Exotic Philadelphia

You scoff at this posting's title?

Poor you.

You do not know the wonders of Philadelphia's Chinatown. You do not know the pleasures of Ocean Harbor, with its clattering dim sum carts filled with ethereal Shu Mai Dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp and quail egg, and Steamed Roast Pork Buns. You do not know the restaurant's warm, fragrant and altogether addictive rendition of Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf (pictured above), green leafy bundles containing chewy, pearl-like grains, bits of sweet Chinese sausage, golden egg yolk, stewed pork, morsels of barbecued duck, and more.

Got you feeling jealous now, don't I? You wish you'd gone to Philly to see my Mom on Saturday and share in these delectable nibbles.

Would it make you feel worse, if I told you that we followed up our lunch in Chinatown with a visit to Capogiro to indulge in ice cold Honey-Nasturtium Gelato and Pineapple-Mint Sorbetto? What about Sicilian Pistachio Gelato and Honey-Tangerine Sorbetto? Would that be better?

No. I guess not.

Well then, let me repeat. Poor you.