Dimmies
What are dimmies AKA dim sims?
According to Wikipedia, A dim sim (or dimmie) is Chinese-inspired meat and vegetable dumpling-style snack food, popular in Australia and to a lesser extent in New Zealand. The dimmie was popularised by a Chinese immigrant in Melbourne, William Chen Wing Young, the father of Australian celebrity chef, author and TV personality Elizabeth Chong. The name derives from the pronunciation diim syiim (點心) in Toisanese, the predominant dialect spoken at the time by Central Melbourne’s Chinese community.
As the character Ray Shoesmith says in Mr Inbetween, “You’re not an Aussie if you haven’t had a bloody dimmie.”
Dimmie History
Ever wondered where the humble dimmie came from, or how it became such a big part of Melbourne’s food culture? I’ve put together a collection of stories exploring the history of dim sims, from their invention in the 1940s to their rise as an Aussie icon. Read more here: Dim Sim History and Origins.
My life long love affair with dimmies
I have eaten dimmies from when I was a little kid. My mother used to drag me to the South Melbourne Market most weekends to get fruit and vegetables mainly, but also to visit Shoshana to buy clothes (Shosh loved a haggle, as did my mum, we went to her stall for years and years). Despite being bored with the drudgery of shopping, I was always happy once the shopping was over, as we’d stop at South Melbourne Dim Sims to pick up a few tasty morsels for the trip home. And so my love of dimmies was born.
Some of my favourite dimmie places
Over the years I’ve sampled dimmies from markets, fish and chip shops, and tiny suburban takeaways, each with its own flavour, history, and loyal following. But which ones truly stand out? I’ve pulled together a dedicated guide where I rate and review Melbourne’s favourites. Dive in here: Melbourne’s Best Dim Sims Rated.
Dim Sim Recipes & How to Make Your Own
Dimmies aren’t just for markets and fish and chip shops, you can make them at home too. From classic recipes to sauce debates and even whether to steam, fry or BBQ, our cooking section dives into everything you need to know about preparing dim sims yourself. Here’s how: Dim Sim Recipes & How to Make Your Own
Other dimmie related content
Here’s some other dim sim related content. Because everyone loves dim sims, and if you don’t, you should!
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Dim Sims 4 Lyfe
Dim Sims 4 Lyfe is a Facebook community of over 64,000 members who share reviews, recipes, and sauce debates. Supportive and passionate, it’s the go-to hub for discovering Melbourne’s best dimmies and connecting with fellow fans of this Aussie classic.
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Nickames for Dim Sims
Australians love giving nicknames to their favourite foods, and the humble dimmie is no exception. From “mystery bags” and “possum pockets” to “Cranbourne crayfish” and even “Dim Careys,” the list of playful names proves that when it comes to dim sims, creativity is part of the culture.
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Factory made dimmies
There are a large list of commercial dim sims available. I tend not to go for these, but if you’re on a budget, or just can’t justify the expense of a proper home made dimmie, then here’s a list of some of the commercial ones available. Kwok Cheung Sun Hing…
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Aglet AGT Low ‘Dimmies’
Because of my love of Dim Sims, I often made reference to them in my discussions with the Aglet community. One of our creators, ‘cook’ decided to create a dimmie inspired shoe to share the dimmie love with the community.