HUNGRY GERALD

This may not be a surprise to you. Hospital food is as bad as airline food. However, there are surprises. Dinner tonight was a fairly tasty–HG must admit–dish of creamy scalloped potatoes with slices–HG believes–of frankfurters. Of course, the star of dinner was SJ’s “Green Soup”–brought to the hospital by super loving and caring BSK. SJ’s soup is a hearty and nourishing puree of greens, vegetables and other good things. A few mugs make a celestially filling meal. (Alas, no red wine to accompany it.). Lunch is Liberte yogurt and BSK’s superlative smoothie (Both provided by BSK). Breakfast is oatmeal and coffee. The oatmeal is enhanced by jam made by BSK’s sister, Noel M. Big spoonfuls of her fruit jam turns oatmeal into a delight. Lime Jello (HG’s mother gave it to little HG as an “American” treat) is a daily snack. Sad. Would like to accompany it with gin and Italian lime syrup on the rocks.

An indicator of a stable world: The Notre Dame football team opened the pigskin season by beating Navy in a blowout. In HG’s youth, Notre Dame always won. Joe Louis always won. FDR always won. The Democratic Party always won in New York City. Tattoos were sported by sailors and criminals. Tattoo on a woman? Only in the circus–tattooed woman was a “freak” (Like the sword swallower and The Fat Lady). Seasons were precise. There were four. Women wore girdles. Men wore fedoras. Skirts, sweaters and dresses were the staples of female costume. Only the daring or eccentric wore slacks. Folks dressed up for restaurant dining, the theater, plane flights, etc. Men had wardrobes full of ties–and wore them. All of this has gone as the USA (And the world has shattered). Some things are better now– women are empowered and respected; homosexuality is recognized, legalized and no longer treated as an abhorrent mental illness; relations with African -Americans have improved. The USA may be embracng fascism under the leadership of a criminal. Global warming and nuclear threats are frightening. However, Notre Dame won. There are still things you can depend on.

Hey, hospital life isn’t too bad. The love of my life, BSK, brings HG delicious food.  Dining is awkward but HG can swallow easily. As noted, hospital desserts are good. Breakfast is enhanced by the fabulous blueberry muffins. A mystery. A bag of the muffins was left in front of the door of HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island ocean front home. No note. Just a big bag of juicy, blueberry packed yum yums. Oatmeal, muffin, coffee. Good way to start the day. Today, lunched on carrots and mashed potatoes. Insipid. Happily, Lesley R. and BSK arrived with BSK’s Wonder Smoothie and ravioli to be heated for dinner. Sweet surprise. Ice cream for dessert. A surge of creamy joy.

No, not better yet. But, HG is comfortable and sleeping well. A blessing. BSK arrived with a large bowl of BSK inimitable congee. Yumarooney!! Sweet surprise. Dessert was two versions of bread pudding  with caramel and maple syrup topping. Best ever. So, life on Prince Edward Island in a hospital (Or, oceanfront home) has its charms. Took long walk with a walker. (Physical therapy) this morning. Oxygen level is good. Happy indicator.

Before HG had his bad fall and ended up in the hospital with a broken hip, he wrote this post: Sadness. HG’s daughter Victoria Freeman and her stepson, Marlon Meyer, the Los Angeles cooking pro, have left HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home. Marlon is off to Los Angeles and his sous chef job. Vicki’s destination is New York and her partnership duties as owner of five taste tingling restaurants: Shuka, Cookshop, Vic’s, Shukette and Rosie’s. It has been a great family reunion. Warm embraces and much fun. Present were SJ’s Tokyo family- wife Maiko Sakamoto; son Haru and daughter Teru (SJ had left a week earlier to return to Tokyo). The Riva family–daughter Lesley (a Renaissance woman) and her brilliant husband, Profesore Massimo. Plus their daughter Sofia. She looks like an Italian movie star and is an academic luminary. Only their daughter Arianna was missing from the festivities. Eleven (including HG/BSK, Vicki, Marlon) were at the crowded dinner table. Lesley made a fabulous farewell meal–a stew of cod, vegetables, rice, It was flavored with coconut milk and a host of spices and herbs. (Hot sauces, etc. were on the table). This was preceded by expertly shucked Colville Bay oysters. Delicious way to say goodbye.

 HG is 93 and beset with a long list of ailments (Challenges ???). They include COPD, enlarged prostate, dentures, hearing aids, urinary and bladder problems; destroyed rotator cuff; inability to raise arms (This is linked to radical cancer surgery thirty years ago). II seems that every part of HG’s body and intimate apparatus has been impaired  And, now this hip/femur surgery. HG presumes a long time hospital and therapy time before HG can come home. BSK can’t handle a crippled, pained HG. HG is difficult, impatient, querulous in the role of invalid. BSK is the target of HG’s impatience. Undeserved. BSK has been staunch, loving and efficient in handling everything. HG hasn’t mentioned one of his handicaps—a narrowing of throat making swallowing difficult—another cancer surgery link. Forget hospital food. BSK has been providing HG with wonder dishes HG can swallow,   (Congee, barley soup, Vietnamese noodle pho with tofu; butterscotch pudding, Greek Yogurt, Jello , etc.). BSK is the love of HG’s life and HG apologizes for his New York bred nastiness) . BSK is Canadian and the healthcare HG has received on Prince Edward Island reflects BSK’s nature.   Excellent surgery, caring medical staff, nurses and aides that do the most menial work with skill and good humor.  Thanks , BSK!! Thanks, Canada and PEI !!!                               .         

