Homemade dumplings, spring rolls and more comes to Marco's Island for two nights only
Handmade pork dumplings, vegetable spring rolls and other tasty house-made dishes will be on the menu at Marco’s Island for two nights thanks to a special pop-up dining event starting Thursday.
The tropical-themed restaurant is being taken over by Snacky Mini Mart, created by Sandy and Vivian Pei, first cousins who grew up in family-owned restaurants and pursued the culinary industry in adulthood. Sandy, an Iowa City native, and Vivian, from St. Louis, Missouri, now both live in Iowa City and invite diners to try some classic family dishes in the Northside Thursday and Saturday evening.
What’s on the menu at the Snacky Mini Mart pop-up dinners?
Snacky Mini Mart will serve pork and chive dumplings; spring rolls stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, cabbage and carrots; sesame shrimp toast; five-spice pork chops — a nod to Iowa and its pork; tofu steak served with egg fried rice' smashed cucumber salad with a house dressing; and mango pudding.
A yuzu highball cocktail and special beverages will be available as well.
The dumplings are made from a classic family recipe, one her family would gather together and make, Vivian told the Press-Citizen.
Sandy’s mother was known for her dumplings and made everything by hand, she said.
“We grew up watching and eating all of her recipes,” Sandy said.
Who are Sandy and Vivian Pei?
Sandy Pei was the owner of Snacky in Brooklyn, New York, before closing it after 18 years in 2020. The restaurant served Japanese, Chinese and Korean dishes. She grew up in Iowa City and graduated from Iowa City High. Her parents opened Yen Ching in Iowa City, a Chinese restaurant originally started by Vivian’s father in St. Louis in the mid-1970s. The Iowa City Yen Ching was located off Highway 6 at 1803 Boyrum St., according to Press-Citizen archives.
Vivian said she returned to the culinary industry a decade ago as a writer, cooking instructor and now serves as the World’s 50 Best Bars Academy Chair for Asia. The 50 Best brand, through hundreds of experts, produces annual rankings such as the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Vivian also cofounded the Singapore Cocktail Bar Association.
Vivian expressed her gratitude to have worked in fine-dining restaurants over her career, but realized what she truly loves is simple.
“I love feeding people big plates of food and I don't want anyone to go hungry,” she said.
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What is Snacky Mini Mart?
The name is a nod to Sandy’s longtime Brooklyn restaurant. Unlike the Yen Ching restaurants their family operated, which defined itself as a Chinese restaurant, the name Snacky doesn’t limit what they can do, the Peis said.
“We want to combine world flavors, but at the same time, the base is that we want to do really good home-style cooking, family-style cooking, because that’s what we enjoy the most,” Sandy said.
How can I attend the Snacky Mini Mart pop-up dinners this week?
Diners can stop by Marco’s Island, 121 N. Linn St., starting at 6:30 p.m. both evenings. Food can be purchased a la carte. People can also visit Snacky Mini Mart’s Instagram account, where there is a link to buy a ticket for the event which will include everything on the menu, except drinks, for $44.
How can I try Snacky Mini Mart in the future?
The Pei cousins are working toward a home food processing license so that they cook out of their home and produce items to sell at farmers markets.
People can stay up to date about Snacky Mini Mart via Sandy and Vivian’s Instagram account snacky_mini_mart.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Marco's Island in Iowa City to host Snacky Mini Mart pop-up dinners
