I went to the Egg Rolls & Egg Creams Festival in Chinatown this weekend. It was such a beautiful day, I had to get out of the house. It was a good crowd of people. Kids painting Yamakas. Old people playing Mahjong. Teens selling Egg Rolls and Egg Creams for $5 (combo).
I passed by a place on the block called “Young City Fish Balls”. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but turned out to be a restaurant that sells Chinese soups, rice and noodles (Fuzhou cuisine). I had to go in since the name was so cool.
I ordered the Fish Balls for only $3. They offered it with pork inside or without. It was a good size bowl of about twelve balls. The soup had a bit of a vinegar taste. I thought the balls were pretty decent, especially for how cheap they were.
They had some interesting items on the menu, like Beef Paste and Cattle’s Visceral’s soup. It’s like funny Engrish translations. But my waiter spoke perfect English. I almost wonder if this restaurant’s name and menu was made to trick ironic foodie hipsters to come. It worked!
They also serve beer. I really like this place.
Young City Fish Balls (aka Yung City Corp.) – 21 Eldridge St. New York, NY 10002
Back at the festival, I witnessed one of the most amazing performances I’ve ever seen. A Chinese mask changing dance (called Bian Lian) performed by Cao Zhen Jian of the Qi Shu Fang Peking Opera Company. The guy would flash his fan in front of his face and his mask would instantly change …also later his clothes too. It was awesome. He showed his face at the end and looked like Martin Yan from Yan Can Cook. But I probably think every Chinese guy looks like Yan Can Cook.
A video about one of the masters of Chinese mask changing.
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