Mary will make your belly happy.
This is my first post for 2021. I have not been inspired to sit down and spend time writing because of the lack of inspiration because all the events of 2020 were cancelled except for the Restaurant Canada show that I squeezed in just before the shut down and beginning of the cancellation of all public events.
That brings me to the reason for this blog post. My Foodie BFF Mary Tang - her Blog is Maryshappybelly has launched a new line of frozen Chinese dumplings or potstickers as you might call them. I am so thrilled for her to be able to see this come true.
I met Mary at one of my first Food Blogger-Influencer events at McEwen foods after it first opened in at the Shops at Don Mills. I think that was 2014 or something like that. We instantly clicked and at the time I had a car and we would go to many events together or ride the subway home together so we became fast friends.
Mary just launched her new dumplings this past week and today she brought me a sample of her Pork and her Shrimp dumplings. I still have the Shrimp ones in freezer but I was dying to try some so I cooked about half a dozen of the pork dumplings. Another one of my friends ordered some from ResTOKitchen where they are delivered from. My friend was raving about them so I knew they were going to be great.
Mary has been working in the food world for a while. She was a sales rep for a cake company until the restaurants started closing and has been focused on her blog and her family since then. She had a goal to find work that could still give her flexibility. While at this point launching a new venture probably isn't going to give her much free time it's a great way to do work that is her passion and be an example to her 2 small girls on starting a business during difficult times.
Everyone in the food community in Toronto that know Mary love her because she is a go getter and very friendly so we are all so happy to see her do what she loves.
Now.. what you really want to know is what the dumplings are like. Well I may be biased because she is my foodie pal but I am happy to honestly say that the dumplings are FANTASTIC. If you know me I don't throw praise around lightly.
I pan fried-steamed the dumplings as you would do for potstickers. What I instantly loved was that they held up and didn't fall apart or explode. The dough has a chewy give like decent al dente pasta.
The filling is fantastic. What I loved was that it was full of flavour but not just full of sodium.
Mary has a chili dipping sauce that I think comes with an order but she didn't bring me any to try but my friend told me it's really good too. I just made my own dipping sauce when I tried them but everything was in the perfect balance.
I used to either buy dumplings from markets like T&T or if I really had lots of time to spare I might make my own. Now I don't have to. I can order some in my jammies and cook them up lightning fast and support my friend at the same time. WIN WIN.
When they say support local I am happy to support my friend because I know it supports her whole family and friends and it's so good that it's a bonus to buy local.
Order some #MHBDumplings from ResTOKitchen @ResTOkitchen
and check out Mary's blog at www.maryshappybelly.com
Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/maryshappybelly
On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/maryshappybelly/
On Facebeook at https://www.facebook.com/maryshappybelly
and her Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqOKf6bCMmq7cKxRtz3tQpw
Don't forget to tell her you read about her dumplings from me. That will make her day.
You will love them.. I can say that with a guarantee.
