike Tejido ! Cabangon's inspiring lyrics remind children of the ways they can be good Filipinos, such as doing their best in school and obeying their parents. There are plenty of reminders for adults too, such as following traffic rules and not selling their votes during elections. Tejido's illustrations are warm and wholesome, acrylic paintings on hand-woven mats that depict different ways to be good citizens.    You just can't go wrong with Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino ! Children and adults will understand and appreciate the lyrics and paintings. The chords of the song are provided, so music lovers can play and sing along. There are notes and guide questions for educators. There is even
3 comments
Read more

Author Interview: Edna Cabcabin Moran

This was originally posted at Into the Wardrobe on May 28, 2009. Today, I am SO PROUD to present my interview with Filipino American author illustrator Edna Cabcabin Moran . *bursts with pride* Welcome, Edna!! Author/Illustrator, Edna Cabcabin Moran. Photo by Mark Moran. Can you tell us a bit about your Asian American heritage? My parents are from Eastern Samar, Philippines, an historic island in the Visayan island chain. My father was a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer who brought my mom and older siblings to this country. I am the first American-born child in the family. Growing up, I always felt like I straddled two cultures. I'm very American in the way I dress, speak and carry myself. I don't know Tagalog and I lost touch with my parent's dialect, Waray Waray. However, I have strong cultural roots and have retained much of my Filipino-ness which includes a deep, abiding respect for the elders and their stories. Perhaps the family meal is a good indicator of how one is ra
Post a Comment
Read more

Bugtong Bugtong 2: More Filipino Riddles by Daniel Palma Tayona

Bugtong Bugtong 2: More Filipino Riddles By Daniel Palma Tayona Tahanan Books, 2013 A tribute to Rene O. Villanueva's 1998 classic book Bugtong, Bugtong Riddle: Sariling-sarili mo na, ginagamit pa ng iba. Answer: Pangalan ! This illustrated collection of 57 Filipino riddles is fun for everyone. I can definitely see a parent or child reading aloud from this book, trying to stump the rest of the family. I can see bored teens reading these riddles to each other too! I read some of the riddles to my teen students and some to my adult friends and there's just something so satisfying about seeing one triumphant face shout out the correct answer from among a group of confused faces. I can also see a child poring over this book by his or herself. Everything about Bugtong Bugtong 2 's book design is kid friendly: Everything from the type size and face to the book's size and the thickness of the paper make the book very inviting and easy to read. The ink and gouache
Post a Comment
Read more