On 24 Feb 2005 03:43:02 -0600, "Bob"
> wrote:
>
> It takes me three hours to get to the area (and three hours to get home), so
> I might as well spend an appreciable amount of time there and soak in the
> entire Chinatown experience. I guess the walking tour would be my choice.

I'll get you some addresses in that case.

> (And if you know of a good bubble tea shop, I'd like to check it out.)
>
BUBBLE? You can get that anywhere... and it's like a
milkshake or a smoothie - but don't call it "tea" and
believe it or not - you won't find it in Chinatown easily.
The tea shop I mentioned will give you tastes of "real tea"
in the hope that you'll buy their ware. It's kinda like
going to the car lot and kicking tires.
>
> >> I'd also appreciate it if you could tell me where the fabled
> >> farmer's market is in Chinatown.)
> >
> > Not sure what you mean by a Chinatown Farmer's market, but
> > if you want the flavor of Hong Kong, head to Stockton St.
> > (one block up-hill from Grant). The busiest section is
> > between Pacific and Clay. There are green markets coming
> > out your ears (people shoulder to shoulder) and places where
> > you can buy everything from live fish to live frogs &
> > turtles. Can't get any fresher than that.
>
> That sounds like what I meant, especially the part about being able to buy
> live fish. I'm guessing I can buy shrimp, chicken feet and roasted duck in
> that area, too.

Of course.

> I'll have to browse the produce and see what inspires me.
> Okay, Stockton Street between Pacific and Clay ... Stockton Street between
> Pacific and Clay ... Stockton Street between Pacific and Clay ... Stockton
> Street between Pacific and Clay ...
>
You won't be sorry... it's a real adventure and it doesn't
have to be culinary.


BTW: I went to 2 herbal stores near where I work (which is
nowhere near Chinatown) it, but they didn't carry Szechwan
pepper corns. Those stores had peppercorns from other
places but nothing they carried resembled Szechwan. LOL! I
asked another co-worker today about them, but I was
pronouncing it all wrong (plus, in Chinese, they're called
"seeds"). My friend told me that my pronunciation is wrong
and I can only guess how other people mangle it... so I
asked her to write it down.



> > Adding to your confusion: Did you know we have an alternate
> > Chinatown on Clement between 3rd and 10th Aves? Not as
> > crowded, but busy and a big variety of stores.
>
> I *did* know that because of past threads recommending Chinese restaurants
> in The City. But I never looked at a map to see whether Clement was anywhere
> close to the area I think of as "Chinatown."
>
> Thank you!
>
> Bob
>


sf