215537 Mon Nov 01 14:56:05 -0800 2004 8 18 Manhattan 0 1147772 Hi - Where can I find a fresh Durian in Manhattan? Mon Nov 01 14:56:05 -0800 2004 0 Carla 1 1147777 Durian is highly seasonal - it's usually abundant in July and August. I have seen it sold in the fruit carts in Chinatown, but never bought it myself. I wonder if the fruit vendors here will stick in a skewer or knife to let you taste it the way they do in Asia? I hate getting an under-ripe or over-ripe one. Mon Nov 01 15:10:54 -0800 2004 1147772 0 Core 2 1147916 Thank you all for your suggestions - I will let you know where I find one and what I think of it - I am looking forward to trying one for the first time! -C Tue Nov 02 12:00:25 -0800 2004 1147777 0 Carla 1 1147781 i saw durian being sold in chinatown the weekend before last, street vendor i think on elizabeth street. i'd root around chinatown. Mon Nov 01 15:21:04 -0800 2004 1147772 0 greenthumb 1 1147782 Many vegetable stores in chinatown have them. I saw them the other day at Mulberry and Hester Mon Nov 01 15:26:03 -0800 2004 1147772 0 MV 1 1147783 Quite frequently I have seen them sold at the street stalls on Division on block east of the Bowery when they are in season. Try there. S Mon Nov 01 15:30:22 -0800 2004 1147772 0 CTownFeedR 1 1148039 caution - those displayed hanging in red string bags are often previously frozen and presently defrosting. look for heavy condensation and touch for coolness to investigate. Tue Nov 02 19:38:16 -0800 2004 1147772 0 anita_cocktail 1 1148057 David Karp, he writes all those great fruit articles, told me about his experience with durian. He had a piece wrapped in aluminum foil inside a heavy plastic bag frozen in his freezer and when he opened the fridge door his cat, on the opposite side of the room, hissed and it's fur stood on end. I basically agree with the cat. When I tried a ripe one --- I'll spare you the details about how it oozed--- I wanted to die for two days. I drank glasses of unadulterate vinegar just to rid myself of the taste. Fortunately the ones sold here seem to be denatured, they have no smell. More fortunate would be there being banned, their growers thrown handcuffed into the Irrawadi River to be eaten by crocodiles which are then caught and turned into wallets by leperous beggars who then sell then to any unfortunate who asks on this board about durian. Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Tue Nov 02 21:43:19 -0800 2004 1147772 0 Gourmet2 2 1148087 To each their own, I suppose. I've had the privilege of having fresh ripe durian while in Asia and texture is that of custard with a very pleasant creamy taste. It's sweet (sometimes with a tinge of alcohol) and very rich (I can only eat about 5 seeds' worth). I've never minded the smell - it is pungent and strong, but it only gets overpowering if the fruit has been broken or opened for awhile. My husband doesn't care for it and my grandmother can't stand the smell - the rest of my family loves it! Wed Nov 03 09:13:26 -0800 2004 1148057 0 Core