DOLLY GOOD DIM SUM

A modern interpretation of a Chinese tea house, Dolly Dim Sum fills a much-needed niche in the city’s F&B scene where decent mid-priced, pork-free dim sum is hard to come by unless one forks out a princely sum for the delicate morsels at hotel restaurants.

Opened in late 2014, the resto has been pulling in city slickers looking to satisfy their cravings for those comforting mainstays that go so well with copious cups of Chinese tea; Dolly goes one up better as dim sum is served throughout the day till late.

Aside from Dolly - the modern Chinese pin-up girl clad in her chic qipao - the sleek glass-panelled interior and skylight with timber flooring and decorative bird cages is a far cry from the conventional dim sum restos. Parked next to its sister Mexican resto & bar Fresca, Dolly Dim Sum is a contemporary yet comfy haven for small eats; kinda like a Chinois tapas bar.

The acid test lies in the ‘must have’ item of Siew Mai Dumpling (RM9.50), which either makes or breaks a dim sum resto’s reputation. I’d vouch for the deliciousness of the steamed dumplings; the minced chicken coupled with mushroom and prawn filling is not only tasty but also slightly bouncy to the bite. Scrumptious!

More piquant flavour with zingy chilli heat makes the Spicy Szechuan Dumpling (RM10.90) a palate-awakening option for those who like things hot. The slippery smooth skin drenched in light soya sauce, speckled with chopped chilli, coriander and spring onion is generously stuffed with minced chicken and prawn.

For a change of texture and flavour, try Dolly Mozza Roll (RM11.50) – fried beancurd skin rolls stuffed with prawns and melted mozzarella. Crisp and crunchy on the outside, they should go down a storm if you like nibbles oozing with stretchy melted cheese filling.

Our interest was piqued by the Chewy Meat Croquette (RM8.60) which turned out to be meat-filled glutinous dumpling; distinctive for its meaty savouriness and toothsome chewiness.

Personally, I’m partial to Yam Croquette (RM8.60) which rivals those of upmarket restos; the wispy, airy-light exterior yielding delectable fillings of diced meat, mushroom and peas.

Another fave is Signature Salted Fish Bun (RM9.10) – the baked buns are similar to Hong Kong ‘chan bao’ (barbecued meat buns) but the pulling power of this lies in its enticingly briny filling of salted fish, ginger and scallion julienne.

Instead of the usual har gow or steamed prawn dumplings, we tried the Crystal Prawn Dumpling (RM9.20) – half-moon shaped dumplings in translucent skin reminiscent of pale jade. Stuffed with bouncy prawns and chopped chives, the ethereal nuances a testament to ingredients’ ultra-freshness.

 

More playful, sublime textures are found in creations of Steamed Beef Ball (RM9.20) and Steamed Chicken Wing (RM8.90). The former is given a clever but subtle twist with aged mandarin peel mixed into the ground beef while the latter is enlivened with aromatic garlic oil and leek, adding extra appeal to the wings’ slick smoothness. 

Normally I’m not big on Panfried Radish Cake (RM8.60) but Dolly upended my reluctance with its devilishly good version. There's more grated radish tricked up with sun-dried shrimps and dried scallops.

Noodle fans would be overjoyed to know they can enjoy four types of Cheong Fun (steamed rice flours rolls, RM9.60-RM15.90) or Crispy Egg Noodles (RM25.20), a nest of deep-fried ‘sang meen’ (fresh egg noodles) with red snapper, chicken, mushroom and sweet peas drenched in a viscous eggy batter. 

If you like fried rice like me, then I’d say go for the Royal Golden Fried Rice (RM24.20), a generous portion of ebiko-adorned rice bursting with smoky ‘wok hei’. Dig into the fluffy grains and you’d find chunks of egg and prawns.

Should you have any tummy space to spare, the cottony-soft Egg Custard Bun (RM7.50) with its molten salted egg yolk filling and the delicately sweet, spongy Mini Dolly Cupcake (RM6.90) will help to plug existing gaps.

For reservations at DOLLY DIM SUM, call tel: 03-2181-3830. The restaurant is located at G9-G9A Ground Floor, Avenue K, 156 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

CHARMING SIGHTS & SHOPPING HOT SPOTS IN CHENGDU (part 3)

‘MUST VISIT’ ATTRACTIONS

Adorable pandas, ancient historical sites, scenic countryside, mist-shrouded mountains and quaint villages, the Heavenly State of Chengdu has them all. No visit is complete without these ‘must visit’ sites: 

 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

1375, Panda Road, Northern Suburb, Chengdu. Tel: +86 28 8351 0033

We all went ga-ga over the cute and cuddly giant pandas. Whether lazing around, sitting on their butts or snacking on bamboo … the gentle ‘ambassadors’ entertain us by their mere presence inside tree-filled enclosures. Peacocks and red pandas can also be found in the verdant park. The Giant Panda Museum and Scientific Discovery Centre onsite in addition to a rose garden and a swan lake provide additional interest.

