#mei-mei

#mei-mei

Maine is known for its fresh seafood, specifically lobster, and has many other foods native to its culinary culture that are unbreakably tied to the state.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings is known for its handmade soup dumplings, made in an open kitchen where diners can observe the preparation process. The menu features traditional dim sum and noodle dishes, including Shanghai Siu Mai and pan-fried crispy noodles.

Look for menu items like Gogi Morning, a serving of eggs Benedict with beef bulgogi, caramelied onions, lemmon hollaindaise, galbi sauce and a croissant base ($25), or Gochujang Fried Chicken, boneless chicken fried with sugar dust, covered in gochujang glaze and topped with sesame and parsley ($14), alongside other fusion flavors like Nori Pasta ($26), Bone Marrow Cioppino ($39) or Seafood Jjambbong Pasta ($29).

Doyers Street is a one-block strip in Chinatown that starts off perpendicular to the Bowery and then curves ninety degrees, like a lowercase "r," to terminate against the bustle of Pell Street. A notorious battleground for gang fights in the early nineteen-hundreds, it has, in recent decades, scrubbed out the bloodstains and redefined itself as a beloved, city-grid-defying idiosyncrasy, narrow and wonky and overflowing with atmosphere.

I spent the first half of 2025 in Paris, and while I loved living in a walkable city overflowing with art and culture, I often found myself craving a taste of home. Fortunately, Paris has not one but two Chinatowns: Belleville and the 13th arrondissement. Belleville is an artsy, historically progressive neighborhood shaped by centuries of immigration from Europe, Africa, and Asia. At its center is Parc de Belleville, known for its rotating street art and sweeping sunset views of the Eiffel Tower.

It is a side dish that has main-character energy. Think about it. You put bacon in ice-cream and it is the bacon that sings. You use candied bacon as a cocktail garnish, and suddenly that is all anyone's talking about. But, while all bacon is great, some bacon is just greater than others. If you disagree, try some Chinese-style bacon called Lap Yuk or La Rou.

Clear counter or table space for everyone to cook together, and be sure to get enough ingredients for each person to eat at least a dozen dumplings. Then, set up your assembly line in a circle: Place a bowl of filling in the middle of every three to five cooks, along with wrappers and a floured sheet tray or plate. (Cooks can chat more easily if they face one another when wrapping dumplings.)

Christmas is lovely, but my kids think Chinese new year is by far the best holiday. I might be biased, but, unusually, I am inclined to agree with them. As my eldest puts it, New clothes, cash, booze and food what's not to love? There's the added bonus that cash is absolutely more than acceptable in fact, it's de rigueur, so there's no shopping for mundane socks and smelly candles. Chinese new year is full of rituals and, just as at Christmas, every family has its own, but they are all variations on a theme. Symbolism looms large in Chinese culture, and at new year it centres around messages of prosperity, luck and family.

Each month, our staff shares unfussy recipe ideas that you can call upon any day of the week. Because yes, our editors love to cook, but sometimes we need to get dinner on the table 12 minutes ago. That's when we look to kitchen helpers, humble ingredients that can quickly turn into delicious meals. This month, it's all about store-bought dumplings.

Flushing doesn't need another restaurant to prove it's a food destination-but it just got one anyway. Nong Geng Ji, a Hunan cuisine group that built its name in China, will open its first New York City location in Queens on January 18, bringing unique countryside-rooted flavors to 37th Avenue. Founded in 2017, the brand has quickly expanded to more than 100 directly operated restaurants across China, Southeast Asia and Canada.

Super Bowl Sunday is almost here! And whether you're planning to stay glued to each play of the Big Game, tune in for the halftime show and big-budget, best-in-advertising commercials, or just enjoy gathering with friends and family - you'll need to stay fed during the upcoming extravaganza at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. To help, we've asked some of our favorite Bay Area chefs and culinary leaders to share their Super Bowl recipes.