As DNAinfo pointed out, sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng named the restaurant for their mother.
Here's their story via the Mimi's website:
Who can cook like Mom?
This is the question that we kept asking ourselves on our hunt for authentic and delicious Taiwanese-Chinese food around New York City.
The short answer was no one unless you happen to have her secret recipes. After years of searching, we finally concluded that the only solution was to make it ourselves.
We quickly realized though that this was no easy feat. Before going out of town, Mimi used to stay up late washing, chopping, shredding, mixing, and wrapping dozens of fresh dumplings to make sure our Dad had something nutritious to feed us. When we left for college, she would come visit us with coolers of dumplings and jars of her secret sauce, enough to feed us and all our friends for weeks. The tradition continued when we moved into Manhattan as our refrigerators were always stockpiled with fresh dumplings, each one individually hand-wrapped. It was Mimi's way of taking care of us even when she was not around.
You can find the Mimi's menu here.
The previous tenant, Viva Herbal Pizzeria, closed at the beginning at the year.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: Viva Herbal Pizzeria has closed on Second Avenue (22 comments)
Mimi Cheng's Dumplings coming soon to the former Viva Herbal Pizzeria on 2nd Avenue
Looks like a nice little place, I passed by the other day as they were finishing the construction and they were very friendly. I'm still waiting for pizza-stuffed dumplings, but the veggie looks good.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the pierogi place, which just closed, should have used this promotional tactic. I mean they hand wrapped their pierogi's every morning. But, really, aren't there like 5 other dumpling places in the near vicinity? And what is this about wispy-eyed daughters trying to re-create mom's recipes, as if it were a mystery. Didn't you ever work with her in the kitchen? And of course Dad just had to be the seasonal vegetarian. "Oh, silly, Dad!"
ReplyDeleteThere are no prices so I'm assuming that's a sign they're gourmet expensive.
Holding out for a soylent green dumplings, or a froyo dumplings, in a hoof of course.
ReplyDeleteAre dumplings still "a thing"?
ReplyDeleteI am happy to have a new independent business open that is not a CVS or a Chase bank...
ReplyDeleteWill give them a try!
Did a walk by today, 6 for $8, not bad, will definitely give them a shot.
ReplyDelete