SIOMAIGAD 😮

                                                   

1. INTRODUCTION 
   
   

1. General Description of Siomai
   
   
   Shumai, which can also be referred to as pork dumplings, is a type of traditional Chinese dumpling normally served in bite-sized portions in a small steamer basket or plate, also known as dim sum. In the Philippines where it is spelled siomai, it often consists of ground beef, pork, or shrimp combined with extenders such as green peas and carrots, then wrapped in wonton wrappers and either steamed or fried. It is normally dipped in soy sauce with calamansi juice.
   
   
2. Recipe of Siomai 
   
   
   To make pork siomai, one would need ground pork, chopped water chestnuts or turnips, chopped carrots, minced garlic, minced onions, spring onions or leeks, an egg, sesame oil, ground pepper, salt, seasonings, small wanton or siomai wrappers, soy sauce, calamansi, and sesame oil. The first step is to mix all of the ingredients for the filling in a bowl. Next, arrange the wrappers in a tray and place an equal amount of ground pork in each. To close the wrapper, gather up the edges and fold to form the shape of a basket with the top part of the filling exposed, pressing lightly while pleating each side. Boil water and brush the steamer with oil. When the water gets to a rolling boil, arrange the siomai inside the steamer and let it stay for 15-20 minutes. Serve with soy sauce, calamansi, and sesame oil.
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   1. COMPARE AND CONTRAST
      
      
      Canteen Siomai
         
         The siomai in the canteen is a way for students to have a taste of Chinese food in school. I tried the pork siomai when I arrived to school. Where it is freshly cooked or steamed, so hot that it looks good. I went to school early to try it. Because I've noticed it gets different when school hours go by and The textures and taste of the siomai becomes different and we don't appreciate the true taste and totality of it because of course it has been cooked a few hours earlier and has waited. 
      
      
         The canteens siomai is your average dumpling but as I bit through it, it was crunchy, tasty and delicious! The pork siomai was real and didn’t taste fake and like cardboard. They served it hot and the pork inside was cooked to the right consistency and had all the right flavors that I expected it to have.
      
      
         It was good from what I had tasted so far. And including with its undeniably cheap of a price, it was able to satisfy me.
      
      

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      Chowking Siomai 
      
      
         Chowking is a fast food restaurant that is known for selling Chinese food, of course Siomai is included. I went to one of their branches in Megamall and ordered one Siomai. My expectations are high for knowing that I’m in a fast food restaurant that sells Chinese food. After 10 mins or so, I received my Siomai. Chowking serves you with a small long plate, where 3 pieces of siomai can fit. The calamansi is together with plate of the siomai. While the soy sauce is you serve it to yourself they’ll give you the bottle of the soy sauce. Lastly the Chilies, it’s on a small separate plate, where you can dip your Siomai.
      
      
         Based on my examining or reviewing; the smell of the siomai is not a completely shocking because it really does smell that it came from the steamer fresh and cooked. The smell of it is quite different when the soy sauce and chilies are included. Also, I think that the siomai is very well cooked because there are no any signs of unwanted either weird taste. Finally the texture, when take a bite you will know that it’s cooked and you chew them slowly knowing there are no hard piece of something or half it using a knife you can see it by yourself.
      
      
         Chowking Siomai for some people is worth it, it costs Php 32.00. It’s expensive for a 3 pieces of siomai, maybe because Chowking is famous. But I can see a lot of people are still buying it. Trying it is not that bad at all, who can’t say no to a free food right?
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      Hen Lin
      
      
         Hen Lin's pork siomai looks well and properly cooked, has no unnecessary colors that are different to what you expect from a siomai. They sell siomai based on the customer's choice - steamed or fried. I chose steamed, of course! I noticed how Hen Lin keeps their food hot and well cooked. They have a large steamer wherein the lowest section is for the newest additions to be cooked while the upper sections are to keep the cooked food fresh and hot.
      
      
         For take-out, which I did, Hen Lin serves their siomai in a box (for orders more than one) with the siomai securely and properly arranged for the size of the siomai fits the box perfectly. The condiments, such as soy sauce, chili, and calamansi are packed in a separate plastic bag. Just the right amount of soy sauce is packed in a plastic bag thinner than ice candy bags and securely tied up to avoid spills. Chilies are given in a sauce cup with a lid, and calamansi just in the plastic bag. The package of their siomai products is very conserving yet efficient. No materials are wasted, which I think is a good help to the environment.
          
         Upon smelling and inspecting the siomai, I knew there wasn't any foul scent therefore, the siomai is properly steamed. What you smell from the siomai is what you taste as well. The meat and other ingredients compl(e)(i)ment each other and does not any weird and unexpected taste in a certain portion of the product. The taste is spectacular and equally distributed in that small piece of siomai, making you crave for more. The texture of the meat once chewed lets you know that its cooked perfectly and no unnecessary chunks along the way. I ate everything and spit nothing!
      
      
         Although an order of 3 pieces is worth Php 33, I am more than satisfied with the siomai and would honestly pay more for what I got. I may also be paying for its popular brand being known for their great Chinese food but their products are delicious and worth spending extra pennies for.
      
      
      
      
      
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        Siomai House
        Given that Siomai House is a commercialized fast food chain, it's already expected that the presentation wouldn't be anything special. Instead, the packaging of the food will be critiqued. 
         The siomai was purchased from one of Siomai House’s food stalls located in a nearby grocery, and was taken home. At first glance, the siomai looked delightfully appetizing since it didn’t look burnt or undercooked. No weird flecks of foreign substances, dirt, and other things that musn’t be present in food—it was basically clean. But, unfortunately, it was packed in a disposable plastic bag, lined with a paper plate. Although it did look very aesthetically pleasing, the packaging definitely failed to do justice to the appearance of the siomai.
         After opening the poor packaging, it was time to dine. It didn’t smell sketchy or spoiled, and it was mild—just the right kind of appetizing. Though, it was a bit hard to identify the meat.
         At first bite, it was a huge let down. The siomai was bland, dry, and the wrap was too doughy. It wasn’t even warm enough to enjoy. Plus, identifying the meat would not come easy, but it was found that it’s made of pork. It lacked seasoning, heating, and oil. It had a different consistency, rougher than the authentic pork siomai. Fortunately, the soy sauce that came with it made it taste better, and the sauce wasn’t very salty, which is good (for the saltiness wasn’t sharp enough to dry the insides of the mouth). If it weren’t for the sauce, the siomai wouldn’t be very enjoyable at all. In short, it wasn’t delightful after all. Php 28 for 4 pieces of siomai isn’t a bad price, really. It’s actually fair given the taste and the ingredients that were used. There are more expensive siomai out there so this is sufficient.