Chinatown cont:

I also ordered the "must-have" Pan Fried Flounder. The waiters actually expect you to pick the bones with your fingers and suck the fish fat off the fins! (they provide handwipes at the end of the meal). This dish was a little bit expensive for one fish (I could actually get 4 fresh ones for that price!), but they never ever turn out as scrumptious as this one anyway. Scarfed half of it down, and doggie-bagged the rest with a Take-Out order of Salted Porkchops with Spicy Peppers (they use sliced jalapenos so its bearably spicy).

Speaking of Take-Out order, my next stop was the Mei Lai Wah (fondly called: May Laway) Coffee House at Bayard. The place is so small (like a hole in the wall) that one could easily pass by and not notice it. Step inside and you'll be instantly transported to circa pre-war era ambiance. The place looks and feels antique old. Even the Chinese guys serving behind the counter look like they've been granddads twice over. They still use the obsolete type of cash register (yellowed and cracked with age) wherein you punch in your sales like a typewriter, and the huge numbers roll on the front similar to a gas station's register. I'm surprised it was still accurate! Until recently (I guess one of their great grandkids finally introduced them to tape), they even tied their boxes of Take-Out orders with twine!

Frozen in time - cool.

They have dumplings, siomai, coconut bread, and their specialty: Pork buns (the brown one is roasted pork, which I prefer - and the white one is steamed, called "Siopao" in the Philippines.) Its dough has a faint hint of sweetness which I like - goes great with your morning coffee. Had them wrap me up a dozen to go.

Link for Mei Lai Wah:

http://msittig.freeshell.org/articles/NYT_Manhattans_Chinatown.html

Right across Mei Lai Wah is the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. Yep - it's time for dessert! They make their ice cream in the premises and boasts of having a variety of exotic and tropical flavors (aside from the usual vanilla/choc/strawberry). Wanna try Durian ice cream? This is the place to go!

A scoop of Lychee on a wafer cone hit the right spot.

Link for Chinatown Ice Cream Factory: http://www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com/

On my way home, couldn't resist to drop by Aji Ichiban store. They have a lot of unique candies and weird (yummy) snacks from HongKong which is sold by weight. Bigger candies by the piece, of course. Got half a pound each of Crispy Spicy Cod Fish and Superior Seedless Lovers Plum (huh? is this some sort of aphrodisiac? - otherwise known as champoy) and a few Grape Marshmallows for S.

Link for Aji Ichiban store:

http://ajiichiban-usa.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=A&Category_Code=SN

Saddled with my grocery bags (and melting ice), I finally called it a day and headed home.