How the sisters behind New York City’s Mimi Cheng’s entertain
In 2014, sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng opened a Taiwanese dumpling restaurant in the East Village because they couldn’t find anything that stood up to their mom Mimi’s cooking. "Mimi Cheng's was inspired by the recipes we grew up eating,” Hannah explains.
Mimi taught Hannah and Marian to never take shortcuts, which is why they prioritize seasonal, organic, and local produce at their restaurants (which now include a second location in Nolita). When the Cheng sisters aren’t in the kitchen making dumplings by hand, they like to exercise. “We love high-intensity full-body workouts that are focused on strength training, as well as running outside. Currently, our favorite challenges are pushing weighted sleds and pull-ups.”
To relax and unwind, Hannah and Marian spend time with friends and family. “Having all of our favorite people gathered together enjoying good food is one of our ultimate favorite pastimes. It’s maybe as close to heaven on earth as it gets,” says Marian. Since they both live in Nolita, they take turns hosting. Furthermore asked the Chengs to dream up their ideal dinner party for warm weather evenings.
Here’s what they would serve, listen to, and drink:
On the menu
“During the summer, local produce is at its peak tastiness and everything tastes better when you start with the freshest ingredients. We’d make a crispy snap pea salad, a Caesar salad with grilled romaine, simply grilled whole fish with herbs and lemon, and then a strawberry cornmeal cake. It’s key to prep everything ahead of time, so you can actually enjoy your own party and not be stuck in the kitchen.”
What we’re drinking
“Orange wine, Abbazia di Novacella pinot grigio, and Garibaldis [an orange and Campari cocktail]. These drinks scream summer to us.”
The decor
“We prefer simple decor. We’d arrange the table with English roses, peonies, and hydrangeas, along with bouquets of herbs and freshly-baked bread. ”
The guest list
“We’d invite our family and closest friends. If we’re really talking about a dream party, then we’d invite The Rock and Kevin Hart.”
What we’re listening to
“We love reggae and bossa nova to set a lighthearted and relaxing tone.”
Photo: Nicole Franzen
This interview has been lightly edited for publication.