The day started in China Town in search of the genuine manufactured “Wuii Vitton and a Folex”; nothing better than an original knock off manufactured in China. Several years ago you would see a person on the street with a black plastic trash bag or a brief case and you would know that the individual was the person carrying the leather goods and the watches. Yes, the briefcase, the state of the art mother ingenuity, was the show case for the Swiss engineered and Chinese manufactured time telling machines. But we found nothing like that! We walked (my friend Eric and I) and walked! And nothing…no vendors! As we were purchasing two bottles of water, “Voila”, we unraveled the mystery; the code; the secret hand shake or, in this case, the secret whisper! Instead of walking up and down the streets with the black plastic bags and the brief cases, they have converted into “Canal Street 007 Agents”! You have to pay attention, have a keen sense of hearing and it would not hurt if you could master the art of speaking fast whisper talk, on the down low Chinese!
As soon as you approach the agent and he notices that you are a potential target (yes target), he will in a spray of a bullet say “ havi, Lui, Folex, Guchee, follow me!” …So we did! Like lambs going to the slaughter house. We walked to the end of the block, turned around the corner, and like Clark Kent he picked a phone booth. I don’t know what surprised me the most; that he was so organized and secretive or that a phone booth actually existed on the street! I have not seen one of those in years. Ok, back to the adventure… A young lovely Chinese señorita will walk by you and hand you several pages with photocopied images of the latest fashion accessories from Paris, Milano and New York readily available in the trunk of a car. After reviewing the list the señorita will come back to close the deal; She walked by and said…Two hundred the purses … one fifty the watches and I said WHAT? ; Ok; just for you, One hundred the pursy and seventy five the washi; and I once again said WHAT? As you can notice I was not even negotiating, I just did not understand her! She looked at me and said…”no can give cheaper, that final price!” I said OK, and I walked away. With her supper agent detective voice she started devaluating the price purses and watches like the stock market on Wall Street; one hundred, ninety five, ninety, eighty five, and so on!!! I hope she receives a stimulus package like the banking industry did. We laughed and walked away!
We crossed the street towards Ferrara to grab a pick me up in little Italy. Nothing better than a fresh lobster tail pastry filled with cream and covered with powder sugar…” La Sfogliatella” This is life!!! We continued our voyage up Mott Street but the aroma of the sea food and other non identifiable creatures staring at us while lying on ice at the sidewalks forced us to run away! As soon as we arrived to Central Avenue, we started to see signs for back and foot rubs… yes we just arrived to Shangri-La!!! Now how to pick the best place? Oops!!! A Chinese bakery… and they have dim sum, perfect timing for a pork bun, a pineapple bun or a cream bun …they melt in your mouth! In China Town you can find the best dim sum or egg rolls in the USA. Visiting one of these mom (Mùqin) and pop (Fùqin) restaurants is not only delicious but entertaining. Sitting at a communal table full of strangers, with dozens of carts pushed by little old ladies trying to make you buy all sort of interesting things!!! My favorite is the chicken feet lady; she will come by millions of times trying to push her chicken feet; you basically need to cover your dish with your body and scream out loud nooooo!!!! Chicken legs for me! She would look annoyed, but laugh and walk away.
Back to the back rubs… We walked up and down the street looking for the perfect, or not threatening, back rub specialist. Most of the salons you would have to go down to the cellar of a building, which reminded me too much of the “Silence of the Lambs” or upstairs via a very narrow staircase which resembled either “Enter the Dragon” or “Rush Hour II” Well I finally settled for an open air, no view obstruction, back rub foot massage salon. I don’t know if you hurt more before or after the massage… but it was great!
Now, what else to do in Chinatown? I shopped; enjoyed the culinary offerings; I had a back and foot rub; interacted with the underground, secondary market “Wuii Vitton and Folex” representatives. I guess it is time for a Chinese haircut. As time has gone buy I find it more exciting and challenging to get a haircut. It is frustrating for the barber, and way too entertaining for me. I am extremely critical with the correct trimming and placement of the hair….yes I mean hair; singular not plural…and they are completely puzzled on how to trim the three hairs I have and make them look nice!
