Dimmies Direct: Bringing Melbourne’s Best Dim Sims to Your Door
Melbourne is a city obsessed with food. From laneway dumpling houses to cult-status bakeries, locals will line up in the rain for a taste of something special. But if you ask most Melburnians to name the ultimate comfort food, you will hear the same two syllables again and again: dimmies.
There is a reason dim sims hold a place in our culinary folklore. They are humble, hearty, and distinctly Australian.
But here is the catch: the very best ones are often locked away in restaurants, suburban takeaways, or market stalls. Unless you live in Melbourne, and unless you happen to be there during opening hours, getting your hands on the city’s finest dim sims is near impossible.
That is the problem Dave Hooper set out to solve with Dimmies Direct.
“Melbourne’s best dim sims delivered to your door, frozen fresh, ready for your steamer or fryer,” Dave says with a grin. “It is about taking an icon and making it accessible without sacrificing quality.”
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From Market Stalls to a Mission
Dave’s dim sim story starts decades before Dimmies Direct ever appeared as an idea.
“As a kid, I would get dragged to the South Melbourne Market with Mum most weekends,” he recalls. “She was there for fruit and veg, and she loved haggling with Shoshana at her clothes stall. I swear they could go back and forth for twenty minutes on a single dress. For me, the highlight was not the shopping. It was what came after: South Melbourne Dim Sims. That is where my love of dimmies was born.”
Like countless other Melbourne families, those weekly rituals created a lasting association. Dim sims were not just food, they were memory, comfort, and culture all wrapped in a floury skin.
Fast forward a few decades, and Dave found himself asking why this Melbourne icon was still so hard to access.
“Supermarkets are full of mass-produced frozen dim sims, and sure, they fill a gap. But they do not come close to the handmade versions you get from the best makers. If you want those, you basically have to be in Melbourne, at the right time, and willing to wait in line.”
That gap between Melbourne’s best and what most people could actually get became the seed for Dimmies Direct.
Why Premium Matters
Let us be clear: this is not about the deep-fried dim sim in a bain-marie at your local fish and chip shop. Dimmies Direct is built on a different tier entirely.
“These are premium handmade dim sims,” Dave explains. “They are packed with quality pork, beef, and cabbage. They are crafted by makers who take pride in their recipes, some of which have been perfected over decades. They are bigger, juicier, and the flavor just hits different.”
The idea is simple. Work with Melbourne’s most respected dim sim producers, snap-freeze their creations for freshness, and deliver them directly to customers. The result is that a family in Geelong, Sydney, or eventually Brisbane can steam the same handmade dim sims that Melburnians line up for.
It is about taking a cultural icon and giving it the platform it deserves.
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Moon Palace and the First Partnerships
Every good food venture needs a strong start, and for Dimmies Direct that came with the legendary Moon Palace.
“Moon Palace is our first confirmed partner,” Dave says proudly. “Anyone in Melbourne’s dim sim community knows their reputation. To have them onboard from the beginning really validates the vision. It is not just me saying these are the best. It is the makers themselves trusting us to deliver their product to a wider audience.”
Partnerships like this are central to Dimmies Direct’s model. Rather than trying to replace the makers, Dave is positioning his venture as the bridge between them and a hungry public.
The Look Matters Too
Food is about taste, sure. But in 2025 it is also about how it looks on your screen. Social media has made food photography as essential as the food itself.
That is why Dave turned to Melbourne chef and creative force Megan Jane de Paulo.
“I have followed Megan on social media for years,” he explains. “She is an incredible cook, she has written a cookbook, and her photography is stunning. When I started sketching out Dimmies Direct, I knew I wanted her involved. We have had several meetings now and she is not just shooting photos. She is contributing ideas and helping shape the feel of the whole brand.”
Megan’s images will appear across the Dimmies Direct website and social platforms. Think glistening steamed dim sims in bamboo baskets, crisp golden ones fresh from the fryer, and close-ups that make you want to reach through the screen.
“It is about showing these dim sims for what they are,” Dave says. “They are not greasy takeaway snacks. They are premium, handmade, and beautiful. Megan’s photography brings that to life.”
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The Founder’s Voice
Ask Dave what keeps him motivated, and you will hear more than just logistics or business plans.
“I grew up with dim sims as part of my life,” he says. “They are a memory of my mum, of Melbourne, of weekends at the market. This is not just a product to me. It is cultural. It is about taking something iconic and making sure people can enjoy it, wherever they are.”
He also does not shy away from the playful side.
“Look, at the end of the day, people do not need another delivery service. What they want is joy. They want that moment when they open the steamer and the aroma hits them. They want to bite in and burn their tongue because they could not wait. That is what we are delivering.”
Melbourne First, Then National
The rollout is starting small and focused.
“Right now we are piloting in Melbourne,” Dave explains. “We want to make sure the logistics work, packaging, freezing, delivery. Once we have got that nailed, the goal is to expand nationally. There are dim sim lovers all over Australia who have never had the chance to taste these premium versions. That is who we are going after.”
He sees it as a movement, not just a business. “It is about creating a network of makers and eaters. A kind of Dim Sim Route, where the best of Melbourne spreads outward.”
A Playful Icon
So how should people think about Dimmies Direct?
“It is Melbourne’s best dim sims, delivered frozen fresh to your door. But it is also a way of saying, hey, this little pocket of food culture deserves more love. It is an icon, like the sausage roll or the lamington, but with its own immigrant history and Australian twist. And we are giving it the stage it deserves.”
The playful tone carries through everything, from the branding to the copy to the way Dave talks about the business. This is not corporate. It is local, passionate, and built on nostalgia as much as flavor.
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Looking Ahead
With Moon Palace onboard, Megan Jane de Paulo shaping the visuals, and Dave’s vision steering the ship, Dimmies Direct is poised to make waves in Australia’s food scene.
The model is simple but powerful. Respect the makers, deliver the product, build the culture. And for dim sim lovers everywhere, it is an invitation to join the ride.
“Honestly, I just want people to have the experience I had as a kid,” Dave says. “Only now, you do not have to wait until Saturday at the market. You can open your freezer, steam a few dimmies, and be transported straight back to Melbourne.”
Where to Find Them
Dimmies Direct is launching now, with Moon Palace as the first confirmed partner and more makers to come.
You can find them online at dimmies.direct. If you are lucky enough to snag a spot in the first deliveries, you will understand why Melburnians have been keeping the best dim sims to themselves for so long.
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