UYE – X-mas sweater + Dim Sum!

Dim Sum during the holidays… why not? Thanks to Alex T a bunch of us sac yeeps got together for delicious dim sum wearing our most beloved ugly sweaters. I have driven by The Hong Kong Islander restaurant many times and it always seems to be busy. There is a huge parking lot, which wraps around the building, yet it is always packed with cars. At Alex’s Dim Sum During the Holidays UYE I quickly discovered why this place is always so busy… simply said, the dim sum is yummylicious! The Hong Kong Islander Restaurant provided the perfect environment for large groups like us. We sat in the round with 10 per table. And each table was adorned with an exceptionally large «lazy susan» as its epicenter. The food service was outstanding as the servers were back in a flash with our Dim Sum orders that we… er Alex helped us select. It was such fun to hear Alex order for us in his native tongue. He explained everything and patiently translated back and fourth with all the questions we had for the food servers.
We enjoyed fun conversations with each other while we tried all the various authentic and delicious samples of dim sum. As usual, there were plenty of amusing conversations and laughs to go along with them. I enjoyed seeing Joe K, John H, Michelangelo, Rich and his minnie me, Kailyn, Eric, Karen & Ken, my T and anyone else I may have missed. I wish (as always) that there were more time to catch up with everyone as it is UYEs like this that help me get through what one might otherwise consider to be a boring holiday season. Lastly, I must mention the lovely hand crafted ornaments and holiday centerpiece that Alex made… your artistic abilities continue to impress! (Please check out the pictures.) Thank you Alex T for all your hard work in putting this holiday event together. It was super successful, fun and informative and your Unilocaltastic awesomeness rocks!

Dead tired and about ready to be done with the weekend, the perfect way to spend my Saturday before Christmas was with this lovely Unilocalers!
Arriving a little late, it was easy to find my fellow Unilocal squad even from across the busy restaurant — of course they were the ones all decked out with bright red sweaters, a red-​filled tree centerpiece, and plenty of laughing faces around the table. As I got closer I found John H, Rich L., Lucy M, Todd N, Joe K, Karen & Kenneth K, William L. and Michelangelo S (although he did not have a sweater on, boo). However, Alex T had one of the best sweaters I’ve ever seen — decked out with selfie mirrors and all sorts of fun. He showed us his crafty side again with the homemade Unilocal snow globe ornaments which covered the tree at our table — which he then let us keep at the end of the event. Coolest. gift. ever. Seriously, I’m so excited to start my first Christmas tree with this!
We talked, we laughed, we seflied, we did all the things that make meals around circular tables oh so wonderful, and of course we added our Unilocal flare. It was a wonderful morning and relaxing, fun little start to my holiday week. Alex T, you’re killing this UYE game!
That’ll be one to top for sure, thanks for spending Saturday morning with me y’all — have a very merry end of the year!

Well that was pretty fun. I arrived a little after 10am the resturant was starting to fill up, I made my way to the UYE table to say hello to everyone, and take pics with all the event goers. My face still hurts from smiling during all thise pics. I took a seat with Rich L. got myself some tea and waited for the food carts to roll by. I had no idea what to order so I let Rich order for me. It was like we were on a date lol. (JK Rich). We ate and ate, the food was pretty good. Idk when the last time I had Dim Sum but I was impressed with all the different tastes. I could have done with out eating the chicken feet, those things are nasty. Oh well its time to go. We are pretty much left together, taking a few more pics and saying our good byes.
A BIG thanks to Alex T. for putting this event together and for giving all of us a really cool Unilocal ornament.

