Wet Market Shopping

One of the beauties of living in Asia is that there's always easy access to a wet market. For fresh meats, fish, fruit and vegetables, a Chinese wet market is never far away. Perhaps it's the Asian way, but that's how people prefer to shop for their groceries - at the wet market - to ensure the freshest ingredients. 

I didn't start out doing my groceries at the wet market, I much preferred the air-conditioned comfort of the supermarket, and didn't quite like getting my feet wet walking around in the dirty puddles which are everywhere in wet markets. But since being in Hong Kong, I've taken quite a shine to it over the years, so much so that I'm quite in love with it.

For me, the wet market perfectly captures the heart and energy of this city.  It's so local, with shop-keepers shouting out in Cantonese, friends and strangers yelling "Zo San!" (good morning), the chimes from excited chatter, the honks from trucks warning you to jump out of the way in the narrow lanes. This is the Hong Kong I imagined before I moved here - a city I have an affinity to, a place to immerse in the local culture, speak Cantonese, and laugh at the superbly witty Cantonese jokes that only a local can deliver.

It's the hustle and bustle of the market that I like so much - you can feel the pulse of this city, of its people, beating to its own hurried drum. I love it, it's so alive, so Cantonese, so Hong Kong. It can be daunting trying to haggle and shout to get your goods, but it's all part of the life that I've come to know here.

The wet market closest to where we live is the one on Gage Street, at the cross-road of Lyndhurst Terrace, and a quick 5 minute stroll from our place. Here's a look at this place which has become familiar ground to me.

My go-to ladies for Chinese vegetables:

My salads man, who doesn't speak English and has his daughter translate since most of his customers are English-speaking. She wears smoky eyes and black nail polish every single day. 

Eggs! From Holland, to the USA and Thailand - they don't get any fresher than these.

Noodles galore:

Really good roast meat - siew yuk, char siew, soy sauce chicken, etc - Anthony Bourdain ate here and featured this place in his show.

Meats and fish in the heart of the wet market, right next to the florist and a French restaurant!

 

The Gage Street wet market:

Comments

[Sylvia]

Hurray to everything local! We buy from the same butcher and seafood stall! Yay!

[Kenggai]

Long live the 'xi lai!'

[Sylvia]

Hope you're not referring to me :p