Today in Guangzhou I went to the frozen section of Costco. Walking in the old part of town, we went first to the Ching Ping Spice Market and then to the wholesale frozen meat dealers.
The spice market is really interesting with huge sacks of spices, herbs, rice, dried fruit on view. The sellers try to sell us saffron because I think foreigners come here to buy it. It is really inexpensive compared to what we get at Safeway in the States. But I try to explain that Americans don’t use much saffron in our cooking. They aren't convinced.
The market is housed in an old colonial building. Behind it are small alleys that allow access to homes. People are playing mah jong, negotiating prices, wrapping thing up to be ported away.
In front of the market the hustle and bustle is non-stop with young guys pushing dollies or pulling carts laden with boxes and bags. Old women scurry around, backs bent, carrying their own precious cargo. Spice merchants call out to us and to each other; little kids run around between stalls, playing together.
The old streets of the old town are lined with old trees and old buildings, some of which were obviously beautiful specimens before the revolution.
All up and down the streets in this area are small garage-like offices, open to the air with a desk inside. And against the back wall a big sturdy freezer door. These places sell frozen meat. You just make your order with the person at the desk and they have it in their freezer. Some sell beef, some pork. They have posters up showing what they sell. Some even have photos of platters of shrimp and appetizers (just like you can buy in Costco!).
The spice market is really interesting with huge sacks of spices, herbs, rice, dried fruit on view. The sellers try to sell us saffron because I think foreigners come here to buy it. It is really inexpensive compared to what we get at Safeway in the States. But I try to explain that Americans don’t use much saffron in our cooking. They aren't convinced.
The market is housed in an old colonial building. Behind it are small alleys that allow access to homes. People are playing mah jong, negotiating prices, wrapping thing up to be ported away.
In front of the market the hustle and bustle is non-stop with young guys pushing dollies or pulling carts laden with boxes and bags. Old women scurry around, backs bent, carrying their own precious cargo. Spice merchants call out to us and to each other; little kids run around between stalls, playing together.
The old streets of the old town are lined with old trees and old buildings, some of which were obviously beautiful specimens before the revolution.
All up and down the streets in this area are small garage-like offices, open to the air with a desk inside. And against the back wall a big sturdy freezer door. These places sell frozen meat. You just make your order with the person at the desk and they have it in their freezer. Some sell beef, some pork. They have posters up showing what they sell. Some even have photos of platters of shrimp and appetizers (just like you can buy in Costco!).
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