42991 Sat Jan 21 23:50:47 -0800 2006 5 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 209423 This is the weekend that observant chowhounds will be stocking up for Chinese New Year cooking, so I thought I'd post on one staple for the annual festivities. Yesterday I did a little shopping in SF Chinatown with my mother. She needed to buy glutinous rice flour to make "goh", the chewy new year's cakes. We didn't have much time (or energy) to do the usual stroll around Chinatown to save a few pennies here and there and only checked two spots. At ABC on Broadway, between Grant and Stockton, we got three one-pound packages for $1.10. It's a Viet or Thai brand in a cellophane bag with green writing. At the market across the street, it was $1.19 for the same thing. ABC Supermarket Inc (415) 398-3966 641 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94133 Sat Jan 21 23:50:47 -0800 2006 0 Melanie Wong 1 209426 To show you it pays to shop, here's a link to website that sells the same product for $2.39 per pound vs. $1.10 for three pounds. Link: http://importfood.com/fger1601.html Image: http://importfood.com/media/fger1601.jpg Sat Jan 21 23:58:22 -0800 2006 209423 0 Melanie Wong 2 209447 Good to know! I've never paid much more than 30 cents a bag for that exact same brand, usually in the Richmond district. I didn't know it could get up to $2+. It's great for all kinds of mochi-like delicousness. Sun Jan 22 03:32:27 -0800 2006 209426 0 nooodles 3 209610 My mom was holding out for 2 for 55¢ or something like that, but I told her we didn't have time to look any where else! (g) Mon Jan 23 02:40:23 -0800 2006 209447 0 Melanie Wong 2 209529 Good supply at 99 Ranch...I haven't used cornstarch for years. Sun Jan 22 17:08:26 -0800 2006 209426 0 Jim H. 1 209461 The prices for everything goes up for Chinese New Year, we normally buy all the dried ingredients for our New Years before Christmas then buy the fresh vegtables a few days before use. I believe we paid a buck for three bags. We must of missed each other yesterday, we were walking the street fair, but do Oakland having there's on the same weekend it was much smaller this year. Happy New Year ot all. Sun Jan 22 11:23:35 -0800 2006 209423 0 yimposter