Oakland Chinatown goodies

In my daily route to downtown Chinatown in Oakland, I pass a curious sight.  These folks have several baskets pushed up against the wall of a hall that leads to several shops further back.  There always seems to be several people milling around discussing the items in the baskets.  I took the pictures and had a friend read what the signs say.  The first picture certainly look like the inside of a rock fish that has been brought up from the depths of the ocean.  He explained that the sign called them fish stomachs--$89.00 a pound.  We both agreed that the sign was wrong and that they were air bladders.  Still, not a bad price.  I wonder how many air bladders one would get in a pound.  The second picture is sea cucumbers--38.00 a pound.  I didn't ask if they weighed the cucumbers before or after hydration.  If anyone needs some airbladders or sea cucumbers, let me know.  I have a connection.

Gotta love oakland Chinatown!  Do you go downtown or to east lake where sun hop fat and the Thai markets are?

I had a buddy who used to work for the gov agency that monitored for invasive species (mostly insects) and they had a regular run through the asian markets in Oakland, there was incredibly illegal sh*t around every corner, they were lucky when whatever they found wasn't alive... Culturally, the folks who run these markets have fundamentally no understanding or respect for US game laws, I mean every culture brings good and bad things into the melting pot with them right, these folks just haven't been raised with the idea that game laws are even worth following, so they simply don't, (it is like me with speed limits, I understand they are there, I just think of them as more of a suggestion, only my speeding won't crawl into a river system and choke out all the natives,) it boggles the mind sometimes.

Thanks Ray for the scouting report
One favorite shop that I frequented way back was the Economy restaurant.  They made the best "shrimp with lobster sauce"
Too bad they closed.

Gotta love oakland Chinatown!  Do you go downtown or to east lake where sun hop fat and the Thai markets are?

I go downtown Oakland.   It has many many restaurants and fish shops.

Thanks Ray for the scouting report
One favorite shop that I frequented way back was the Economy restaurant.  They made the best "shrimp with lobster sauce"
Too bad they closed.

Economy Restaurant is gone.  But something similar is there now.  I have met the new owner.  She has set up shop on the  sidewalk and sells all kinds of stuff.  It's hard to walk on the sidewalk in that area.

Thanks Ray for the scouting report
One favorite shop that I frequented way back was the Economy restaurant.  They made the best "shrimp with lobster sauce"
Too bad they closed.

Shrimp and lobster sauce eh?  My dad makes that one pretty well.  How about we trade for some of your wife's spicy chicken adobo? 

Classic Triumph! 

Hey Ray, the thing sticking out of a rockfishes mouth when you reel it up from deep...IS the stomach! Most people think it's the bladder but that is wrong. But either way, gross. It probably looks like disneyland for Jim though! 

Since being ill, I have had to pay for my Rock fish and last night Diana and I spent $28 lb for one rock fish at a Chinese restaurant . Sorry part about it is that the size they served is generally a throw back in my books.
When returning fish to the deep I have found that poking a small hole in stomach helps the fish revive or am I kidding myself?

Favorite restaurant in Oakland is gone now, " Silver Dragon ". best black bean ribs...

Thanks Ray for the scouting report
One favorite shop that I frequented way back was the Economy restaurant.  They made the best "shrimp with lobster sauce"
Too bad they closed.

Shrimp and lobster sauce eh?  My dad makes that one pretty well.  How about we trade for some of your wife's spicy chicken adobo? 

I knew you are a God send John. My wife has been trying to replicate Economy's shrimp lobster sauce over rice for 2 decade now and it's been a failure.  She can't even get the blackish color down.  Post up your dad's recipe  bro.
Thanks for this thread Ray

I have to do some research and figure out what they use that stuff for.  That stuff has to be good for that price.  I hope we're not missing out...

Sometimes I'm ok with my fish allergy Noooo son... You throw that part away!!!

Gotta love oakland Chinatown!  Do you go downtown or to east lake where sun hop fat and the Thai markets are?

I go downtown Oakland.   It has many many restaurants and fish shops.

Hell yeah it does.  Me and fishadow work down thete a lot and when 11 am hits, the garlic hits the wok and the whole neighborhood smells super good!  If you dont know about eastlake you should check it out, less busy but great stores and a lot of pho and Vietnamese sandwiches for like 3 bucks.

If you are really adventurous you can even get in on a good game of Mahjong on some of the buildings.

Air bladder - here's what they look like after they are cooked. This soup was cooked with dry shrimps, dry scallop, winter melon and mushrooms.  when they are dry, they have a slight crunchy texture  after they are cooked.  Their taste is quite different than fresh air bladders.