New York | DAY 2: (Pt. 1) Canal Street Market, Chinatown + SoHo

The next day, not so bright and early, we set out to explore Manhattan.

orangecane had suggested popping by Canal Street Market, which was supposedly a collection of popular eatery stalls. Boba Guys had made it onto this list, so I was more than motivated to make the trip.

​Little did I know the neighbourhood wasn't too far from Chinatown either, so we ended up chancing upon several Chinese characters and unintentionally eavesdropping on conversations taking place in dialects that were all too familiar.

​I had my initial doubts about Canal Street Market, fearing that it would bear a high degree of resemblance to the loud, rambunctious scene of St. Lawrence back home, or the fume-filled frenzy of Grand Central Market in DTLA. But the indoor establishment for dining and retail was more than gratifying as per my expectations.

​Possessing a designated divide of two components, half of the space was allocated towards a pop-like venture for commercial goods hailing from independent designers/businesses, while the other half assumed an upscale food court-style layout not dissimilar to Assembly Chef's Hall.

​We toured the shops moiety briefly, then made a sharp turn into the side offering sustenance. Noon had passed, yet the first meal of the day had yet to be consumed.
The layout of the vendors was quite systematic - each possessing their own unique storefront (or I suppose a "stall-front"?) with a menu made clearly visible from the main pathway. While the number of vendors was less than Assembly Chef's Hall, it did not appear as if the selection was lacking in any way. Rather, I deduced more distinct features, as well as a greater sense of cohesiveness overall.

Bathrooms requiring a numerical passkey were a solid method in preventing pedestrians from simply entering without purchasing sustenance from any of the vendors.

​Kakigori was an unforeseen category found within the market, along with a salad bar by the name of fresh & co.

​Following a thorough examination of the options before us, we settled for Luke's Lobster - because seafood, especially shellfish, is an East Coast specialty.
Mind you, this meal was not easy on one's wallet. A trio of half-sized rolls, half of a lobster tail, and a large Clam Chowder set us back a whopping thirty-plus American dollars.

​Within the trio were three tiny shrimp, crab, and lobster rolls. The shrimp was tasty, while the crab retained a slightly fishy stench. Never one to be too fond of lobster, even I found enjoyment in its generous chunks of flesh. All buns were toasted with an adequate amount of butter for fragrance, which further added to the experience. This, however, should not be directly associated with a justified price tag.

​The half Lobster Tail was served alongside a small container of runny, yellow liquid (potentially clarified butter?). Frankly, the condiment was on the bland side, thus failed to contribute any additional flavour whatsoever. It did not highlight the tail's existing profile either.
Delicious nonetheless, the item was inarguably on the steep end at $5 per portion.

​Clam Chowder was served with the same soup crackers at Jake's and loaded with bite-sized pieces of potato and a satisfying amount of clam pieces. Large was a good size for sharing between two, along with the trio of half rolls. For those with large appetites, I'd likely suggest filling your lobster craving elsewhere, because $33 USD didn't get us very far.

​Next on the agenda was Boba Guys. Unsurprisingly, it had been the primary reason for swaying to the indoor market.

​A nonexistent lineup meant that I could take my sweet time inquiring about the various options on the menu, in addition to requesting additional details about their shortbread cookies. Wait time was also minimal.

​Interesting to note is their availability of almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk - all of which are considered specialty substitutions where whole milk or half-and-half cream are the regular choices.
Some beverages, I was told, were tastier with oat milk, as its hearty profile paired well with certain teas. Specifically in regards to the Muscat Oolong Tea though, it was advised to stick with regular half-and-half for best results.

​Ever since my foray into the world of machine-based jam-making, I had been tempted to try Boba Guys' Strawberry Matcha Latte. The inclusion of strawberry purée was intriguing - even more so when paired with the ever-formidable Japanese green tea.

​Boba Guys' rendition of the drink adopted the same tri-layer format I had worked with at home: finely blended strawberry purée, milk, freshly-whisked matcha over a substantial portion of ice. Aspects that differed was the smoother consistency of the jam - there were no chunks whatsoever - and the inclusive harmony of flavours. As opposed to a heaping spoonful of strawberry goodness trailing behind a distinct wash of grassiness, the result of stirring ended with subtle zing and a mouthful of chewy tapioca and firm grass jelly bits.
​
One could not adjust sugar levels as the drink contained a pre-determined amount of strawberry purée, so it was sweeter than preferred, yet not as bold. Distinct notes of both matcha and strawberry were present, but to a lesser degree than I imagined. On the plus side, the drink was a suitable choice to ease one into the world of matcha lattes should one not be accustomed to them already.

​Muscat Oolong Tea was actually a recommendation from the addict herself. While it could be served straight with a dose of fruity flavouring, I chose the clouded version which had been advertised so prominently to me.

​True to her words, the Muscat Oolong Tea was highly evocative of the small packages of green grape candies we tasted in our childhood. Never to normally endorse the usage of synthetic syrups, this was one accent whose nostalgic properties successfully outweighed my distaste for artificiality. (Dare I say, it was outstanding!

