Har Gow 蝦餃 and Dim Sum

While there was no information on when har gow specifically are eater, all dumplings are popular on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in China (the dumplings are made in advance so that less time is taken away from the festivities). During the eve and day of the Lunar New Year, no sharp instruments (i.e. knives) are to be used because the Chinese believe that if they cut something, then their luck in the coming year will be “cut.” This is one of the main reasons that dumplings are a common delicacy at New Year’s festivities, because dumplings do not require a knife in order to be eaten.

Haw gow are almost always a part of dim sum meals. Dim sum, both in China and in the United States, is often a family affair and the busiest business days are on the weekends. In dim sum restaurants, the first thing that will happen is you will be asked what kind of tea you would like. Every customer gets his or her own pot of tea to drink throughout the dim sum meal.  There are typically no menus, and oftentimes there will be a card with a blank grid that is placed at each table for ordering purposes. Waiters walk around between the tables with carts of different dim sum dishes, including a variety of steamed and fried dumplings.  They wheel carts around with samples, calling out the different offerings. Other dim sum dishes include fried crispy rolls and croquettes.  The lighter, steamed dishes, such as har gow come first in the ordering of the cars, then exotic recipes such as chicken’s feet, then deep-fried dishes, and then dessert. The foods are usually served at the table in steamer baskets to keep it warm.