Many decades ago when living in Montclair, NJ, HG/BSK would travel to Manhattan for Chinese cooking classes with Karen Lee. HG/BSK were part of an interesting group that gathered in Lee’s small Upper West Side apartment and learned how to chop, shred, stir fry, etc. We then ate our creations. They included chicken, pork, spare rib and noodle dishes. Simple and delicious. Some of the people in HG/BSK’s group were author and fashionable wit, Stephanie Pierson; actor Peter Boyle (“Young Frankenstein”, “Taxi Driver”, etc.); actress Verna Bloom. Much laughter. A favorite dish was Pon Pon Chicken, a staple of HG/BSK’s cuisine then and now. Pon Pon is composed of poached, shredded chicken in a lush, spicy sauce of peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, Szechuan preserved vegetables, garlic, chili oil and other ingredients. It is served over room temperature linguine. As HG has noted, HG/BSK and BSK’s sister, Noel M., and her husband, Yossi M., alternate hosting Sunday dinners at their homes. Sunday (Sept. 6) at the HG/BSK oceanfront home on Prince Edward Island, the main dish was Pon Pon chicken. The group was joined by beautiful neighbor Leslie F. All expressed delight with the Pon Pon. Last night (Sept. 13) dinner was at N. & Y.’s Ocean Mist Farm. Very good local goat cheese and crackers. Sweet corn on the cob. Stuffed peppers in a roasted tomato sauce. Mixed salad. Ice cream with fruit sauce for dessert. Much wine, white and red. Tasty food. Good company. Happy time. And, HG received a gift from Noel M.: A jar of her strawberry/rhubarb jam, the best jam ever. HG puts a spoonful on HG’s breakfast bowl of yogurt. Delicious way to start the day.
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