A Trip to Chinatown

One of the secrets to being a great host is knowing where to shop for ingredients, which is why Ashley and Khalil often rely on ethnic markets and grocery stores when they entertain.

By Khalil Hymore

The great thing about living in a city like New York is experiencing all of the different ethnic neighborhoods teeming with people and culture from all over the globe--and best of all, they've brought their food with them! In addition to the Greek markets in my old neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, I love stocking up on Middle Eastern ingredients at Sahadi's in Brooklyn and Italian staples at Di Palo in Little Italy. Recently, though, my sister Ashley and I ventured to Chinatown, in lower Manhattan, for a little culinary inspiration.

Ashley has been on a savory cocktail kick lately, using herbs and spices to create some very unique cocktails. On this day, she was searching for ingredients to make an Asian inspired Bloody Mary. I tagged along hoping to make good on my New Year's Resolution (which I am seriously in danger of breaking).

Before our spree we stopped for roasted pork buns and coffee at one of the many Chinatown bakeries. Then we just explored. Up and down the alleyways and small streets of this very colorful part of the city. Chinatown is fun, because it really is like journeying to another land. After some wandering, we found several small grocery stores where Ashley loaded up on dried spices, unique juices, and canned fruits for cocktail making, while I filled my bags with jars of sauces, bags of tapioca pearls, and noodles to cook with.

But you don't have to live in a big city to source inexpensive gourmet ingredients from ethnic grocers. Many smaller American cities and towns have thriving ethnic neighborhoods filled with authentic imported foodstuffs and, of course, many international foods can be purchased online.