UYE: Sunday Dim Sum in Chinatown

I was absolutely frantic at quarter to 10 on Sunday morning.
Why, you would ask?
Because after stormy morning of running errands I was late for the most anticipated event of the week — Dim Sum!
But — I stuffed my camera into my bag, dodged the cars on Bay St, jumped on a ferry, squeezed into a train and ran through the crowded streets of Chinatown — making it almost on time.
Our crew were waiting in line for a table. Hugs, introductions and catching up — is there better time to do all that? And hey, your table is ready!
Here’s how it went:
:talks, talks, laughs, chats, YT talks:
:plates brought to the table:
«What is it?»
… … … (do not remember one thing, dim-​summed brain)
:lots of commotion and food magically disappearing:
«Yum!»
:talks, talks, laughs, chats, YT talks:
…
:rinse, repeat till you stuffed and cannot breathe:
:go for desserts and tour around Chinatown:
«Ooooffffff»
Food was awesome.
But most importantly…
You. all. are. awesome.
Huge thank you to Chun for organizing this!!!
Next event, please???

Like The Most Interesting Man in the World never said, «I don’t always go to Dim Sum, but when I do, I go to Jing Fong on Elizabeth.» But since I’m the most interesting man in the world, the above quote actually applies to me and not the Dos Equis guy.
I had an awesome experience at the last UYE where I met Chun M., so when I saw that he put up a UYE for Dim Sum I decided I had to go. I had a great time meeting a bunch of new people, though a few were familiar faces from trolling on Unilocal talk. Chun M. guided our not so little group through all the perils of the typical Chinatown Dim Sum experience like the way Captain Chesley «Sully» Sullenberger guided that airplane that landed in the Hudson River.
The great thing about about going to Dim Sum with people who are new to the experience is seeing the shock on their face when the bill comes. People reaching for their wallets (and money jars ;P) thinking that with the amount of food we ate, the bill was going to be in the $ 30 range, but even I was pleasantly surprised to see it was only $ 15 a person.
I had a good time and hopefully I can be considered one of the cool kids on Unilocal talk soon ;) ¹⁰⁄₁₀ and would definitely go again especially if Chun is running the show.

I’ve been lacking on dim sum outings. Being Chinese, you’d think I would go out at least once a month to go dim sum with family/​friends. Before this year, I wouldn’t recall when the last time I’ve had dim sum.
When I saw Chun’s dim sum UYE, I said, sure, why the hell not, what could possibly go wrong… let me tell you, a group of hungry Unilocal talkers=ruckus/shenanigans…it was very fun. Not as awkward as I was expecting… lol
Anyways, I’m sure the highlight of this Unilocal event was my wallet which is just a little ex-​mustard jar… lol

This will be a multimedia experience, so before you start reading, cue up the soundtrack for:
Neil Diamond’s, «America»
«Far!
We’ve been traveling far
With a hungry hope
But not without those carts
Seats!
Only want to have seats
We huddle close
Waiting for our tea
On the bus and on the trains
They’re coming down to Chinatown
Heading to that U-​Y-​E
They’re coming down to Chinatown
Ming…coming up from Brooklyn way
Spencer’s coming from da Bronx today
On the smelly D train
On the smelly D train
Ron…walk into this old Chinese place
Pour our tea and fill our plates
Dim sum’s light burning warmth
Dim sum’s light burning warmth
Everywhere around New York
They’re coming down to Chinatown
Every time dumplings are served
They’re coming down to Chinatown
Whether steamed or deep fried there
They’re coming down to Chinatown
Got herbal tea I’ve come to share
They’re coming down to Chinatown
They’re coming down to Chinatown
They’re coming down to Chinatown
They’re coming down to Chinatown
They’re coming down to Chinatown
Today…today…today…today…today
My Unilocal friends I did see
— Today
Eva and Nadia Z
— Today
This review I sing
— Today
This review I sing…
Today!
…Today…»

I have never had dim sum. Honestly, I was not really super jazzed about the food because I just went to hang out with the weirdos on Unilocal Talk. Terrible, right? Chun is the man though, because in addition to attracting the nicest New Yorkers ever, this large bingo hall that doubled as a food hangar was well worth the hour wait.
As is not always the case in life, If I put something in my mouth, it was delicious. Although I may not know what the food was called, the various permutations of rice, shrimp, chicken feet, noodles and ribs were excellent. Having the waitresses and various centenarians step on, over and around me just added to the wonderful flea market style hodown we had become a part of.
Generally, I do not do food reviews because I suck at them but even taking into account the quality of the meal, I would rate the company significantly higher than any of the amazing dishes. Thank you for making my week people.
P. S. Ming, you’re Puerto Rican!

Thanks Chun M. for organizing this UYE for the Unilocalers and kudos to all that made it out to Chinatown in the cold. It was great seeing a lot of familiar faces and awesome meeting new ones whom I discovered usually cant make it to the regular events that often take place during the week. The event went without much of a hitch as we were seated at a large table meant for 10 (we had 11) within 30mins or so of arriving, which is actually very good for this type of venue.
As can be expected of restaurants offering dim sum, it was chaotic and noisy but the carts of food that we wanted all came by or were bussed to our table with serious efficiency by our attentive waiter. Amazing!
Dishes were cleared quickly and as expected, we over-​ordered (but not by much). We have the wrecking, clean-​up crew with us to make food that needed to disappear, simply vanish.