307712 Sat Jul 08 05:00:45 -0700 2006 11 18 Manhattan 0 1733026 Does anyone know if it's possible to find durian fruit (preferably whole, but frozen would do) in Manhattan? If not, where online could I order a few? My google-fu has failed me. Other "exotic" fruit suggestions are welcome! Chava Sat Jul 08 05:00:45 -0700 2006 13921 Whippet 1 1733140 At many grocery stores in Chinatown. Sat Jul 08 07:55:55 -0700 2006 1733026 11043 devil 1 1733217 Just about every produce place in Chinatown has it and every Asian supermarket has it frozen. As a matter of fact in C'town you can find just about every fruit there is. Even mangosteens have been seen there recently, although I haven't yet run across dragonfruit. Sat Jul 08 13:22:30 -0700 2006 1733026 10732 JMF 2 1740169 i just ran across dragonfruit; I can't tell you exactly where, but somewhere between the Canal Street station and that big market, on the way towards Jing Fong. Wed Jul 12 15:12:43 -0700 2006 1733217 13921 Whippet 1 1733225 Several stands in Chinatown carry them but my favorite place is the one on the NW corner of Bowery and Grand...i bought one there last weekend, and it was delicious... Sat Jul 08 13:29:00 -0700 2006 1733026 11077 Simon 2 1738536 Do you know how to pick a ripe durian? Tue Jul 11 19:02:53 -0700 2006 1733225 18022 huzzahhuzzah 3 1738710 i usually throw myself at the mercy of the seller and ask them to pick (which at the Grand/Bowery stand has usually worked out great)...i've only been eating-them/addicted for about a year, so i'm not an expert yet... Tue Jul 11 20:10:19 -0700 2006 1738536 11077 Simon 3 1738901 Here's a good site, info on both the King and Queen of fruit (Durian and Mangosteen): http://www.proscitech.com.au/trop/d.htm How to pick a ripe one is halfway down. Note that degree of ripeness is also a personal preference. I've read that Thais like theirs on the less ripe side, while Malaysians prefer it odiferous and slimy, God love 'em. Tue Jul 11 21:04:51 -0700 2006 1738536 12417 Spoony Bard 1 1738919 I have tried it the odiferous/slimy way in Singapore. What do you pay for one of these monstrosities, anyway? Tue Jul 11 21:12:47 -0700 2006 1733026 10475 Wilfrid 1 1740499 more importantly what does it smell like? since many have said " it smells like hell, but tastes like heaven" Wed Jul 12 17:31:05 -0700 2006 1733026 10866 kevin 2 1740543 it really only stinks when it's indoors, especially when it's very ripe and first opened...personally, i found the stories of the stench to be a bit exaggerated...but it's been described as onion mixed w/ rotting garbage... i usually open it on my roofdeck, and then freeze the sections and eat it like ice cream, and there is really little smell that way... Wed Jul 12 17:45:39 -0700 2006 1740499 11077 Simon 1 1741833 how to pick ripe durian? my mom usually have to smell them, or you can go by what simon mentioned, check with the sellers. Best durian, in my humble opinion are from indonesia, specially, from north sumatra. unlike thais and spore's, overthere, durian flavors and textures comes in a large varieties, from ice cream like sweet tasting to bitter, slimy to thick textures other exotic fruits? i saw some rambutan on canal street (skin of rambutan is red but the inner part of the rambutan (the meat) is white. The skin of the rambutan has lots of "hair. enjoy!! Thu Jul 13 03:17:42 -0700 2006 1733026 18616 jlean22