Dim Sum: 30 Flash Postcards

Kit Shan Li is an award-winning designer and graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she now calls home. | For dim sum fans, dining can be a delicious mystery. When the cart rolls around, you don't ask; you just point and eat. But if you've ever wondered what exactly is inside that dumpling or those deep-fried whatnots, a set of flashcards from Chronicle Books is here to help. Adorned with photos of egg custard buns, white turnip cakes, taro balls, shark fin dumplings, and the like, the cards offer a description of each item, its Chinese characters, the Chinese pronunciation, and the English translation. (If you'd rather not know you're crunching on chicken feet, send the cards to your friends; they're also postcards.) A quick drill before lunch can help you work up an appetite. And don't worry: There won't be a quiz. -Boston Globe