Florida Shooters Network

OK, I've been to a lot of Asian markets around here. You have the old reliable PK mini-chain, some other Chinese/Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese places, and some good Korean ones (love the homemade kimchi at the one on the NW corner of OPB and University). They are fine. But today I was in one that blows them all away.

I was going to the Doris Italian Market at Sunrise/Plantation location (Sunset Strip & Nob Hill)--and there is already an Indo-Pakistani market here that is pretty good. Well, I saw a grand opening sign for a place called "New York Market" (although the sign outside was all in Chinese). The place is aptly named, since it is the closet thing to a large Asian market you might on Canal Street. It was mind-blowing.

First, the place is large--probably twice the size (or more) of a place like PK. But it had a crazy selection of fresh seafood and meat. Live blue crabs (you pick them out yourself with tongs), live fish, live shrimp, live turtles of some sort (softshell?), live frogs of some kind, all kinds of fish, etc. And the butcher section--a bunch of normal cuts, plus all the crazy shit that any true Chinese restaurant has but usually keeps off the English language menu: hearts, pork livers, various intestines, everything from beak to claw from a duck, etc. I've seen a lot of weird shit in some of the Caribbean markets, but this place takes the cake. They had a good number of customers, too (this was just after 5pm on a Friday).

If you are nearby, you've got to check it out--I've never seen anything like it down here.

Also, there is a fairly new Chinese restaurant in this plaza that is related to it:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/15/2546047/from-fresh-eel-to-egg-rolls-elegant.html

Posted on Thu, Dec. 15, 2011
From fresh eel to egg rolls, elegant Pine Court is a Chinese banquet

By Rochelle Koff
rkoff@MiamiHerald.com

EILEEN SOLER / FOR THE MIAMI HERALD

We could dine at Pine Court Chinese Bistro in Sunrise every night of the year and still not sample all the dishes available. The basic menu alone features more than 200 items, plus there’s the more authentic Chinese menu and dim sum carts loaded with goodies that make the rounds daily.

It’s no secret that most Chinese restaurants have two menus — an exotic one geared to Asian diners and a Chinese-American version. The assumption is that native Chinese diners will eat food that’s jiggly and won’t turn up their noses at animal parts other patrons would rather not contemplate. How many Americans are going to say, “Those fish heads look yummy” or “I’d love some crunchy chicken feet”?

Pine Court, which specializes in aromatic, colorful Cantonese cuisine, gives us a little more credit for adventurousness. Even the basic menu features dishes like spicy cold jelly fish, crab meat and fish maw soup and sliced abalone with sea cucumber along with standards like Kung Pao chicken, sesame beef and barbecue spare ribs (and no MSG, we’re told).

There are tanks filled with Maine lobster, but also ones with fresh eels. Not surprisingly, Pine Court attracts a large Chinese clientele, and as you’ve heard many times, that’s a good sign of authenticity.

Open since July and seating 200 to 250, Pine Court is a sea of white tablecloths with gold dragons decorating cherry red walls. Owner Long Deng, who operates a Chinese restaurant and Asian markets in New York City, is opening New York Market later this month in the same Sunrise shopping plaza featuring seafood stations, specialty Asian items and fast Chinese food.

Pine Court has old-fashioned elegance, with servers dressed formally in black vests, white shirts and skinny bow ties. Our gracious young server brought us both the regular and Chinese menus, though she tried to steer us away from items that were “too bony” or “too fatty.”

She asked if we were sure about our order of fried pork intestines. The thinly cut, lightly fried slices in a sweet and sour sauce are artfully arranged around a mound of sliced cucumbers, turnips and carrots. The slightly crunchy meat reminded us of hot dog casings — not unpleasant but not a dish we’ll be craving any time soon.

We admit a weakness for wonton soup, and it’s delicious here, with silky dumplings filled with ground shrimp and pork. A huge bowl ($6.95) could easily serve three or four. Other tempting starters include pork shu mai (dumplings); a long list of soups including mild, sweet winter melon; spring rolls and fried chicken wings.

The pork chop Peking style brings pieces of breaded, fried pork (watch out for bones) in a tangy sweet and sour sauce. Sizzling steak with black pepper — thick slices of flavorful beef stir-fried with onions and red and green bell peppers — is presented with flair like a Chinese-style fajita.

Frequent specials include juicy, golden, whole Peking duck and two 1 1/2-pound lobsters that are steamed, cut into big chunks served in their shells, finished with a fragrant ginger scallion sauce. We realized later that we missed the “black chicken,” touted as a “super food.”

Dessert was easy — a complimentary plate of orange slices.

We came back one afternoon to try the dim sum, a big attraction here, especially since it’s offered daily. We had our fill of treats like plump pork buns, taro dumplings, shrimp balls, chicken feet and egg custard, but still didn’t come close to putting a dent in the menu. That’s just another reason we’ll be back.

I heard about this place recently because of the YELP app on my phone. Looks cool but it's too far for me to frequent.

Tector, check out Food Town in Davie, on Davie rd and Stirling where the old Winn Dixie was. Awesome asian market, live fish, crabs etc, great fresh produce, and pretty damn amazing beer selection.

I'm 3 miles from there, and it's my go to stop for asian/int'l ingredients, and cheap produce. Limes/lemons 5 for $1.00, and cheap avocadoes.