How can you make for having a home or office Christmas party meets this Chinese style brunch altogether in one special UYE? The answer: it’s Alex T’s unbelievable UYE of Xmas sweaters and Dim Sum! As I came to Hong Kong Islander on Saturday morning (12/​19/​2015,) my Unilocalers: Karen & Kenneth K, Michelangelo S, John H, Rich L, Eric S, Kailyn T, Lucy M, Todd N and Joe K were arrived early before Alex T comes by bringing his own creative Christmas tree with decorative ornaments (which he gave it to us for attending,) and showing his CYO ugly Christmas sweater. I’m impressed with all the creativity he had to celebrate the holiday season!
In this event, we did discussed some everyday lives with participated Unilocalers especially some gifts too from his Hawaii trip several days ago. I’m in a luau heaven right now, and I felt it very warm and comfortable. Additionally, we have dim sum! I’ve been eating dim sum for quite sometimes, and their food from Hong Kong Islander tasted delicious! Very eatable for an extra breakfast meal for me!
We did enjoyed for taking pictures from standard pose including selfie pictures too which I did brought to that event to enhanced the moments of Christmas festivities! Oh what fun is to take pictures before Christmas!
In the end, Alex T’s UYE of Xmas Sweaters and Dim Sum is the coolest and the most enjoyable UYE that I’ve ever visited despite I left early for seasonal purpose. A well, worthy UYE to remember! Thanks Alex T for putting this effort!

First i have to say a BIG THANK YOU! to all the Unilocalers for making to my early morning event! Seriously i rather just stay in bed because its cold outside but it feels like x mas. BUT when i hear dim sum, i am up and ready to pig out!
I have to say my mission was accomplished, When i got yeeps to try some new dishes such as tripe and chicken feet. The brave souls who tried the nasty bits had some funny face expressions which was HYSTERICAL! Cough Eric S. … Rich L. has proof… lol… Addition to this uye, I wanted to expand the foodie list for Unilocalers and i felt dim sum was very authentic where not so many yeeps have try it. As a sim sum master i had some serious decisions on what to order but nothing too exotic to scare the dim sum newbies. Basically throughout the uye i had order for the majority of the table and describe and explain what each delicacy item is.
I just love this epic idea of ugly x mas sweater and dim sum, like as much as i dim sum i do; i never seen that combo in my life. We started with an empty restaurant to a full house, and as I’m walking out the door everyone was like whoa to my HORRENDOUS ugly x mas sweater! and Waving to little kids like i am santa claus was priceless! As in one hand i am representing Unilocal with my hand made Unilocal ornament x mas tree. We got to enjoy a chinese style high tea style and got to leave with a little Chinese take out box filled with an Unilocal ornament. Basically we eat and took left overs home.
In addition i got some goodies from Aloha Hawaii, which were the macadamia nut chocolate crunch to compliment the whole dim sum experience for the dessert part! Again For those who showed up, i had shared one of my handmade x mas ornament as a Thank you. I had a really good time and enjoyed all of your company. Mahalo for reading! Have a Unilocaltastic holiday!

What a fabulous way to spend a Saturday morning having dim sum together with friends. It was a festive event right before Christmas and Alex you outdid yourself! You did a spectacular job with your Xmas ugly sweater outfit!!! Plus showering us with gifts: Hawaiian leis & candy from the islands. Also making the best Xmas Unilocal tree with handmade Unilocal ornaments!!! Alex individually packed them in a Chinese restaurant takeout box to go for each one of us! How cute was that!
I’ve organized parties before so I understood what Alex was going through but he went over and beyond. He really took care of us all. The ones who attended were myself & Ken, Joe K, William L, John H, Michelangelo, Kailyn, Rich & Breaden, Eric S & Julie S, Lucy & Todd.
Alex pretty much ordered the dim sum for us like beef balls & pork balls, Sui Mai & Hai gow, shrimp & long noodles plus pork & long noodles. There also was sticky rice & meat plus pineapple buns which were yummy!
A few unorthodox items like chicken feet, tripe & fried taro root but actually was quite tasty!
I’m Chinese-​American so I’m pretty familiar with most of the dim sum entrees even though it was my first time here at Hong Kong Islander. We don’t normally eat a lot at one sitting but actually it was a nice, relaxing and chilled atmosphere getting together with a wonderful group of friends to experience the Chinese culture at Xmas time! Should have seen how packed it got while we were there that we even ran into Brandon L and his family!!!
Thank you Alex T so much for a splendid UYE! This was certainly most enjoyable and well planned that I can’t wait for your next one in 2016!!!

