Organic Dim Sum from Tru Gourmet (Metreon, SF)

[Melanie Wong]

Reading the scattered reports about catering or Marin farmers market fare from Tru Gourmet, I’ve been very interested in tasting the organic dim sum myself.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/619011#4680205
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/620136#4690293
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/620136#4694259

Last week I had the chance to trundle myself over to the Metreon to check out Tru Gourmet’s stand at the new farmers market. Here’s the day’s menu.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/3598308645

You can combine different types for the three-fer pricing. I chose Collard green (vegan), Halibut and shrimp, and Butterfish and shrimp dumplings, three for $5. The dumplings are kept warm in steamers for ready eating at one of the small tables across the room. As promised, the white wrappers were very thin and tender. The collard dumpling was too plain and monotonal though bursting with collard flavor. It benefited from a little dab of the soy sauce (a light and delicate one that was much appreciated). The other two were fine unadorned, which is one of my markers for good dim sum, and tasted true to their seafood ingredients with just enough seasoning to highlight the natural flavor. One ding is that the dumplings were barely warm, but that’s a small criticism. Even mid-afternoon, they still tasted quite fresh and were not overcooked.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...

I’m looking forward to sampling more broadly from the offerings at Tru Gourmet.

-----
Jillian's @ Metreon
101 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Tru Gourmet
San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA

[sairuh]

Wow, I wish something like Tru Gourmet existed in the South Bay! (I'd like to be wrong there. :)

Do they have a dedicated stall/location at the Metreon, or are they there only during the Farmer's Market?

[wolfe]

The Farmers Market appears to have regular hours.
MARKET HOURS
MONDAY - SATURDAY:10 AM - 8 PM
SUNDAY:10 AM - 7 PM
http://www.islandearthfarmersmarket.o...

[Melanie Wong]

As wolfe notes (thanks!), the Metreon farmers market has regular hours every day. But the stalls are quite temporary-looking, so I can't say whether each one or Tru Gourmet is there every day.

Not dim sum, but last year I liked what iRestaurant in Cupertino was turning out, using more organic ingredients and cooking with less oil and salt but with traditional Cantonese flavors. The website is much different now, so I'd love to hear what's going on there.

-----
Island Earth Farmers Market
101 4th Street, San Francisco, CA

[david kaplan]

Tru Gourmet was not there yesterday (Sunday 6/14), and another vendor said they weren't there the previous day, either.

The hours are loose guidelines, apparently. At 11:30 on Sunday only around half the prepared-food vendors had food to serve.

[thundt]

I was all psyched about this (I heart dim sum, and dumplings) but went there twice last week and didn't see Tru Gourmet.

[Melanie Wong]

Maybe someone who's more motivated than I am would email the company at
[e-mail] to inquire about planned hours at Metreon and report back.

[hhc]

I sent an email to Cathy, her reponse:

"Unfortunately, Tru Gourmet is no longer at the Metreon but we are at several Farmer's Markets in Marin County including..

San Rafael
May 31, 2009 to June 6, 2010
Sunday 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Marin Civic Center parking lot

Tam Valley
May 19 to October 6, 2009
Tuesday 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
HWY 1 & Tennessee Valley Rd

Fairfax
May 6 to September 23, 2009
Wednesday 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Bolinas Rd & Elsie Lane

Mill Valley
June 5 to December 4, 2009
Friday 9:00 pm to 2:00 om
Mill Valley's Alto Shopping Center

Sausalito
May 8 to October 2, 2009
Friday 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Parking Lot Two

Along with these markets, we also do catering."

[Melanie Wong]

Thanx for the word. Guess san franciscans are out of the money.

[SteveG]

I did finally get an email back to my inquiry about catering, and they have the menu posted on their web site now. Will report back if we use them to do a brunch at home.

[hhc]

I saw them at Maker Faire 2010, San Mateo. I tried a variety of their organic dim sum 6 for $10 & 3 for $7. Pretty good, just too expensive for me.