Gothamist: Zongzi: The Chinese Version of Tamales

Dude

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:44:20 -0500

Arrgh..May May is catering to the "guai lo" now, giving away our ancient and delicious Chinese secrets!

Jen Chung

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:39:31 -0500

I was more amused that May May was "marketing" them as "tamales," versus joong, zhongzi, zongzi, etc. Maybe the signs are for the unfamiliar?

Dude

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:45:50 -0500

$13, you idiot, May May is a store not a restaurant nor a take out place. Do you ask Pathmark to pour your cereal out for you in a paper bowl so you can eat it on the go?!

Julie

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:12:58 -0500

OH MY GOD! i love zongzi! definitely a staple of my childhood :) I'm glad they're finally getting the recognition that they deserve. yummy.

consumer

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:01:21 -0500

May May Food's Chinese rice dumplings may be slick with oil and consequently tasty but their pride in their dumplings must've gotten too much to their head. I asked, politely, to have the dumpling served on a paper plate so that I could eat it on the go (afterall, it is good) and got a snooty "i'm sorry, we dont have such a service," complete with look of condescension at my request. That sure spoiled my appetite.

Dorfie

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:49:42 -0500

Tainan style! (Southern Taiwan.) Though in Taiwanese it's called bah-tsang. One of the only Taiwanese folk songs I know is "Sheu Bah-Tsang" = Hot... Tamale. Heh.

ConnPossible

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:37:48 -0500

My grandmother used to make these. I miss gramma. And turnip cake. I really miss gramma.

Harris

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:05:05 -0500

I love May May. I'm not supposed to eat any of those goodies because of my cholesterol problem, but, once in a while, I indulge in a few zongzi. That's a real treat.

Eric

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:53:35 -0500

jeesh Gotamist! you speak of this as if it's something new!!!

jt

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:10:38 -0500

Don't blame Jen for the "Chinese tamale" thing -- look at that picture at the top from what appears to be a Chinese grocery store or supermarket. Also, I think in proper pinyin it's "zhongzi."

Dude

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:02:08 -0500

I thought it's one of the non-Chinese contributor who wrote this post until I saw Jen's name. The first sentence seems to imply that Jen has never seen a joong before. What Chinese would call joong a "Chinese tamale"? Jen, are you still Chinese? The ones at May May are the best!

mature mail

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:59:47 -0500

Never like it when I was young but recently acquired a taste for the salty one's. I do love the clean smell of the bamboo leaves. It's very comforting.

Charshiu

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:55:42 -0500

Don't know how many calories each one packs, but I usually eat one before I run a marathon.

lc

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:41:52 -0500

This post is making me hungry. I'll need to buy some zongzi next time I go to Chinatown. I like the Shanghainese style with pork+salted egg and the sweet red beans ones.

jt

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:34:21 -0500

I like zongzi but watch out -- they are heavy.

Frankenstein

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:33:02 -0500

I'm a big fan of the ones with chicken or sausage inside....

AmazingJason

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:30:44 -0500

I know it didn't take place in New York, but why isn't there any mention of the massacre at VT?