​Noteworthy is Boba Guys' option of combining toppings at no extra charge. Drink add-ons are fifty cents extra, though patrons are also given the opportunity to mix and match: the cost would remain the same, but the portion of each subsequent topping would be reduced accordingly (Ie. one full portion of tapioca pearls or two half-portions of tapioca and grass jelly). For both of my drink requests, a combination of tapioca and grass jelly was chosen.
The tapioca was of ideal consistency - less rigid than CoCo but, while firmer than One Zo. Unlike back home, the grass jelly had been cut into small shards of dark material; its texture was more akin to high-strength agar than guilinggao. This treatment enabled it to be readily incorporated into the beverage and easier to attain via a plastic straw.

Side story: Due to the flimsiness of their drink trays (and my own incompetence at handling too great a count of personal belongings), the first Muscat Oolong Milk Tea actually went crashing down onto the floor of Canal Street Market.
I apologized several times, for both the Boba Guys barista and cleaning staff instantly came to my rescue. Eventually, I departed the stall with a new Muscat Oolong in hand and slightly sticky footsteps...

​Drinks were very pricey, though well worth the experience. After the conversion, they'd lean close to One Zo's pricing, so it's debatable whether I'd choose the better tea base or more innovative tapioca options.

​Merch in the form of pins were expensive - $7 or $8?? – as were snacks.
I picked up a two-pack of Rosewater Shortbread Cookies during this visit. Interestingly enough, cookie popularity ranged from Matcha (at the very bottom) and Lavender & Coconut to Earl Grey and Rose Water. This pricey duo was set aside to be enjoyed later.

​Last up was the marketplace, which retailed anything from jewellery to kitschy souvenirs to vintage clothing. I contemplated a cactus pin for orangecane, but it went for quite a high price with minimal exclusive elements. Felt potholders in the shape of leaves were also considered, as were cloth pouches reflective of New York's tourist attractions and Manhattan's urban personality.

​Also amongst the selection were Pusheen plushies, an amusing pad of date-themed sticky notes, and an almost-Ahgabong room lamp.

​Upon leaving Canal Street Market, we found ourselves meandering through the crowds of Chinatown. Although not the most fitting location for Korean beauty retailers, my research had reported the presence of three "road shop" outposts: The Saem, Tony Moly, and Nature Republic.

​The Saem, as displayed in ssin-nim's videos, is one of South Korea's most economic beauty brands. Seventeen's frequent presence throughout the tiny shop caught my attention, but its products fell short of expectations.

"There are only ahjummas here. Are you sure?"
 
Yeah, I wasn't really. Not a single item stood out to me.

​I bid farewell to the Seventeen members - probably only three I could recognize by face - and sauntered over to the next destination of interest.
 
Tony Moly was hidden in a dingy complex even more compact than Times Square on Hwy 7. With that said, the shop offered a more diverse selection and friendlier service than the Pacific Mall location I tend to visit all too often.

​Chinatown's Nature Republic turned out to be nothing more than an unofficial retailer carrying a mishmash of sheet masks, discontinued products, and tarnished Kakao Friends collaboration items. Google Maps had lied.

​Nearby was SoHo, and it seemed only natural to suggest walking over to check out Supreme (aka Youngjae's fave).

Before reaching the illustrious intersection of Broadway (actually Houston) and Lafayette, a subdued logo summoned my attention.
 
MAISON KITSUNÉ

​Jinyoung fans are all too familiar with this brand, for many airport images have shown the idol donning a solid navy sweater with a tri-colour fox embellishment on many occasions. His alternative pick is another navy sweater bearing the word "Parisienne" in white knit.
 
I suggested popping in, since it was unlikely I could afford to match his style anyway.

​We had perused the store for a solid five minutes when one of the sales attendants informed us of a tremendous sale: majority of the items in the first room were marked 50% off!
Moreover, we were told that the SoHo location was the French fashion label’s sole store in the entire country.

My heart was immediately conflicted: a burnt orange pocket tee adorned with the same logo was now reduced to an affordable rate, but nowhere near as visually appealing as the classic tones of white, grey, and navy.

​Skipping from t-shirt to leather wallet to sweater to canvas bag, I eventually settled on a cobalt blue collaboration tote between Ader Error and Maison Kitsuné before waltzing out and feeling the burn of financial deterioration. Eeek!

​A few steps north along Lafayette and we were met with the infamous entry lineup for Supreme. The streetwear monster somehow managed to keep customers engaged and patient for a simple peek into their shop. While initially inclined to make a short visit, the estimated wait time of one hour had me turning on my heels and seeking amusement elsewhere.

​Oddly enough, other similar stores in the vicinity do not witness the same degree of hype. Relatively quiet atmospheres were seen at Diamond Supply Co. and a footwear boutique called Asics Tiger.

Read Part 2 HERE !