Why China ain't all bad...

Now we all know that James is the more frugal of this pair (except when it comes to percussion instruments and aquatic enclosure paraphernalia), but since we've moved here and everything from rent to gas to eating out is twice as expensive- I've jumped on the cheapo bandwagon a bit more. If I am ever going to get the chance to stay home with our yet-to-exist offspring, I've got to start living on half of our income. So when James suggested we check out the Chinatown district in downtown Oakland on Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago, I decided to give it a try. I know what you are envisioning: fish heads,knarly old-dead finger-looking ginseng roots and veggies from half-way across the world whose names are written in Chinese and whose purpose is uncertain.

Well........there is a guy selling fish parts out of a cooler, and the delivery guys with their live moray eels in garbage cans, and all of the eastern medicine shop owners do sit outside with huge boxes of ginseng that can be bought in bulk (why? what for?) and there are some things there that I have no idea how to prepare.

Mostly, however, there are farm-to-table fruits and vegetables that come right off the trucks double-parked in the street. You can buy perfectly ripe produce for about 30cents per pound cheaper than at any grocery store, fish fresh from the morning catch, and try new things that you'd pay a premium for anywhere else (like lychees!). Nothing is "presented" to you on market shelves with packets of dip and other culinary "suggestions" nearby, but if that means I don't have to pay more- I'm willing to use my imagination!

I was hesitant at first, but now I get an absolute high wandering through the shops, amidst a mass of bustling Asian folks, getting anything I want with only $20. Now, while I am perfectly happy shopping in the Whole Foods (known here fondly as "Whole Paycheck") buying my fig-stuffed salmon pancakes and chipotle dingleberry sauce, and while I adore walking through the organic farmer's market down by the Lake buying $8 organic, hydroponic, chilled-water-washed, heirloom tomatoes, nothing can hold a candle to the pure joy of having purchasing power when it comes to food! Check out our $10 and $20 bounties from the past two weeks!