HUNGRY GERALD

HG/BSK drink wine every day (modest amount for HG).  HG has a wine cocktail (sweet and dry Tribuno vermouth with a splash of grapefruit bitters–served on the rocks) before HG’s glass of Pinot Noir or Pinot Grigio with dinner (these are not the only wines sommelier BSK serves–there are Malbecs, Tempranillos, Cabernet, etc., at hand). HG/BSK have lived in many places and had many travels overseas. Buying wine and booze differ in many areas  (yes, there are “dry” towns but HG/BSK avoided them). HG/BSK began their married life 61 years ago in an artist’s studio and apartment at 27 W. 67th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The rental was $140 per month. ( a duplex in the building just sold for more than $4,000,000). The 27th Street Liquor Store was on the corner with a great selection of wines. HG/BSK often started meals with splits ($1.50) of big time French champagne. HG/BSK were welcome summer guests at many Hamptons beach homes. That’s because the duo would bring a case of Chateau Mouton (great with steak) as a house gift (wine cost 40 dollars a case–affordable now only by a lavish oligarch). HG/BSK left the east coast for Colorado and Santa Fe. There were scores of liquor stores and in many neighborhoods you could buy wine, spirits and beer in supermarkets and drugstores (Santa Fe’s Trader Joe’s had great prices). HG/BSK (and family) spend months at HG/BSK’s oceanfront home (dazzling oceanic views) on Canada’s Prince Edward Island. The Island is a wonder–a true democracy; diverse friendly population –Scotch/Irish heritage mainly;  liberal–with a small and large L–in politics. Being Canadian, folks on the Island are soft spoken and helpful (“Help you load the car, Miss?”). Food is local, seasonal, untainted by chemicals–world famous potatoes, strawberries, sweet corn, asparagus, et., etc.  Seafood is outstanding (lobsters are netted from boats facing HG/BSK’s home). Oysters are among the world’s best and are affordable. PEI’s only flaw is its alcohol policy. Wine and spirits are taxed heavily and are sold in government stores. This raises prices steeply. However, sommelier BSK manages to find drinkable table wine at manageable prices. HG has some happy memories of yesteryear Paris where wine and oysters were laughably cheap and HG overindulged at a wine shop/cafe in Montmartre. No, a younger HG did not stumble.