HUNGRY GERALD

Wonderful takeout Chinese supper from a nearby restaurant (No, it’s not New York Chinatown or the Flushing neighborhood of Queens or Brooklyn’s Sunset Park). Close to HG’s loft in Central Falls, RI, are some tasty Chinese eateries. The best Chinese restaurant in Rhody is Chengdu Taste–a lengthy drive from the HG/BSK  loft so it’s saved for special occasions. Brilliant daughter Lesley R. (She’s taking care of 95-year-old HG in the absence of BSK who’s having a delightful vacation/family reunion in Tokyo with son Jeremy, his wife, Maiko and their children, son Haru and daughter Teru ). Haru and Teru take turns guiding BSK to all the wonders–architecture, shops, shrines, parks, restaurants–of dazzling Tokyo. Jeremy and Maiko own and run Freeman Shokudo, a very busy and delicious Izakaya (a casual restaurant that matches its food with a wide variety of beers and spirits). BSK has had many joyful meals there–New York delicatessen  Mavens, say the FS pastrami is better than that of venerable Katz’s). The Lesley/HG meals aren’t shabby. Chinese good things included  silken tofu in Szechuan sauce, tingling hot and sour soup, pork lo mein, chicken and peanuts in a subtle sauce–and a big container of white rice. Drank chilled pinot grigio–a jolly supper. HG had a dessert of supermarket panna cotta (nice). Lunch today was Peruvian– Ceviche mixed with couscous. Fried calamari. Unusual lush eating. Lesley bought the food at Shark’s, a large, boisterous Peruvian restaurant near the HG/BSK loft. HG enjoys Pisco cocktails when dining at Shark’s. Central Falls/Pawtucket has culinary diversity–Jewish (Maven’s Delicatessen); Portuguese; Peruvian, Italian, Caribbean, Central American (Costa del Sol, a Salvadoran restaurant with tasty Pupusas, is  less than 100 yards from HG/BSK’s loft); Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Greek–and more). It’s like old time New York–that means a modest price for hearty meals.