Dive into dim sum with a little help from the experts

“I think what makes [dim sum] so special for me, for the Chinese community and for folks that come along for the ride – it’s really about coming together,” Julia Li, co-founder of Lulu Restaurant Group, says. “It’s meant to share time with loved ones and catch up. Dim sum is close to your heart, and coming together with friends, family and loved ones – it’s a sacred time to eat great things and relax.”

A dim sum experience can offer insight into the history and culture behind it. “In our culture, people have a hard time saying, ‘I love you,’” Li says. “It’s just not part of our language, but we say it very much by eating with each other. So, having a variety of food and being able to offer that to people and introduce them to our cuisine is very much an act of love.” That same love extends back to the kitchen, where each bun and dumpling is prepared by hand, a time-intensive process that keeps tradition alive.