Dim Sum is YUM! at Koi

Highly Recommended ***** What exactly is Dim Sum?

Dim sum is a Chinese cuisine of bite-sized portions served in small steamer baskets or on plates. Dim sum is generally considered Cantonese, though other varieties exist. In Cantonese tradition, dishes are usually served with tea. Wikipedia

It is hard to believe that I could have reviewed as many restaurants as I have and yet, never partook of this special Chinese “brunch”! Many of you know that I love Koi in Evanston. I do feel that they are the best sushi house on the North Shore, but I forgot that Host Sandy Chen also has a solid Japanese and Chinese menu. When I was speaking with her about coming events and the Evanston dining program, I mentioned that I had never had Dim Sum and she advised me that they had just started their Dim Sum Brunch available week-ends ( Saturday and Sunday) from 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.. Jane and I went and with Sandy’s assistance had a marvelous selection of goodies.

We started with the bottomless Bloody Mary ( they also have a bottomless mimosa). We opted for the Bloody Mary and it started our meal off with a great ting ( or is that tang! without the celery). FYI- the special menu has 35 items, but we only did a sampling of the items that are perfect for the Dim Sum Brunch. BBQ pork Buns, Red Bean Sesame Balls ( to die for!),Xia Long Bao ( a wonderful treat, even if not dipped in the various sauces that  our server Nikki explained in detail. From fruity to hot, four sauces to make everyone at the table happy and content.

The shrimp rice rolls were juicy and flavorful and the shrimp dumplings were even better. Most of the items were brought to the table in steamer baskets. We learned that when empties, one must flip the basket cover over so the server knows it is time to remove from the table.

The other items that we enjoyed” chicken and rice wrapped in lotus leaves, Chive pockets ( I am not a chive person, but loved this one eating two orders) and one of my favorites, scallion pancakes ( just the right zest of onion and the perfect texture. Speaking about texture, the first dish we ate was the crispy chicken dumplings and both Jane and I could have made a meal of these delicious finger foods. Sandy spoiled us with a few dessert items as well just to make sure that we had to take a walk to work off the calories that we had taken in. What I learned today is the beauty of the Dim Sum Brunch is that every diner can select their favorites. They are small plates, so some might be for one, others might be shared. It is sort of a Chinese “Tapas” meal.

Now we are prepared for our next venture for Dim Sum. We know our favorites, and since the menu is so huge, we can add an item of two for the next adventure. Koi is located in Evanston at 624 West Davis Street ( at Orrington) and while they have a few outdoor tables, they have made sure the dining area is well suited for the proper social distancing called for. In the main dining room they have front windows that when open give you the feel of being outdoors with all the fresh air but no other elements. For Dim Sum I would call ahead  847-866-6969 or visit www.koievanston.com to make reservations and perhaps ask for one for the two tables at the window.

If you have experienced Dim Sum in the past, I am sure you will find that Koi will be as good ( or better) than what you had before. If you have never done Dim Sum ( as I found myself to have been) this is a very special experience and at Koi, they will make sure it is a memory that will last!