It Happens to Me: I Always Have to Be the Food Guide for My Non-Asian Friends

It kind of makes me want to gatekeep soup dumplings.

Turns out I don’t take a lot of photos at restaurants these days, but here’s me lovingly giving a custard bun a kiss.

By Lola Fisher

I kind of want to gatekeep soup dumplings. 

But, honestly, can you handle the real thing? Or do you only trust the Trader Joe’s version?

I once took a friend to Chicago for my birthday. We lived in Indianapolis, and the main event was actually a trip to the iconic American Girl Doll Store. But for me, no visit to the Windy City was complete without dim sum in Chinatown. “I know exactly what we should order,” I excitedly told my friend. 

At the round table, I grabbed the laminated menu and dry-erase marker and circled some of my favorites: hargao (shrimp dumplings), luóbo gāo (turnip cakes), and cheong fun (rice noodle rolls stuffed with meat, drenched in sweet soy sauce — yum). Then I looked up. 

My well-meaning friend looked almost scared. 

“Or maybe sesame chicken and … potstickers?” I offered. She nodded, relieved. 

My family’s typical dim sum spread! A little something for everyone.

That moment marked the beginning of my lifetime role as the “guide” — introducing non-Asian friends to food I love, on their terms, not mine.