September 26, 2008 by Chinatown Blogger.

Peach Farm Seafood Restaurant
4 Tyler St
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 482-1116

Peach Farm is a small restaurant in a basement located in the heart of commercial Chinatown along Beach and Tyler Street. Translated into Chinese as “Small Peach Orchard”,  the Chinatown Blogger first set foot into this establishment 15 years ago. He asked his table-mates why they had chosen this restaurant? Their answer: “Simply the best,” and they added, “The owners takes care of their workers, also.” Since that time, the Chinatown Blogger has taken many others to this restaurant. Many left with satisfied stomachs.

Not the cleanest place to eat, but possibly the best chefs in Chinatown. Like all restaurants, every now and then the chef may have a bad day, but Peach Farm delivers consistently. The restaurant is typically packed with long lines waiting outside on the weekends. Typical of other Chinatown family-owned business, the dad, mom and son manage the restaurants and many of the same waiters and waitresses have worked there as long as the Chinatown Blogger can remember.

Peach Farm is not a restaurant one goes to order chicken wings, eggrolls and pork fried rice. In fact, if that is what you seek there are many other take-out Chinese restaurants that can do better. One goes to Peach Farm for the Cantonese-style seafood they serve. After all, the word “Seafood” is in their name. The following are the Chinatown Blogger’s favorite dishes:

1. Ginger Scallion Lobster, $30 single, $50 twin
If you need to ask why this is good, then you are in the wrong place - a must have Peach Farm specialty. The lobster is chopped into pieces and then placed into a huge wok and stirred fry with ginger, scallion and oil. The key is not to stir fry the lobster too much, but just enough for the meat to be still tender and juicy. The Blogger prefers 3lbs plus lobsters for a meatier taste, others prefer 2lbs or less.

2. Spicy Fried Squid $15 or Spicy Fried Freshwater Shrimp (charge by the pound)
Have you ever tasted the difference between frozen shrimp and live shrimp straight from the tank? Frozen shrimp tastes dry and pasty, whereas fresh shrimp when cooked properly retains a juicy and meaty taste. Try it. Ask the waiter if they have fresh water shrimp (not always available) and ask for them to be fried. The shrimp is fried along with the heads. For 2 people, one pound should be more than enough. If shrimp is not available, there is also the squid.

3. Stir-fry Frog with vegetables (or you can substitute with watercress) $16-$19
Frogs, yes!! (Froggy Frog) This is not on the menu so the price fluctuates between which waiter you get. You would have to ask. The Chinese waiter would probably be wondering: What’s with this gweilo ordering frog? (The Blogger apologizes if he offended any gweilos). In fact, if you don’t know how to describe this, print out a photo of blog and show it to the waiter. The Chinatown Blogger has visited MANY Chinese restaurants in search of the best frog and Peach Farm has the best, simply the best. Even Andrew Zimmer would appreciate. Hint: Ask the chef to lighten up on the oil.

4. Peach Farm House Special Flounder $35 (picture not available)
The flounder flesh is cut and diced and stir-fry with vegetables. The remaining head, bones, and tail are then dipped in oil and fried. The fried portion of the flounder is placed on the bottom, and the stir-fry portion placed on top. Just get this indulge yourself.

Dessert, On the House
For dessert, ask if the restaurant still has sweet tapioca taro soup and make sure you leave a tip. As a regular at the restaurant, the Chinatown Blogger doesn’t want to hear from the waiters he was sending cheapskates.

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September 21, 2008 by Chinatown Blogger.

Each year the fair is held on Oak Street and the plaza above the Josiah Quincy Elementary School. The fair is organized by the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center.

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September 19, 2008 by Chinatown Blogger.

The 24th annual 2008 Boston Build Convention and trade show for design, building and managements professionals will be held November 18-20, 2008 at the Seaport World Trade Center. As part of the convention, there will be tours of the different neighborhoods, including Chinatown.

Two people, both of whom are in the urban design and development profession, alerted the Chinatown Blogger that the Chinatown tour included a discussion of the Archston Boston Common. Below is the brochure description of the Archston Boston Common:

Boston’s Chinatown in the 21st Century
Join us for a tour and lively discussion of the Archston Boston Common, voted #1 high-rise residential complex by the National Association of Home Builders in 2008. The project heralds a new era of luxury rental living in downtown Boston. Evoking a New York City ambience, the elegant two-story lobby features exquisite finishes and intimate fireside seating. The building shape and form are carefully desgined to maximize potential views. With world-class amenities, including an indoor pool and sport club, this high-rise creates a new benchmark for sophisticated urban living in Boston. Both economically and architecturally, the development of this vibrant 24/7 center for living, working, and playing provides a catalyst for the revitalization of Boston’s Chinatown and strengthens the integrity and vitality of the community.

This one paragraph alone has so many clichés: sophisticated, integrity, vitality. What do they mean? Does sophisticated mean only the “intelligent and wealthy” live in Archstone Boston Common? If yes, then does that mean revitalization is in essence the return of capital and wealth into the neighborhood, and Archstone is not there to provide sophisticated urban living to the local working-class residents? How does Archstone strengthens the integrity and vitality of the community? What is integrity and vitality of the community and would the tour guide even know?

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September 17, 2008 by Chinatown Blogger.

The news reported today that Sonia Chang-Diaz won a narrow victory over incumbent Dianne Wilkerson by 228 votes.

The end of Wilkerson’s run could also jeopardize the bilingual ballot bill which the former State Senator had strongly supported in the State Senate. In addition, with Wilkerson’s absence, will Chang-Diaz take the lead to advocate for state funding for Parcel 24 and Oxford Street, development projects that will create low-income and affordable housing for Chinatown? Then, there is also the proposed $120 million Boston Arts Academy school in Chinatown, and which Wilkerson had came out in support during a public meeting in the summer.

Time will tell whether Chang-Diaz will embrace these issues that are important for Chinatown. Until then, congratulations to Chang-Diaz on a successful campaign.

(Disclosure: The Chinatown Blogger is not affiliated with Wilkerson’s or Chang-Diaz’s campaign.)

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September 17, 2008 by Chinatown Blogger.

Oak Street Fair – Chinatown’s Family Festival
Sat. Sept 20. 11 am to 3 pm
Oak Street and Josiah Quincy School Playground
885 Washington St., Boston

Come join us for Chinatown’s annual family festival, featuring games and activities, children performances, community information and health screenings. Wally the Green Monster from Boston Red Sox will be there from 11 am to noon. Sparky the Clown will be there. Compete in the Watermelon Eating Contest. Free Chinese food for children.

Bring your families and friends!

We are also looking for volunteers to help out – do face painting, run games and do arts and crafts with kids. There are 2 shifts: 9:30 am to 1 pm and 12:30 pm to 4 pm. Please contact Mark at marking99@hotmail.com or Chien-mei at cmchang928@gmail.com to sign up.

Oak Street Fair is hosted by the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, www.bcnc.net and sponsored by many generous corporations.

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