HUNGRY GERALD

A joyous, gourmand itinerary began 84 years ago–in 1939– when HG was 10 years old and living with his parents at 2751 Claflin Avenue in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx and continued until 1960 when HG was living in nearby Fordham Hill and Riverdale. HG would be off to the shopping and eating paradise of Kingsbridge Road. First stop was at an “appetizing store” for sliced Nova smoked salmon, sable, two slices of expensive sturgeon, pickled herring, sour pickles, sweet pickled peppers, black olives. Next stop was Zaro’s Bakery for bialys, onion rolls, “pletzels”, half a loaf of sliced “corn bread”; “kichel” (Sweet twists of dough for dipping in coffee.) Last stop was Daitch Dairy for its incomparable cream cheese and a slice of roquefort. In HG’s’ preteen days HG drank coffee. ( In later years HG drank beer with cognac chasers). This was the best breakfast/brunch ever and old HG would dearly love to repeat those daylight festivities.  Alas, HG can only remember the lusty taste and joy.