Way to go Alex. Set the bar pretty high, why don’t you.
What a fabulous job done by our fellow Unilocaler and Elite Alex T organizing this holiday get together UYE. An ugly Christmas sweater UYE. We’d expect no less than to see him «dress to express» but to also bring a festive Christmas centerpiece tree adorned with handmade clear glass Unilocal ornaments is extraordinary. Of course, the tree topper paid homage to the organizer, and deservedly so.
There were «ugly sweaters» to be seen around the tables but in all fairness, ugly or not, they express the season and make us smile. As a Unilocal friend asked of me later, «Where’s your ugly Christmas Sweater???» Hey, I wore green antlers that blinked!
This was the second time I’d had (participated in) dim sum. The last time was at least 12 years ago. Because I don’t like to be unprepared, I did do some online research ahead of time. My cram session of dim sum didn’t prepare me enough for the dim sum cram. Our host, Alex, took control, used his experience, and ordered what he thought was a best fit for the group. With the exception of chicken feet and tripe, I tried it all.
It’s always a fun time with these Unilocaler get togethers. We missed some regular faces today but did welcome a couple semi-​newbs today. I really enjoy learning about and trying new foods of various cultures and this small gathering allowed an intimate re-​introduction to dim sum.
Thank you Alex and thank you to my Unilocal friends !

Awesome fun MUM! With Dim SUM! Don’t be a BUM! (Spit Out Yer GUM!) Oh YUM!
SITREP
So somehow Unilocaler Extraordinaire Alex T. managed to coaxed a whole crew of us to come out on Saturday morning to try some Holiday Dim Sum at his Unofficial Unilocal Event (UYE)!
THE SETUP
We paddled down Freeport Blvd in the rain to the Hong Kong Islander who specializes in the Dim Sum set-​up. Luckily for us, Alex pretty much did the ordering for us in authentic Chinese lingo to the friendly management & staff of this establishment.
THE FOOD!
And it was fun since all the dishes that were selected were set upon a large lazy susan that spun around when we wanted to grab something for ourselves right in front of our plate.
We were treated to all sorts of delicacies & delights, consisting of meatballs, of shrimp, of tripe, of chicken, of pork, etc., it was a veritable smorgasboard.
Some I enjoyed tremendously and helped myself to another when everybody else had had a chance to try. Other selections — like the chicken feet — I only needed to try once, and I WAS GOOOOD after that and didn’t need to try it again. ;)
UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS!
Well, I don’t own any sweaters period. And like a lame-​ass, I forgot my light-​up reindeer antlers to wear on the head at work. But almost everyone else was very festive with their dress and their accessories! In fact, Alex even brought an awesome little Christmas tree festooned with « Unilocal Holiday Balls» he made himself! Now THAT’s talent & spirit.
The awesome take-​away from this is that Alex each gave us one of the holiday balls! That was so much fun!
THE LOWDOWN
My hats off to Alex T. for setting up a great Dim Sum UYE experience that very delicious, incredibly filling, and hella affordorable ($ 15). Thank you Alex, and Happy Holidays to everyone on Unilocal for a great time this year.
[Quick Unilocal «Public Service Announcement (PSA)»: I love it when I see pictures of such UYEs posted on both Unilocal and Facebook, and then I *crack up* when I see people *whine* on those threads on that they weren’t invited, and somehow feel «excluded».
Hey — the thing about UYEs is that they are PUBLICLY posted on the EVENTS section of the Unilocal website. Any user can RSVP that they are «In» or think it’s «Cool». Alex had this UYE notice up for several weeks. It’s your own fault if you didn’t know about it, let alone RSVP. Just sayin, so cut the guy some slack.]