While it might be sad to see summer go, we are excited for—and fully embracing— autumn’s arrival. With the fall season comes a whole new crop of fresh flavors and harvest produce, assortment of fun activities, and endless opportunities to throw a festive get-together.
Since craving comfort foods is one of fall’s best guilty pleasures—and warm, doughy dumplings always deliver—we checked in with sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng to see how they plan to rock the upcoming season. This dynamic duo learned how to make dumplings from their mom, Mimi, and together they opened Mimi Cheng’s—a popular family-run spot in NYC’s East Village known for organic, locally-sourced (and darn tasty) Taiwanese-Chinese dumplings and upbeat reggae music. Hot food and cool vibes? Count us in.
We find that eating seasonally puts you in that particular season’s mindset. For example, turkey chili with homemade jalapeño cheddar cornbread, pumpkin pie, apple pie, buffalo chicken anything—especially for parties. The fall is also a gorgeous time to drive upstate to any of the towns along the Hudson River. We love to go pick our own apples at the organic orchards. If we don’t have time, we check out to the Union Square Greenmarket. Saturdays are the best because there are more vendors, and the best cinnamon sugar apple cider donuts are at the Migliorelli Farm Stand.
There isn’t one right answer. Music is such a deeply personal thing that the answer is, and should be, different for everyone. For us, we like to play Nina Simone, Frank Ocean (check out Google Play Music Cloudy Day R&B Radio), Oliver Mtukudzi, The Chainsmokers, and HAIM.
Finding the tone we wanted to set for Mimi Cheng’s was pretty easy for us. Mimi Cheng’s is an extension of our home, so the dining room fits right into our apartment. We grew up with close family in Australia so we have always been very influenced by the lifestyle and vibes there. The menu is the short list of our favorite things to eat and the beloved dishes that our mom Mimi makes for us whenever we go home.
We play the music that we enjoy listening to. We love reggae because it’s always only good vibes. There is nothing grating or negative in reggae. Our customers enjoy it, as well, and it adds to a positive, relaxed atmosphere. The genre and volume heavily dictate the feeling in the dining room. Reggae and upbeat music encourages our guests to have fun and to be boisterous, which we love! Turn up Google Play Music Essential Reggae Radio, mon.
While traveling, we like to mix it up—anything from Neon Indian, Mariah Carey, John Legend, and Menahan Street Band, to Amy Winehouse, Drake, and the Weeknd (Google Play Music The Weeknd Radio is great on-the-go).
The last tomatoes of the late summer have been delicious, and we’ve been savoring every single one from our CSA. We love to make tomato sandwiches for breakfast: thick cut fresh bread from the farmers market or from head baker Kamel Saci at Il Buco Alimentari, good peppery olive oil, fresh ricotta, thick tomato slices, Maldon sea salt, fresh black pepper, and a shake of red chili pepper flakes—so fresh, summery, and nutritious. And reggae music never goes out of season!
It’s top secret, so stay tuned!
Ready to rock your next fall fête? Listen to free, ad-supported radio in Google Play Music here and share your favorite stations using #### #googleplaymusic.