HUNGRY GERALD

When HG was a young guy in The Bronx (1930’s and early1940’s), HG  indulged in many foods that cost a dime (yes, a few cost fifteen cents–and you could get a nice nosh–Indian nuts (pignolia nuts) or pumpkin seeds from subway dispensers. Cost: A penny. Little HG managed to earn some coins helping to carry packages for women shopping. Sturdy wee chap would lug packages up many flights (few elevators in those Great Depression days). Here are the items the fledgling foody ate:  White Castle burgers  (tiny and tasty); Hot Dogs (from long closed Nedick’s); Chili aka “bowl o’red” (served at diners to hard working men –and accompanying salt crackers were gratis); Charlotte Russes and Pizza slices (one sweet treat and one savory treat sold at the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue Italian food neighborhood); Knishes (HG ate Gabila knishes–later in life tasted far superior knishes at Yonah Shimmel on the Lower East Side); Sour garlic/dill pickles from Bronx “appetizing store” barrels; Toasted Almond Good Humors; Orange Ices (sold in the street from rolling carts during warm months),  Big chunk of garlic salami from Jewish delicatesses (“ah nickel ah shtickel”) ;  Can of Campbell’s Pork & Beans (Warmed at home–Mom didn’t know it contained forbidden “trayf” pork)’  Joyva Halvah squares and Little Chunkies (best candies); Candy store pretzels straight and long and traditional twisted shape served with a chilly Egg Cream (HG’s recipe for an Egg Cream was published in the New York Times food section).  The best treat of all was the Takee Cup served at Rockaway Beach, The “cup” was a small bowl made of dried noodles and filled with glorious chow mein. Sold on the Boardwalk, HG ate it with pleasure while being invigorated by Atlantic Ocean breezes.