Chinatown London launches Nation Dim Sum Week

Shaftesbury has today announced that Chinatown London are launching the first ever National Dim Sum Week, supported by celebrity chef, Ken Hom OBE. The celebrations will run from June 30 to July 6 2018 and aim to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions of this ancient culinary experience.

During National Dim Sum Week, visitors of Chinatown London can experience this traditional Cantonese dining experience with bespoke menus and tasting sessions from several participating restaurants, including Dumplings’ Legend, Golden Dragon, Golden Phoenix, Lotus Garden, New China, Orient London, Plum Valley and Wan Chai Corner.

This new event provides an opportunity for Chinatown London’s tenants to share ancient culinary etiquette and flavours that are less well known within Western culture. Many of the over 1,000 recognised Dim Sum dishes will be on offer, including some of the more unusual Dim Sum dishes such as Phoenix claws and turnip cake.

Commenting on the news, Julia Wilkinson, Head of Group Restaurant Strategy at Shaftesbury, said: “We are very excited to launch Chinatown London’s first National Dim Sum Week and are honoured to have Ken Hom OBE as a keen supporter of the initiative. It is a great opportunity for some of our world-class operators to showcase their rich and traditional culture. The week’s celebrations will allow visitors of Chinatown London to discover this ancient culinary experience and learn more about this widely popular food experience than is commonly known.”  

Celebrity chef, author and presenter, Ken Hom OBE, commented, “A great variety of Chinese savoury and sweet snacks are eaten between meals and during banquets, which have been enjoyed by the Chinese for hundreds of years. These delicacies were originally only consumed by members of the imperial household, but over the centuries many affordable versions found their way into the diet of the ordinary Chinese and Cantonese restaurants became acknowledged as the masters of this speciality. In the UK, we have come to know these snacks as ‘dim sum’ which is the common Cantonese term for such snacks, meaning ’eating snacks for pleasure’ or ‘order what you fancy’.”

“During Dim Sum Week, I invite you to try the rich array of snacks you will find in restaurants in Chinatown, and be adventurous with the choice you’ll find.  They come in many flavours, and can be hot, sour, sweet or spicy.  Look out for Dian Xin, a Mandarin form of Dim Sum, Chung Guen (spring rolls), Cha Siu Bao (barbecue pork buns), Siu Mai (pork dumplings), Har Gau (prawn dumplings), Pai Gwat (short steamed spareribs) or Woo Kok (fried taro dumplings) – these are some of the most popular Dim Sum snacks. Enjoy them like we do, between mid-morning and late afternoon, and most usually as a light, inexpensive lunch.  We drink tea throughout a Dim Sum meal, which is why dim sum is sometimes referred to as yum cha -- the Cantonese words for drinking tea.  Enjoy Dim Sum week!”

ENDS

For further information please contact Amanda McNally or Charlotte Croker at Aver via amandamcnally@aver.uk.com or charlottecroker@aver.uk.com

Chinatown

China is changing and traditional values are being complemented by new ideals and trends, inspired by other parts of the Far East and the West.  This is influencing what Chinese people and visitors expect in Chinatown.  Shaftesbury understands this and is experiencing directly the evolution of China, spending time in its cities to see, taste and hear what is happening first hand. 

Whilst inherently Chinese, under Shaftesbury’s long-term curation and partnership with the community, Chinatown is evolving to reflect the changes occurring in the Far East, creating is a mix of tradition and modernism that makes cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul some of the most exciting places in the world. 

中国城

中国正在经历翻天覆地的变化，而在东亚其它地区和西方的影响下，中国的许多传统价值也正在和新的理念与潮流相融合。这样的变化也在影响着中国人与其他地方游客对中国城的看法与期待。Shaftesbury对这样的趋势有着深刻的理解，而且也对中国的高速发展有着直接的体会。在过去的一段时间里，Shaftesbury的一些员工被派往中国，亲自去观看、去品尝、去倾听今天中国的脉搏。

虽然伦敦中国城本质上还是中国传统的延伸，但在Shaftesbury长期的精心策划与管理下，并且在与当地社群的合作下，中国城正在成为反映亚洲巨变的一面镜子。如今，中国城和上海、北京、东京、首尔等等许多令人激动的亚洲城市一样，成为了一个传统与现代相互碰撞、相互融合的地方。 

Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury is a Real Estate Investment Trust, which owns an exceptional real estate portfolio extending to 14½ acres in the heart of London's West End - a highly popular, sought-after and prosperous location. Shaftesbury focuses on retail, restaurants and leisure in the liveliest parts of the West End. The portfolio comprises 584 shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs, extending to 1.1 million sq. ft., 403,000 sq. ft. of offices and 562 apartments. Its proven long-term management strategy is to create and foster distinctive, lively and prosperous locations. Its holdings are mainly concentrated in Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown but also include substantial ownership in East and West Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia.

有关Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury是一个房地产投资信托基金，其在倍受追捧、炙手可热的伦敦西区（West End）繁华地段拥有超过 14.5英亩的房地产资产组合。Shaftesbury专注于在伦敦西区最有活力的区域发展零售、餐饮和娱乐业。Shaftesbury的资产组合包括584家商铺、餐厅、咖啡厅和酒吧，总面积达到110万平方英尺；另外Shaftesbury还拥有总面积达到403,000平方英尺的办公室，以及562间公寓。在伦敦西区，Shaftesbury是拥有最多特许饮食场所的地产公司，这让伦敦市中心成为了世界闻名的美食圣地。Shaftesbury行之有效的管理策略旨在打造一个独特且有吸引力的繁华地带。其地产主要集中在卡纳比大街（Carnaby）、七晷区（Seven Dials）和中国城（Chinatown）区域；同时，Shaftesbury在科文特花园（Covent Garden）东、西两侧、Soho区和菲茨罗维亚区（Fitzrovia）也拥有大量地产。