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Taoping Qiang Village
Taoping District, Li County, Sichuan

Centuries-old culture and lifestyle of the Qiang ethnic minority are preserved in this quaint village. Built like a fortress with watchtowers, the village’s cluster of sturdy multi-storied stone-timber-mud houses is a priceless cultural and historical relic.

The overall layout confounds us with its cunning maze of narrow passageways (complete with ingenious Indiana Jones-type booby traps mind you) and ingenious underground water network. The surrounding views encompass majestic mountain ranges carved with rocky cliffs and green shrubs.

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Leshan Giant Buddha

No.2435 Lingyun Street, Shizhong District, Leshan, Sichuan

This awe-inspiring statue is a UNESCO World Heritage and rightly so. Sited at the confluence of three rivers: Min, Qingyi and Dadu River, the 71m-high seated Buddha statue is incredibly carved into the sheer cliffs overlooking the rivers. 

The project began in 713 A.D during the Tang dynasty and was finally completed some 90 years later. The best view of the gigantic statue is from boats plying the river but earnest visitors are allowed to climb up and down the long flights of stairs carved into the rocky red-earth cliffs.

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Wuhou Temple
 No.231, Wuhou Temple Street, Chengdu     

A memorial hall that will stir the interest of history buffs. Dedicated to the famous Shu Kingdom’s prime minister and military strategist Zhuge Liang (181-234AD), the significant relics here include ancient inscriptions from the Three Kingdoms period and statues of Emperor Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang and key Shu Kingdom officials. 

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Jinsha Site Museum
   No.2 Jinsha Site Road, Chengxi, Chengdu. Tel: +86 28 8730 3522

Formerly marked for development, progress was put on hold when the five sq.km excavation site unearthed archaeological treasures from the ancient Shu state and kingdom (the old name of Sichuan) in 2001. Among the stash found are the sun and immortal bird gold ornament, bronze artifacts and ceremonial jade ornaments.

    

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Mount Emei
Emeishan, Leshan City, Sichuan

Surreal...the mist-shrouded Golden Summit atop Mount Emei. Pix courtesy of Wilsurn Lim.

As you trek uphill, beguiling vistas of fog-covered peaks edged with lofty trees and rare wild fauna unfold, reminiscent of classical Chinese ink paintings. For devout Buddhists, it’s a pilgrimage of sorts where a giant Buddha statue and the Golden Summit temple beckon, 3079.3m above sea level.

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HOT SPOTS FOR GOOD BUYS

Don’t leave without lugging some Chinese folk art and crafts, tea leaves and customary tidbits, exquisite silk brocade and embroidered satin cloths from your Chengdu sojourn. Below are 3 hot spots for shopaholics:

Kuan Zhai Alley
 Changshun Shang Lu (Changshun Upper Road), Chengdu

Old Ming and Qing-style architecture, restored vintage edifices and ornate low-rise structures dominate Wide and Narrow Alley. The quaint alleys are chock-a-block with shops and stores touting a profusion of folk art pieces and touristy trinkets, teahouses and even a Starbucks, upscale themed restaurants, buzzing bars and taverns, boutique hotels and spas.

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Jinli Street
 231, Wuhouci Street, Wuhou District, Chengdu

Packed cheek by jowl within the narrow lanes and housed in vintage abodes, the clusters of teahouses, restaurants, bars and retail shops here are replicated to resemble the trading streets of old Sichuan. You’d find loads of local handicrafts, snacks and bric-a-bracs. A bustling hub where traditional craftsmen ply their trade and craftsmanship along pop-up stalls selling gimmicky souvenirs and photograph-worthy streetscapes.

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Lotus Pool (Hehuachi) Market

Erhuan (2^nd Ring) Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu

Bargain hunters and budget-conscious shoppers will have a field day scouring for wallet-friendly fashion apparel, kitschy accessories, household goods, practical cookware, toys, sewing supplies and fabrics, stationery, shoes and bags, etc. 

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This media fam visit to Chengdu is made possible by AirAsia X 
and Dorsett Grand Chengdu. THANK YOU!