The Savory History of Chinatown: Dumpling Tour with Tastings

This Chinatown food tour introduces you to the neighborhood by way of the humble dumpling. As you sample three different types (have you ever had a soup dumpling? It’s a revelation), you'll hear about Chinese cuisine and culture as well as how this community became so deeply embedded in New York City. Although this is primarily a food tour, you’ll enjoy a healthy dollop of history too, visiting areas like the Original Five Points, passing by the family-owned restaurant of an infamous trafficker, and passing entrances to what are rumored to be the still-active secret tunnels beneath the city. This is a tasty way to learn about one of America’s most famous neighborhoods for anyone with an appetite and an interest in urban history. You'll meet your guide in Chinatown and he will introduce you the history of Chinese people in New York dating back to the 19th century then step into our first restaurant to taste a steamed dumpling made fresh to order. As you eat, you'll discuss the mythical origins of these little dough balls and why they are such an iconic part of Chinese cuisine. Next, you'll stop into another restaurant to taste fried dumplings as we look at the regional variety of Chinese food and the immigrants that brought it to America as well as the murky origins of some of America’s favorite “Chinese” dishes - chop suey, anyone? Your next stop is a small diversion through the Chinatown Mall to see the food sellers and market stalls that make it feel like a shopping center straight out of Beijing. Then you'll hit the streets to see famous landmarks like the original Five Points, Doyer Street, the Nom Wah Tea Parlor, and the infamous ‘Bloody Angle’, in order to get a feel for how the neighborhood developed from a seedy slum controlled by gangs into the thriving community that it is today. For the final stop, you'll sit down to enjoy a round of soup dumplings, a specialty of Shanghai and adopted favorite of New Yorkers. As an extra treat, your guide will leave you with a steamed pork bun, just to make sure you don’t leave hungry. Sites Visited: - Chinatown - Three dumpling spots - Chinatown Mall - Doyer St.