#68-2016: Today I…read morewent to Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year (of the monkey) and I have realize I never did a review on Kathay (though I have come some 3 times over the past year). Though many are the ethnic food stores popping up like mushrooms after as storm, Kathay still has the most prominent and extensive collection of ethnic ingredients. Why should I travel all this way to Chinatown to get spices for my meals? Because this market has fresh roots, spices, veggies, fruits, blends, teas, pots sodas and plenty more. Do you need cilantro? Here you can get a good size bunch for a decent price. Looking for ginger roots to mix in your infusion? Fresh and fairly priced. How about some fresh curcuma roots? They got them. What is more, the store is subdivided by country (Japan, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh... to name a few). They have quite the collection of South American products as well. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable. NOT the friendliest but still very efficient. So, when hunting for hard to find ingredients, don't give up all hope till you have tried here.

This is THE asian market in Milan. When in need of sushi rice, pandan leaves, kimchi or anything…read moreasian - south american and eastern european too - you'll find it here. They not only sell canned and preserved products, but also fresh produce, fruits, veggies and mushrooms. The biggest sections are of course dedicated to the chinese and japanese cuisines, with sauces, pastas, seaweeds, teas and frozen goods (mochi! and natto!). They also sell rice cookers and other exotic kitchenware. The prices vary, but it's never over-expensive. For luxury goods like matcha, however, you won't find a good one here, for that I still count on shippings from Japan. They have a ceramics section with many beautiful cups and plates on display, and every once in a while they put some them on sale, so that's another good side of Kathay.