Large Teeth and the Things They Do

When you’re venturing through the wilds of Adventureland, you can work up quite a hunger. Luckily, the skippers of the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. opened the doors to their mess hall and have prepared some of their best dishes for traveling guests. Which is ironic considering that prior to the opening of the Skipper Canteen, the skippers were best known for all things chicken. Today, we’re craking the lid of our dim sum steamer to sample the S.E.A. Shu Mai.

The S.E.A. Shu Mai dumplings are served in their steamer, and are listed as being a legendary blend of pork, shrimp, edamame beans, and spices wrapped in gyoza skin and then steamed. While not listed in the menu description, the dumplings are dusted with sesame seeds and also contain water chestnuts, fish sauce, arugula, and Sriracha. The dim sum appetizer is also served with a dipping sauce that consists of a low sodium soy sauce and sambal oelek.

Shu mai is a pretty common option at dim sum restaurants and the S.E.A. Shu Mai matched what I expected quite well. Both the textures and flavors of the pork and shrimp were spot on, with some mild heat and not too mushy. The edamame was a unique addition, as typically shu mai is prepared with mushrooms. However, if you like edamame, you’ll love this addition as it gives some new flavors and texture to the dumplings. The gyoza skin was cooked well. Meaning it wasn’t gummy, but doesn't add as much flavor to the shu mai as it retains from the filling mixture itself. The sesame seeds add a wonderful bit of coarseness to a dish that is relatively soft, as well as adding another complex flavor to the mix.

The dipping sauce was savory and spicy, and played well with all of its friends in each dumpling. My suggestion would be to nibble a hole in the side of your dumpling and then dunk it in the dipping sauce. This way you are assured of getting some of the sauce inside and mixing with the wonderful combination of pork and shrimp.

Overall, I loved the S.E.A. Shu Mai and its blend of pork, shrimp, and edamame, just as I have about every dish I’ve sampled from the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen. If you’re lost in the jungles of Adventureland you would do well to follow your nose, and stomach growls, straight to the doorstep of the Skipper Canteen. I can promise you won’t be disappointed by the food, the jokes on the other hand…