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They didn't slice it thin. It was a whole duck. But the soup sounds similar.

Soba, tell us some place(s) where you like to go for patties.

The humongous Chinese supermarket on Kissena Blvd. across from the Queens Public Library is the best, but if you can't make it out to Flushing, check out the stores on East Broadway for produce (cheaper than Bayard St.) and look for condiments at the Hong Kong Supermarket at Pike St. between East Broadway and Madison St.

The dish you're describing sounds like one I had at the Manhattan branch of Woo Chon as part of a get-together of various eGullet members from the area, except that the version you had was undoubtedly better. (I liked the dish at Woo Chon, but others objected to the duck being kind of dry. I loved that soup, though!)

Here are some threads that may give you ideas: Think Quick! Chinatown Chinatown: Restaurants & Shops, Walking Tour Some specific recommendations: Get permission to videotape inside the gigantic food store between Mott & Elizabeth between Hester and Grand (I keep forgetting its name). Videotape on East Broadway between Chatham Square and Pike. That's where crowds go to buy vegetables (several stores), and there are street vendors of duck heads and wings and so forth near the Manhattan Bridge overpass. End up at the Hong Kong Supermarket, where you should have a look at what they're selling outside and at the fish/meat and supermarket sections. They sell a wide variety of Chinese and other East and Southeast Asian products. Videotape the fish markets and other establishments on Grand St. between the Bowery and Christie St., another big shopping area. There's also a vendor of tofu and sugar syrup near the northwest corner of Grand and Christie. I don't know how much English she speaks, but it would be nice to interview someone like that (any possibility of an interpreter?). Visit the Thai store on Mosco St. near Mulberry and interview the proprietor. Or there's Udon's Thai-Indonesian and the Vietnamese store on the west side of Mulberry just a bit north of Bayard St. Something to emphasize the increasing presence of Southeast Asians (both Chinese and non-Chinese) in Chinatown. Go to really longstanding places like Mei Lai Wah or Wo Hop and get some stories from the owners, staff, or customers. Another possibility is a place like New York Noodle Town, which is not nearly so old but has been successful for quite some time, catering to both Chinese and non-Chinese people. Go to Aji-Ichiban, the popular Japanese candy store on Mott St. Stop in at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. Ask them which flavors are their best sellers; I'd be curious to know the answer. Go to a dim sum eating hall like Jing Fong or Harmony Palace. You have to visit a bubble tea place; they are so popular. My favorite is Tea & Tea on Mott just south of Bayard, but there are many. Visit the internet cafe somewhat further south on Mott. In a short time, it's become a popular hangout. I'm sure others will have more suggestions for you.

The place under the LIRR tracks in Flushing sells pork dumplings at four to the dollar now. They're fine and certainly cheap, but I prefer the Fuzhounese sesame cakes I get down the road just south of Roosevelt. Irwin, it's too bad you can't name any of the places you like or give more exact locations for same. Fat Guy, have you tried the soup dumplings at Yeah? I'd be curious to get your comparison between those and the ones at New Green Bo.

Who? I can only think of Martha Stewart, who's imprisoned in West Virginia. Is that who you meant?

I'm enjoying this, Andy, and your daughter, Alice, is really cute! But ham on a bagel? Talk about sacrilege...

Mascarpone and I had a nice dinner at Sweet 'n Tart tonight. The two dishes we got nicely contrasted with each other. Our Orange Flavored Chili Prawns ($16.75) were excellent. We were presented with rather large shrimp with tangerine peel, dried red peppers, a bit of diced scallion, and some fresh ginger (a nice touch), accompanied by steamed broccoli, plus a garnish of arcs of canned pineapple and maraschino cherries on the outside of the plate that we didn't touch. The other dish we ordered was Asparagus Stuffed Bamboo Piths ($10.25), which was very textural and accompanied by a subtle white sauce. All in all, a very satisfying meal.

When I click on this link of cut and paste the URL into my Firefox browser, I'm redirected to http://www.microsoft.com/. Strange. Anyone have any insight on why? Michael

My first thought when reading the initial post of this thread was Jing Fong, but I held back on posting because I hope there's a better place for dumplings other than xiao long bao that I haven't tried yet. Anyone have Flushing recommendations? Also, there seem to be two locations of China Fun: 1221 2nd Ave. and 246 Columbus Ave. Which one are people talking about in this thread? I've been to a branch of Fried Dumpling once, the one on Allen St. just south of Delancey. Their dumplings were tasty but I liked the little fried baozi best.

It's cool that you're blogging, Andy, and I'll look forward to what I'm sure will be an interesting week with you.

I wish this place were in New York. Not that DC-area people don't deserve it, though. Thanks for the report and photos, Yetty.

Yeah, that's clear. Thanks.

Very enjoyable week, Jen. Thanks so much for sharing it.

Could someone please explain bhoona? Thanks in advance. (Sure, I suppose I could Google it, but isn't teaching part of what this society is all about? )

Yes. Go to Little Korea. Here are some useful threads for you, in mostly reverse chronological order: Best Korean in Manhattan? Yangpyung Seoul Haejanguk Restaurant Seoul Garden Restaurant Han Bat Woo Chon Gam Mee Ok Cho Dang Gol Kang Suh, Birthday dinner I'll be happy to compare and contrast some of these places for you if you decide to go for Korean.

To be clear, this is the corner of Mott and Mosco we're talking about, and she hasn't been there for at least two years or so, I guess. Unless she is there only when I'm not.

No, I don't know, but it sounds likely.

I have to find those! I'll stop by some local Japanese shops and see if they carry those. Sweet potatoes and molassesy stuff. Yum! Do satsumaimo taste much different from either the orange or yellow American sweet potatoes?

I hope she just figured enough was enough and retired, rather than that she got sick or died. I miss her and her delicious egg cakes.

I agree on New York Noodletown. They may not be quite as good as before on some dishes, but they're still reliable and good, in my opinion.

Yes, is a member and was Forum Host for the Pastry & Baking Forum.

Where's the lentil soup temple?

No. You're thinking of Kum Gang San. Kang Suh is on the south side of 32 St., near Broadway. Kum Gang San is on the north side of 32 St.