Here visiting in New York for the weekend to work at the Grace Jamaican Jerk festival. I had to get some supplies so my niece brought me to China Town in Flushing seeing as it was close by. Now, I have been to Asian markets before where I live in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area but there was just something strikingly different about this visit. There’s one thing I can honestly say about the stores here that heave fruits on display. Fresh, vibrant and delicious looking the damn things were. Okay, so that was more than one thing. I sometimes wonder why I can’t always see such wonderful displays at most of our markets in Florida. Alas, we enter said Asian store. Fresh fruits outside; grapes, peaches, papaya, cherries, berries, dragon fruit,etc. all guarded by the Gestapo. Then you walk inside and you are greeted by a cornucopia of bright greens and fresh produce. Baby Bok Choy, big Bok Choy, Chrysanthemum greens, Chinese Cabbage, chives, mustard greens…just so much of it. I wanted to just hang out there and play with it all. I think I was overwhelmed, sniff sniff. Okay, get a hold of yourself chef. The coup de gras however was the abundance of fresh seafood that was in this place. Have you ever been someplace and just totally not pay attention to the surroundings? Well this has been me on several occasions, especially on other trips to Asian stores. For some reason this trip today just had me gasping with joy. If you asked my niece she would tell you my mouth was wide open the entire time and I felt like I was in a candy store for chefs.
Large fish tanks stacked atop each other with fishes, prawns of all sizes, golden crabs, grey crabs, more crabs, more fishes…more, more, more I say. It all looked so damn good. I’m going to China Town Downtown next time I’m here to soak up some more of this good stuff, not to mention the fish market in Brooklyn, and I must visit Pikes in Seattle one day. You must be sitting there saying to yourself, chef what’s the big deal and have you never seen this stuff before? Of course I have, but it’s very rare when I see fresh live fish being scooped from the tanks, emptied on the counter and cranked on the head by a heavy mallet to subdue them before they are dressed. It’s very rare for me to see live frogs just sitting there… sitting there waiting, waiting to become fricassee or stir fry in someone’s pot. It’s rare for me to see turtles, four or five different species just crawling around in their boxes waiting to become stew or soup in someone’s home soon. It’s rare for me to see crabs smaller than my fist going for $24/lb, live eels swimming around waiting to become Sushi. Yep, I was in heaven. The gooey ducks, razor clams and sea cucumbers were looking so tantalizing – I smell a Gooey Duck Buss Em Out Wednesday!!! coming soon. Fresh seafood is king supreme. Of course, being in China Town, everything was labeled in Chinese and I didn’t have the time to go around asking about the items that weren’t readily recognizable to me. I think I’m taking my friend Eleanor with me next time I visit an Asian store or market. So when is your next trip to the Asian Market? Take me with you yeah. Stay tuned for the New York Jerk festival wrap up. Food on Fiyah Baby!!!
The Inspired Chef 