锅贴、小笼包、葱油饼 — More than food, they are a taste of history, culture and memories.
Sometimes, a particular taste of food can take us on a journey through time.
This morning, my thoughts wandered back to Hong Kong, to a neighbourhood on Hong Kong Island called North Point (北角). Many people knew it by another name: Little Shanghai (小上海).
For someone who enjoys Chinese cuisine, North Point holds a special attraction. It was not just another busy Hong Kong district. It was a neighbourhood shaped by people who had left their homes in Shanghai and the surrounding regions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and settled in Hong Kong.
They brought more than their belongings. They brought their language, customs, businesses and, of course, their food.
Over time, Shanghainese restaurants, food shops and traditional businesses became part of everyday life in North Point. Walking through the neighbourhood, one could experience a different side of Hong Kong, with a distinctly Shanghai flavour.
Little Shanghai — A Neighbourhood with a Story
The history of North Point is quite fascinating.
During the 1940s and 1950s, many Shanghainese people moved to Hong Kong, particularly after the political upheavals in mainland China. A considerable number settled in North Point.
They established businesses, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. Their influence was so significant that North Point became widely known as Little Shanghai.
It was a community where people could find familiar food, speak their own dialect and maintain traditions from their hometown.
For many immigrants, food was an important connection to the past. A familiar dish could bring back memories of home, family gatherings and the streets they had left behind.
I find this particularly interesting. Food is not simply something we eat to satisfy our hunger. It is also a way of preserving culture and passing memories from one generation to another.
Four Chinese Delights Worth Discovering
I have always enjoyed northern Chinese and Shanghai-style food. If I were introducing these culinary delights to someone who had never tried them, I would begin with four favourites.
1. 锅贴 — Pan-fried Dumplings
These are among my personal favourites.
A good 锅贴 has a golden, crispy bottom and a soft wrapper around a savoury filling, often made with pork and vegetables.
The contrast between the crispy exterior and the juicy filling makes every bite enjoyable.
They are best served hot, sometimes accompanied by a little vinegar and ginger.
For someone trying Chinese dumplings for the first time, I think 锅贴 is an excellent place to start.
2. 小笼包 — Shanghai Soup Dumplings
<escape>小笼包</escape> is perhaps one of the most recognizable Shanghai culinary delights.
These delicate dumplings are traditionally prepared in small bamboo steamers. Inside the thin wrapper is a savoury filling accompanied by delicious hot soup.
Eating them requires a little patience. Pick one up gently with chopsticks, place it on a spoon, and take a small bite to release some of the hot soup before enjoying the dumpling.
It is an experience worth discovering.
There is something delightful about opening a bamboo steamer and seeing those little dumplings waiting inside.
3. 葱油饼 — Chinese Scallion Pancake
This is another simple but wonderful dish.
葱油饼 is made from dough layered with cooking oil and chopped scallions. It is pan-fried until the outside becomes golden and slightly crispy.
The inside remains soft and layered, with the pleasant aroma of scallions.
I particularly enjoy its savoury taste and texture. It can be eaten on its own or shared with other dishes.
Sometimes, the simplest ingredients produce the most satisfying results.
4. 糍饭 — Shanghai Sticky Rice
Another traditional food worth introducing is 糍饭.It is a familiar Shanghai-style breakfast food made with glutinous rice. Depending on the preparation, it may be rolled around ingredients such as fried dough sticks, pickled vegetables or other savoury fillings.
It is filling, comforting and quite different from the usual breakfast choices many people know.
For me, discovering traditional foods such as this is part of the pleasure of exploring Chinese cuisine.
Food Is a Bridge Between Cultures
One thing I have learned through life is that people do not need to speak the same language to appreciate good food.
A person who has never visited Shanghai can still enjoy 小笼包. Someone unfamiliar with Chinese traditions can quickly develop a liking for 锅贴 or 葱油饼.
Food offers an easy introduction to another culture.
For readers who are curious about Chinese cuisine, I would encourage them to step outside their usual choices. Instead of ordering the same familiar dishes every time, why not try something different?
Visit a Chinese dumpling restaurant. Order a small basket of soup dumplings, a plate of pan-fried dumplings and a scallion pancake to share.
You may discover a new favourite.
And if you happen to visit Hong Kong, take some time to explore North Point. Its streets and markets tell stories of immigration, community life and the many cultures that have shaped the city.
A Little Food, A Lot of Memories
Now that I am living in Markham, Ontario, far away from the North Point of my younger days, I still enjoy looking for restaurants that serve these traditional Chinese dishes.
Recently, Julie and I visited Northern Dumpling Kitchen at Times Square near Highway 7 in Markham. The restaurant had just been renovated, and we enjoyed some of our favourite dumplings there.
It reminded me that although we may move from one country to another, our appreciation for familiar food travels with us.
Perhaps that is one of the beautiful things about growing older.
We collect memories along the way. Some are associated with people, some with places, and others with the simple pleasure of sitting around a table enjoying a good meal.
For me, a plate of 锅贴 or a bamboo steamer of 小笼包 can bring back an entire world of memories.
I would like to introduce more of these Chinese culinary delights to readers of Grandpa Journey, especially those who may be discovering them for the first time.
After all, food is a wonderful way to bring people together.
A little taste of China, a little memory of Hong Kong, and a lot of happiness to share.
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