Don’t get worried, family, friends and hungrygerald.com followers. Had successful, efficient surgery. Painful post-surgery–but making good healing progress. Here are the details: HG/BSK’S  bathroom at Prince Edward Island oceanfront home.  Midday –August 19. HG slipped leaving the commode and crashed into the sink. KAZOOM!! Fractured hip. Bruised and bloody head needing some sutures.  Ambulance called and it came promptly–paramedics managed, with skills, to maneuver HG on a stretcher. HG was whisked off to Queen Elizabeth Hospital In Charlottetown. Surgery involved insertIng a steel rod on the hip bone and a steel pin on the femur to hold it all together.. HG was a few days at  Queen Elizabeth and then transferred  to Montague Hospital in the Town of Montague (Much closer to HG/BSK home). Everyone at both hospitals was welcoming, comforting , professional. However I prefer Montague. Truly Canadian.(Will keep you informed of progress and therapy).

Ten years ago, (Sept. 11, 2013–check the archive), HG posted an appreciation of a wonderful restaurant , Al Cooper’s (long closed). Located in New York’s Garment Center and catered to cloak-and-suiter big shots. Steaks and chops were superb (on a par with those served at Christ Cella’s–alas, also long closed). Since the customers were mainly Jewish ( An exception —Chrstian Dior and other French fashion luminaries ate at Cooper’s, their favorite Manhattan restaurant) there was gefilte fish and chopped liver on the menu. HG’s menu choice was a thick cut of tongue served with perfect creamed spinach and fiery mustard. (HG has consulted with visiting daughter, Victoria Freeman, owner with husband/chef Marc Meyer and a long time colleague of five lauded New York restaurants—Cookshop, Vic’s, Rosie’s, Shuka, Shukette. Vicki says that this tongue dish has disappeared from New York menus. Tongue in any form is a rarity). Sad. When HG craves tongue, HG eats lengua tacos served at many Mexican taco eateries. NYC lower east  side Katz’s ships excellent tongue.  Decades ago, HG and late Father, shared tongue on rye bread (much mustard) at the Tower Delicatessen on Kingsbridge Road, The Bronx. Father ordered a pastrami sandwich and a tongue sandwich. Father and son split them. Glory days for tongue and Jewish delis.

Joyous laughter filled dinners at the family reunion in HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home. One day, a group harvested clams on PEI’s south shore. Large clams were used for a batch of clams casino. The tender little clams went into a big platter of linguine con vongole. BSK was the talented cook, BSK relied on years of Fire Island clam abundance. Gifted daughter Lesley R. made a fabulous mushroom risotto on another evening. Before leaving for Tokyo, SJ gave HG (and the family) the gift of a big pot of gumbo. (HG claims the gumbo is superior to any Louisiana product). Other dinners: Lusty cod and shrimp chowder. Crisp fried haddock with spicy rouille. Sheet pan hake with an abundance of vegetables. Falafel (an SJ specialty) accompanying Exquisite Maiko’s steamed haddock with Japanese seasoning, garlic chips and local herbs. Pots of plump PEI mussels in savory broth. Maiko’s Japanese/Korean scallop and scallion pancakes (Lots of sweet and hot sauces on the table). Most meals started with deftly shucked oysters from a number of venues. (There is no better starter). Massimo curated lovely wines and was sure to get baguettes and ciabattas on the table. Even better than the food was the love shared by all.

Yes, they have arrived at HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home.  And, for a change, the trip from New York was smooth and without delays. Vicki looked beautiful and decades younger than her age. Marlon, a handsome guy, is a chef so he has the requisite lavishly tattooed forearms. Walks to the beach and welcome sea breezes after stifling New York. HG was overjoyed to see HG’s talented daughter and make Marlon’s acquaintance (The Tokyo and Rhode Island families shared the pleasure). HG daughter Vicki; her husband, Marc Meyer, the renowned farm-to-table chef, plus a long time managerial colleague, own and run five New York restaurants: Cookshop, Vic’s, Rosie’s, Shuka and Shukette. Fabulous food and caring, deft service. Gifted HG/BSK daughter, Lesley R., was in charge of dinner. There was a lush salad of avocado and tiny shrimp from a Newfoundland river. This was followed by a  Spanish dish of poached hake, thinly sliced potatoes and onions plus cherry tomatoes. Delicious. A baguette was torn into chunks to soak up the savory broth.  Happy dining, Happy reunion.