LOCAL Houston | The City Guide May 2017 | Page 20

DINE WRITE DIM SUM AND THEN SOME Yauatcha Comes to Houston By Janice Schindeler | Photo courtesy of Yauatcha 2.12.2017 6:03pm Roasted Duck Pumpkin Puff YAUATCHA, THE MONTH-OLD DIM SUM AND TEA ROOM NESTLED INTO THE JEWEL BOX RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE WEBSTER AND INCONGRUOUSLY ACROSS FROM THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY – IT'S A BIG DEAL. A GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED DEAL. A STUNNINGLY, BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED AND COMFORTINGLY DELICIOUS DEAL. A BRING-IN-THE-BIG-GUNS (AKA CORPORATE CHEFS) DEAL. Yauatcha Houston is the first mainland venture of the famed Hakkasan Group, a worldwide hospitality company with the golden touch, dedicated to luxury. In this case, luxe Cantonese food. (They opened in Waikiki in February.) The London Yauatcha has a Michelin star. The parent company has a corporate chef, Ho Chee Boon, who has diligently trained the Houston team to reproduce the award-winning menu for the Galleria location – plus, as is the Hakkasan custom, added a few localized menu items. 20 L O C A L | may 17 All is mellow, posh, smooth, cool and simply, perfectly, beautifully elegant. Each dim sum a jewel – meticulously formed thin doughs pleated and tucked, enveloping wondrous bites. Like the trio of soup dumplings – pop one of these steamed beauts into your mouth and let the soothing filling of broth slip down your throat.