Creative Way to Serve a Dragon Fruit

No, we are not serving dragons pieces of fruit! We are talking about dragon fruit, also known as pitaya! If you've ever wandered around Chinatown to see a gorgeous pink fruit with green leaves but thought twice about trying it, don't fret!

Dragon fruit is found in the tropical areas of Southeast Asia, Central and South America. The taste is bland in a good way and texture is almost kiwi like.

Here's a creative way to serve dragon fruit at your next party!

Step 1 - Wash! Step 2 - Slice in half. Step 3 - Carefully scoop out the fruit with a spoon. Step 4 - Cut into cubes and use the skin of the fruit as a serving bowl.

Your are now the envy of your friends. Enjoy!

PEARL OF THE ORIENT GALLERY CLOSES

Pearl of the Orient Gallery, 36 Mott Street, Chinatown, NYC 10013, after 30 years, will be closing.

If you are interested in lamps made from beautiful porcelain vases or cloissonne vases better rush to the store before the end of April 2013. Carol Tsao's husband attributes their inability to survive to the closing of Park Row. Good neighbors, end of an era.

EAST BROADWAY FRUITS AND VEGGIES

East Broadway is always bustling with grocery shoppers.

Right by the bridge overpass, lies a mecca of fresh vegetables, fruits and other produce.  Sometimes, I wonder why people go to Whole Foods when there is Chinatown produce.  In Chinese culture, food is huge.  We settle for nothing less than the freshest.

A long time ago, my sister was buying an onion in Chinatown.  She took the first onion she saw.  Then a woman said to her, "Aren't you going to examine it a bit more before you buy it?".  My sister looked at the onion and it looked fine but realized how much care people put into buying their groceries in the community.

At local fruit and vegetable vendors you will often find things that are unavailable at your local grocery.  Now in season are durians, pomellos, and persimmons.  The prices here are among the least expensive in the city.

EAST BROADWAY FRUIT AND VEGETABLE VENDORS

YARN SHOP

I fell in love with this new yarn shop in Elizabeth Center...

This place reminded me of Knitty City on the West Side.  It's a specialty shop with a variety of yarns in different textures and colors.

Now that the cold spell is about to hit; it's a good time to invest in knitting a new scarf.  All my friends are also having babies so it would be good time for me to break out the knitting needles for some baby booties!

I love these new niche shops popping up in Elizabeth Center.    It's reflective of how trendy the Chinatown neighborhood is becoming.

ELIZABETH CENTER

ELIZABETH STREET (BTW BAYARD & BOWERY)

ASIA MARKET CORP

Loving the Asia Market Corp!

It's been my new favorite market since marrying my Filippino husband. Here in this Chinatown store, you can find loads of South East Asian foods.

Some of my favorites here are the Bibingka Mix, Mama Sita Seasoning, & Kalamansi Honey.

ASIA MARKET CORP 

71 1/2 Mulberry Street,

New York, NY 10013

(212) 962-2020 ‎