We finally arrived to the perfect barber shop. Not larger than my bedroom, the front of the store is completely open to the street and they are able to fit eight barber chairs, three sinks, and six waiting chairs. Sweet … only Chinese was spoken in the shop, and no passport was required! . Remember; not because you speak slower and louder… they still won’t be able to understand you and they are not deaf!
I sat at the chair and observed everybody in the room through the mirrors. It was like watching a movie and I was one of the characters. It was fascinating; stepping for a few minutes into somebody else’s life or routine, stepping into somebody else’s reality. We always judge or are being judged, we define the world in accordance to our own reality. Being there at the barbershop; just being part of the group, reflecting on all of the new experiences the day had gifted me; just accepting and being accepted for who we are! Priceless!
Curtain call was at 3:00 PM, we had purchased tickets for the matinee of “ la Cage Aux Follies” . Kelsey Gramer, had one of the lead roles. Tickets were $40.00 in a $150.00 location; purchased via Ticket Center, which is a discount ticket site. The play was outstanding, the acting and direction were flawless and the message followed the theme of the day! And as so well put by the cast members!
I am what I am
I am my own special creation.
So come take a look,
Give me the hook or the ovation.
It's my world that I want to take a little pride in,
My world, and it's not a place I have to hide in.
Life's not worth a damn,
'Til you can say, "Hey world, I am who I am."
I am my own special creation.
So come take a look,
Give me the hook or the ovation.
It's my world that I want to take a little pride in,
My world, and it's not a place I have to hide in.
Life's not worth a damn,
'Til you can say, "Hey world, I am who I am."
Puerto Chino Fried Rice
Puerto Rican style Cantonese Fried Rice
Ingredients
4 eggs
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Peanut oil/vegetable oil for frying
1/2 teaspoon Sesame oil
1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
3 celery stocks, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups of cooked rice
Diced smoked ham, 1/2 cup or more
Diced pork (lechòn), 1/2 cup or more
Diced chicken, 1/2 cup or more
Shrimp, 1/2 cup or more
Beef, 1/2 cup or more
1 ripe plantain sliced thinly and fried
Bean sprouts, 1/2 cup or more
1 teaspoon chopped chives
1/2 cup chicken stock or broth (more or less)
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons of toasted sesame seeds
Options
Shrimp, Lobster, Crabmeat
Scramble the eggs with a whisk, adding one teaspoon soy sauce and two tablespoons of chicken broth. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan, or wok rolling the oil around to coat the bottom and sides. or wok and when hot, pour the egg mixture in so that it coats the bottom. It should look like you're making a giant pancake. Lower heat to medium low and cook thoroughly, flipping once. Remove from pan and cut the egg into long thin strips.
In the same pan, sauté onion and celery in more oil on medium low heat until the onion is soft and translucent. Lower the heat to low and add the minced garlic. Continue to cook for about 1 to 2 minutes more. Don't let the garlic get brown!
Add the rice and fry for about five minutes, stirring frequently. Add some chicken broth or stock, enough to flavor the rice, but not make it soupy! Add two tablespoons of soy sauce (or to taste) and the sesame oil. Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir sparingly, and continue cooking for five minutes. Last, gently fold in the green onions and egg strips.
Toast sesame seeds and top the rice! Enjoy
INGREDIENTS
6 cloves garlic, mashed
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup light rum
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut in strips
Salt
Pepper
Cumin
Oregano, ground
Vegetable oil for frying
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water
1. Make a marinade with the garlic, onion, lime juice, and rum.
2. Arrange the chicken pieces in a shallow glass baking pan. Pour the marinade over the chicken pieces and mix them up so that all of the pieces are well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 2 to 3 hours.
3. After marinating: season the chicken pieces on the top layer by eye with salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano.
4. TIP: Use a mortar and pestle and finely grind the oregano.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet, deep enough to cover half the thickness of the chicken at one time.
6. Mix the flour with the salt and pepper and place in a shallow pan.
7. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade (shaking off some of the excess marinade), dip each piece in the egg wash, and dredge in the seasoned flour mixture. (As you work down a layer, re-season the newly exposed layer with more salt, pepper, oregano, and cumin.)
8. Fry the chicken pieces, in small batches—don’t crowd the pan—until all sides are golden brown and the chicken is completely cooked through.
9. Serve with rice or another side dish.
Serves: 4
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