21. CHRONICLE BOOKS
Dining with an international group of friends—none of whom knew how to order dim sum—spurred Kit Shan Li to design a book and postcards that would educate people about these small plates of Chinese food. “People think it’s all about intestines,” notes Li. “I was surprised, so I thought I’d make it very simple.”

To that end, each card has an image of a single dish, identified in English and Chinese, along with correct pronunciation. Color blocks at the bottom cue which items are fried, steamed, served as dessert, etc. A typical order card and chopstick instructions complete the experience. “The postcard is about the idea of inviting your friends to get together,” Li says. “That’s why I added the stamp that says, ‘Let’s have Dim Sum.’” The cards also include ingredients, and in some cases, charming encouragement to sample the more unfamiliar offerings. “Chicken feet,” Li says, “are really tasty, but they don’t look appetizing, so I encourage people to try them. It’s okay if you don’t like it, but sometimes it’s good to be adventurous.”
Laurel Saville