dcarch

I have a somewhat different view. The most important thing to consider is that most Chinatown stores and fish markets are very high volume in sales. They have very large turnover, and most of their goods are very fresh because of high turnover. Yes, if you sell a lot of stuff, you will also end up with a lot of leftover, picked over stuff, but you don’t have to buy those if you are a smart shopper. They have tanks and tanks of all kinds of live fish, not just illegal black fish. Lobsters, shrimps, crabs -------. Yes you will find almost-dead fish floating upside-down in the tanks, but you are allowed to pick what you want to buy, just don’t pick those dead looking ones. Chinese shoppers are very fussy. They demand fresh seafood and good prices, or they go some place else. They have such incredible varieties that you cannot find anyplace else and such good prices. Razor clams at $5.00 a lb, comparing to $11.00 a lb in Eataly. I am willing to put up with messy Chinatown fish markets for their varieties and great prices. dcarch

It is easy to make your own custom mold. Just get food grade silicone molding rubber. dcarch

"Big Red Ruby"(pig's blood) with Bean Sprouts. dcarch

Blether, wonderful looking pulled lamb. percyn, very nice platting, Grouper on couscous. Franci, you take great pictures of wonderful dishes. robirdstx, yummy Chicken Scaloppini. Kouign Aman, Very healthy dishes, they look delicious. Kim Shook, Well, we miss your cooking. I am glad you are back. Fantastic dishes you have been hiding from us. Anna N, butter chicken, sounds intriguing. SobaAddict70, beautiful Penne with cauliflower. mm84321, thank you for continue showing your amzing creations. Keith_W, I think your salt baked fish looks very impressive. ScottyBoy, the Chicken tetrazinni looks very appetizing. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A few recent meals Dcarch Sous vided Drumsticks with steamed cauliflower. Simple Mac & Cheese Deep Fried Pork on lettuce Big Red Ruby with Bean Sprouts

Yesterday I went to Chinatown and I bought "花菇". By comparision, store white mushrooms are tasteless. dcarch

Here is the first package: dcarch

She told me she will be sending different cuts. So I will have a variety to play with. dcarch

A good friend will be sending me different cuts of Bershire pork. Known as Kurobuta Pork in Japan and Berkshire Pork elsewhere, a very nice kind of pork. My friend raised the pigs herself free-range and organic. They were young when they were slaughtered. What would you suggest? I have a sous vide cooker, but I don't always insist on sous vide everything. Thank you for your help. dcarch

Sorry, off-topic: 1. How do they de-bone duck's feet? You can buy them in Chinese stores, and they are not that expensive. 2. I have never seen turkey feet. You can buy animal feet for all animals (except fish), but not turkey. Do they have GMO feetless turkey? dcarch

MSG!! People pretend that they are a good cook by using MSG. dcarch

Why waste good chicken feet making stock? Braised chicken feet make a wonder snack. dcarch

There are those who feel scotch should be enjoyed at room temperature. dcarch

And there is the white kind of wood ears, "cloud ears" dcarch

A very popular mushroom you see in stores is eringi mushroom. It has a very very thick stem. dcarch http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5051966697_e3b8837c87.jpg

What about Chinese truffles? dcarch

It depends on many things. Suppose you roast one in an oven for 1 1/2 housrs, shut off the oven, and let the bird inside the oven rest for 1 1/2 hours, that can make a lot of sense. dcarch

Activated charcoal: Pet stores which has aquarium supplies. dcarch

Looking forward very much to share your food experience. Thanks. Just saw a program here a day ago in NYC public TV channel about kangaroo problems there. They are moving into urban areas. dcarch

"---How do you explain crushed ice melting faster than cubed ice based on the above?---" The ice may melt faster, but the total melted ice will be the same at the end. It depends on heat of phase change, which is a constant. dcarch

There are many recipes which call for pouring very hot oil on food, after the food is cooked. dcarch

Thanks, nothing special, except I added wild rice flour. dcarch

Nothing complicated. I have this dwarf orange tree which makes a lot of small sour oranges. I used the orange rind and a few leaves to put in the SV bag. Very nice infusion of orange citrus flavor into the chicken. dcarch

Someone from Greece. dcarch

He never said what specie his roommate is. :-) Wonderful dish! dcarch

A Korean person in California who does not own a lawnmower. :-) dcarch