It's a Dumpling Day.

Every so often we have a "down week" at work.  It doesn't mean that we have any less work to do, but instead that we get to go out to lunch with out worrying about the students we train. Usually we decide weeks before hand where we are going to go....and usually it is the Din Tai Fung dumpling house in Arcadia, CA.

In the time spent waiting around for Dumpling Day to arrive we will sit and talk about how yummy everything is and what we are going to eat. This, despite the fact that we always get the same thing: Shrimp Fried Rice, Juicy Pork Dumpings, and Shrimp and Pork Shaomai.
The dumplings are steamed, don't think bao, don't think ravioli, don't think about anything you've ever had before. Don't think, just eat.

Here are some tips on how to eat dumplings:

After you order and are waiting for the dumplings to arrive, make the dipping sauce. You are given a little condiments tray of ginger, chili oil, soy sauce, and vinegar. I usually mix it all together on my little dipping plate and mash the ginger with the ends of my chopsticks.

When the dumplings arrive clap very loudly.... Okay, I'm just kidding. It is however, very exciting when the little containers start to arrive.  Just an FYI, there is an art to eating dumplings, instructions are actually printed on the chopstick wrappers. You have to hold the dumpling with chopsticks and nibble off a little piece of the dumpling to let the very, VERY hot liquid pour out onto your spoon. I usually sip the liquid while the dumpling cools off a little. Then dip it in the sauce, and stuff it into your mouth. Usually one of us will get overly anxious and can't wait until it's cool enough thus resulting in a burnt tongue.

Oh and the Shrimp fried rice? AAAAMMMAAAZZZIIING! Again, whatever ideas have about shrimp fried rice, throw them out the window. This fried rice is tasty, fresh, and not greasy at all. Seriously, I may be addicted. I have to make sure that I don't eat it too often so I won't ever, ever get tired of it.

A few other pointers:
Eat, and eat a lot.
You are going to make a mess so get over it. (See third picture below)
Fight over who is going to eat the last dumpling. "I couldn't possibly, you take it." "No, you eat it." etc.
Spend the rest of the day in your cubicle fighting off the ensuing food-coma.

Before

During

After

Juicy Pork Dumplings

Shrimp and Pork Shaomai