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Dim Sum, anyone?

By
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage

I became a Mom recently... I know it was recently ... it feels just like yesterday ....only he's almost 18 years old.

We have been going out for lunch or dinner, on Fridays, for as long as I can remember.
At a very early age, he didn't like fast food.  He wanted to sit down with the 'big people' and learn how to use the knife and fork properly (or the chop sticks, in this case).

I remember when he was 4 or 5 years old, and I'd take him for Sushi, how all the adults in the place would point and look at him eat the raw fish and just love it. (Champagne tastes, he always had, on my beer wages.)

Somewhere along the line my sister introduced him to dim sum, and now it's his favourite place to go, whenever Mom has time (but we still try to have our Mom and Son 'linner' -- late lunch, early dinner), at least once or twice a month.

We went to our favourite dim sum place again on August 12th (I will be busy on Friday) :)
 - Rol San Restaurant, in one of Toronto's Chinatowns (Spadina & Dundas).

After we had more than our share of har gow, siu mai, char siu, bean curd, egg plant in black bean sauce, curried squid, stir fried gai lan in garlic sauce (Chinese Broccoli);

  

  

....... we went off to take some photos of neighbourhoods for Localism.

If you're ever near Downtown Toronto and want to visit the two best (most affordable) places for Dim Sum, right across the street from each other, take a walk along Spadina and stop just south of Baldwin Street (at St. Andrew) - and take your pick - Rol San on the East Side (you order your favourites right off the menu) .... and Bright Pearl on the West Side (traditional dim sum carts come by and you take what you like).

I don't know how much longer he will want to go out for lunch with his Mom, but I enjoy it as much now, as I did when he was 5... maybe even a little more (only now he doesn't tell me as much... and I want to know everything). :)

I don't know anything about teenagers - I have nothing to compare this experience to - but it's not so bad - but if you want to know about some great places to eat in Toronto, just ask - I'll ask my son, and let you know. :)

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Comments (5)

Cindy Eanes
1st Choice Realty Group - Chesterfield, VA
Realtor - e-PRO, SFR, ASP

Hey Sylvie,

Lovely post!  I think you covered everything in it.  We get a bit of localism, a desire for some Chinese food (now I'm hungry) with these great pics and description of the restaurant, and a little bit of pulling at our heart strings as you discuss your son as a little boy and now a "big" boy and making a special date for dinners over all these years.  Good Mom!! 

An all around great post.  Way to go!  Your town looks like a great place to visit.

Have a good day.

Aug 15, 2008 01:07 AM
Sylvie Conde
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage - Toronto, ON
Broker, Toronto Real Estate

Cindy, Thank you.  I got a little emotional watching him taking the photos I used in Localism and wondering how much longer he would be happy to have these lunches with me.  He's always been a great kid.  I know he will be a great man, but I will miss my little boy. :/

Aug 15, 2008 01:56 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Sylvie - Rituals started early in life tend to carry on throughout life. Good rituals more so than bad you are on the right road to many more lunches/dinners with your son.

Aug 15, 2008 07:31 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

Sylvie,

This post has made me wish I was back in Toronto eating at the little Chinese restaurants that serve the best authentic dishes going....

My bf is Chinese and he has introduced me to some of my favourite new dishes....I've never tried Dim Sum though. It looks delicious!

Your son sounds like a very wise young man....I have 3 sons and wish with all my heart I could go out for dinner with them on Friday nights. They all live in Kelowna, BC now and I miss them terribly.

Jo

Aug 15, 2008 12:20 PM
Sylvie Conde
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage - Toronto, ON
Broker, Toronto Real Estate

Thanks, Kathy.  I hope so.  I really enjoy our brief moments together.  One of these days he may even talk to me about the girlfriend. :)


Jo, if you like Chinese food, you would love dim sum.  There is so much to choose from, and if you're vegetarian, you have a gazillion choices. Lots of steamed items as well.  I love most of the vegetable dishes, and gai lan is now served at my house on a regular basis (Chinese broccoli, only it's more a cross between kale and broccolini).

Dim sum is also a great way to try out a different type of Chinese Food. The dishes are very small; 2 or 3 small pieces each serving/dish, and they're between $1.50 and $3.00 each dish, so if you don't like something, it's not a big waste, but go with a friend, so that you don't have any waste. :)  And next time you're in town, I'd be happy to treat you to Dim Sum, Thai, Sushi, or anything else you would like to try. :)

And I think you need an excuse to go have Dim Sum in Vancouver's Chinatown - your 'kids' can treat. :)  (I am hoping to have Sushi in Vancouver with Liz Moras one of these days.)

Aug 15, 2008 01:34 PM