Fruit Stand Outside Tu Quynh Pharmacy

A double scoop of durian, please.

For me, the custardy lobes of the "king of fruits" brings to mind overripe ricotta, but the aroma has also been likened to unwashed sweat socks, and far worse. (When it comes to durians, even your best friends will tell you.) There's no doubt about their pungency: Even though my score was encased a Styrofoam container inside a pressure-crimped plastic bag inside a plastic shopping bag inside my backpack, I caught an occasional whiff, and wondered who else could tell I was carrying.

A smaller specimen of these spiky, thick-husked fruits (Mon Thong cultivar; $1.20 per pound) runs about five pounds before it's sliced open and scooped clean; add a dollar tip for your durian wrangler.

This Vietnamese fruit stand is more approachable than many in the vicinity because the vendors speak English quite well. On a recent visit, the wares also included a container of frozen mangosteens — the "queen of fruits," some call them.

Fruit Stand Outside Tu Quynh Pharmacy
230 Grand St. (at the Bowery)
Closed Tuesday or Wednesday, depending

Comments

[Mal Milligan]

Great Blog - compliments. That pharmacy by-the-way used to have some of the best Bahn Mi Saigon in town. One whiff of those durians brings me back to Vietnam... the hard way. Eating those is definitely an squired habit.