I would move to New York City….

Or at least go visit every year during fall, just to get my hands on them yummy ginkgo biloba that can be found all over NYC in abundance.

I spent Thanksgiving with my son in NYC. My first trip to NYC and for him, the second. We arrived on Tuesday and the first thing that struck me as we got out from the subway station and walked to our hotel that was just two blocks away, the streets were lined with beautiful ginkgo biloba trees or commonly known as Maidenhair trees here in North America. Their light-green leaves turned gloriously golden in fall.





They are everywhere in the streets of New York!



Strawberry Fields should be called Ginkgo Fields instead





I decided to watch the Rockettes on my last night in NYC. On my way walking back to the hotel ( which took me less than 20 minutes), I stopped by the side of a church to collect the fallen ginkgo fruits by the pavement, produced by female ginkgo trees.











To the uninitiated, the pulp of the ginkgo fruit has been compared from rancid butter to dog excrement!



It was cold and windy but it didn’t deter me from taking my gloves off and with my bad knees, bend ing over to collect them, one by one., with my bare hand. I spent about an hour and reluctantly pulled myself away and resumed my walk back to the hotel. Upon reaching the hotel, I discovered there were more fruits to be collected in front of the hotel and the nuts from those fruits were really “plumpy” and that made plumpy MiMi very happy!

I put them in my carry-on bag and was keeping my fingers crossed that the double layers of plastic bags will contain the putrid smell and was hoping no leakage or whatsoever. I certainly do not want the smell to permeate through the whole aircraft cabin





Was washing them in the kitchen when Art suddenly walked in and started screaming, “What in the hell is THAT smell?!?!! Puke? Dead animal?!?

He went on, “What are you going to do with them?!?”
I answered, “Why, I eat them of course! I’ve been eating them all my life!” Feeling annoyed and went on to explain to him the health benefits of consuming ginkgo biloba. He was not impressed at all and made me promised I will get rid of the smell by tomorrow morning.

I lit several scented candles and spray the whole house with air freshener hoping to be ridden of the vile and foul smell before Art wakes up.

Well, I’m too tired to think of other hacks and going to sleep now, thinking of the yummy dessert I’d be making with these nuts

Pak gor yee mai fu chuk, my late maternal grandma used to make them every now and then. Can be consumed either hot or cold.