Chinatown wanderings

Whenever we are in New York City's Chinatown and need a sweet treat, we always stop off for ice cream at The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (65 Bayard St).

The choices are endless. In addition to the basic flavours of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, you can try exotic flavours like green tea, ginger, almond cookie, black sesame, and taro. We love the Lychee ice cream - it's sweet and tastes just like the fruit! Our generous small cup was only $3.75.

Just down the street is Hong Kong Station (45 Bayard St), a cafeteria-style noodle soup place. We love how inexpensive, but satisfying, a bowl of broth, noodles, and anything else we want to add can be.

All you need to do is choose your noodle ($1.75-$2) and then choose your toppings ($1.25 each). We love all of the possibilities...we have had tripe, Chinese broccoli, beef stew, bean spouts, etc. in our soups (and of course, Sriracha hot sauce)

For dim sum (Chinese tapas or small plates of food), there are many options. We like going to Jing Fong Restaurant (20 Elizabeth Street @ Canal). It has a large dining space and feels authentic as ladies in carts wheel our dim sum choices around. We have dined on our own and with groups of 10. We love our old stand-bys (Har Gow - shrimp dumplings, Chinese broccoli, and Siu Mai - meatballs) and we never leave hungry (usually for $10/person).