Fun day in Chinatown

Since I was kid my mom has been taking us to the various Chinatowns around New York City. Oh yes, there is more than one. You've got FlushingQueens and along 8th Avenue in Brooklyn. I realized today, that no matter how long I've been going to Chinatown it never ceases to surprise and thrill me. This day, mom and I wandered through Manhattan's Chinatown following the side streets off of bustling Canal.

We first ate at the famous Hop Kee restaurant downstairs in its 24-hour basement dining room. We feasted on pan-fried flounder and sautéed water spinach in garlic, while we looked at their proudly hung pictures of Bill Cosby, Conan O'Brien and Anthony Bourdain posing with the owner. I'm not ashamed to admit that I love those trans-fat laden fried noodles smothered in tasty duck sauce smacked with tons of high fructose corn syrup. Sometimes it hits the spot more than nachos and salsa.

First of all, I was not anticipating how much I would be told "no pictures please." For godsakes, you won't let me take a picture of your freakin sesame ball? Keep your balls then. I'll take it elsewhere. So these pictures aren't my finest work. At best they are taken in haste and in secrecy. Be sure to click on the pictures for a closer view.

We first stopped at a Chinese candy store. It's no Charlie in the Chocolate Factory that's for sure. I think most non-Western countries' desserts tend to be based on real foods, like fruit, so some of these "candies" were striking to me. No - jolly ranchers don't count. I found rows and rows of candied ginger in every available composition. Candied in lemon, candied in strawberries, candied in prunes (not cool). If the candy bouncer hadn't told me to stop taking pictures, I would've been able to show you.

Next we stopped in at a The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. A few interesting sorbets in this shot - Lychee, Mango-Papaya and Tangerine.




Here's a few treats that looked fascinating at another market a few blocks away. The foreign packaging is enough to make you want to try them.

Red bean and melon filled mochi. Boy do they love that glutinous texture.

I'd like to meet the person who decided beans would be a sweet treat. Like David said in the Lost Boys, how could a billion Chinese people be wrong?

This is my favorite shot. Well of course these multi-colored twisty marshmallows are all Natural.

And in the same store, I found what appears to be pre-cooked and vacuum sealed cobs of corn (lower left) hanging out under the curing sausage. Click on the picture for a closer peek.

In one tea shop I receive a direct order from my mother. "You're grandmother used to drink this. You have to buy it." Yes sir! This particular brand of genmai-cha is a blend of green tea, toasted brown rice and popped sorghum.

An interesting trend that I noticed today is the availability of organic products in these small markets. According to Jay, "They probably just put organic labels on them." This might be true, Mr. Suspicious, but this new trend is a what Martha would call a good thing.

Here's a street cart selling whole sugar cane. Yeah, I thought about it. I decided to buy a tenth-of-the-size-lemongrass instead. I would've taken a picture, but wouldn't you know it...

Chinatown, the great grape mecca. If you ever find them, I urge you to buy concord grapes.

If only for this reason (as if the food wasn't enough) you should visit Chinatown for the assortment of dish wear, tea service kits, interesting cutlery, and utensils. They are beautiful and as you can see from this shot, they have a sense of humor.

Suffice it to say that my two cats have brand new dishes that each resembles them.

Other reasons to go, faux pradas, chanels, dolce's, jade jewelry and cutesy stuffed animals that probably have choking hazards.

The legendary hanging Peking duck. I tried taking a picture from the inside but, yeah, you know.

This part of the trip was always my least favorite - the fishmongers. First of all it smells like fish, and when you're a kid, not like now when I am training to be a chef, all you want to do is run away and get some bubble tea.

Check mom out. "Give me your best price!"

I am sparing you the shots that used to upset me - and want to start a vegan protest in the store - with eels and snakes and turtles..oh my.

But as I get older and learn more about the different manifestations of food around the world, I am less ready to do a sit-in. Food is born out of need. Making it actually taste good was just a boon.

We ended our day at the Dumpling Kafe sipping Taro bubble tea and eating strange boiled dumplings with sesame filling that tasted of hay and peanut butter, satisfied in the completion of another mother daughter adventure. Happy Birthday Mom! xo