HUNGRY GERALD

Paul Robeson is a towering figure in Afro-American history. He was a football All-American at Rutgers and pro football star while getting a law degree at Columbia (grid authority Walter Camp said Robeson was the best end he had ever seen). A bass baritone, he gave sold out concerts throughout the world (first to introduce Black spirituals to the concert stage).   As an actor , he played “Othello” and “Emperor Jones” many times to rave views. A world  favorite was his show stopping singing of “Ole Man River” in the musical “Show Boat.” He made more than 300 recordings and was praised as the USA’s “Number One Entertainer”.  At the same time, he was an aggressive civil rights activist and anti-colonial crusader.    A, leftist, he praised Josef Stalin and the Soviet Union.  He supported many leftist organizations and periodicals. This precipitated his targeting by the FBI and right wing politicians. His ferocious attacks on American racism, led for a time, to the loss of his passport (this led to curtailment of his income since he couldn’t perform in countries where he was a fan favorite and substantial earner) . Young HG became a Robeson fan while watching (at The Bronx’s Ascot theater on the Grand Concourse)  his riveting performance in the movie  “Emperor Jones”.  Robeson was targeted by hate groups after World War Two and  could perform almost nowhere in the United States. However, he scheduled a  concert for Aug. 27, !949 at Lakeland Acres , a site north of Peekskiill, NY. Locals blocked the roads. They shouted anti -Jewish and Black epithets. Police did nothing. Concert was canceled. It  was rescheduled for Sept 4  for an attendance of 20,000. This time the concert area was surrounded by tough members of the Communist Fur and Leather Workers Union (led by their fiery leader Ben Gold and armed with cutting instruments which they handled expertly due to earlier street  battles when thugs attempted to take over the union). HG and pals attended the peaceful, moving concert. The cowardly racists were silenced. However, on the way back to Peekskill the anti- semites bombarded the returning cars. HG’s group had to do battle. Fortunately, we had some Italians in the group who had Golden Gloves experience. Robeson never changed his views. He remained an ardent leftist and admirer of the Soviet Union and a battler against South African apartheid.

HG’s nephew, Jonathan K., and his beautiful wife Barbara, joined the HG/BSK family for dinner at HG/BSK’s Central Falls, RI.,loft. Jon is a super successful real estate developer and investor (the couple have palatial homes in Brookline, MA., and Cape Cod). Jon is 70 and Barbara is slightly his junior. They look years younger. In addition to his real estate career, Jon is a dedicated long distance cyclist. That means he has an extremely lean body which seems to be constructed of steel wires. Barbara looks just as she did when HG met her soon after her marriage to Jon years ago. No aging (and no signs of surgery). She too is quite athletic : a graceful, powerful swimmer.  She has impeccable taste–very chic in usually black clothes. A very good cook (desserts are a specialty). She had a career in finance before marriage, so HG would venture she aids in financial products analysis.  Jon is grateful to HG for advising him, post-college, to join his father, the late Daniel K., at his real estate company rather than pursue a career in automotive public relations (seems to have worked  out).  Lesley and Massimo R. brought dinner–roast chickens from a new Portuguese restaurant in Providence–accompanied by four tasty sauces, Fabulous. BSK constructed a sparkling salad. The entire family ate with gusto. Knowing HG’s love of custard, Barbara brought  him her five-star custard for him in a big, big bowl. HG ate  many portions mixed with succulent strawberries and blueberries. The rest of the table had Lesley’s splendid fruit crumble—Kind HG allowed sharing of minimal scoops  of the custard. A memorable, joyous family occasion. And, we had frisky Toby, The Wonder Dog, to entertain us.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

.

When HG was a little fellow during The Great Depression, street food was splendid and cost pennies–buttery sweet potatoes, Italian ices, chickpeas in chicken fat (“heiseh arbis” in Yiddish), chunks of pineapple, apples (of course, chestnuts in cold weather–still available in midtown Manhattan at Christmas), etc.. Today, there’s terrible dirty water hot dogs and doughy donuts. However, food trucks have arrived and there’s barbecuë, authentic Mexican tacos, Asian food (Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, etc.) Busy, on the go New Yorkers don’t go hungry. Alas, Italian sausage and peppers sandwiches sold from Greenwich Village trucks have disappeared. Sad.

 In a few days HG/BSK are leaving for their idyllic oceanfront home on Canada’s gentle, serene democracy–Prince Edward Island. Meanwhile, there was ground pork in the freezer: this meant two nights of lush and fiery Ma Po Tofu (using firm tofu which softened in the cooking).  Thanks, BSK. HG/BSK will  soon be feasting on PEI lobsters, fresh fish, clams,oysters and mineral rich potatoes. Yummy suppers await.

Yes, BSK is thrifty and deplores waste. So, when. BSK looks in the fridge and sees over the hill lettuce, other greens, broccoli, fennel, etc., BSK chops them up and adds onions, garlic, spices and herbs. To please HG,  there’s a splash of hot sauce. Using an immersion blender, BSK turns this melange of veggies into a smooth and savory soup. Delicious. Healthy. Nutritious. Son Jeremy and wife, Maiko, like the soup and serve it at their busy Tokyo izakaya, Freeman Shokudo. Their Japanese customers slurp many bowls with murmurs of delight.

Fresh okra in the market. For BSK, that spells New Orleans gumbo. So, into the pot goes  the okra plus chicken, shrimp,chicken stock, garlic, onions, chopped veggies and file powder. Heavenly eating when served on a mound of rice splashed with hot sauce.

Rex Reed, a talented, debonair and proudly gay man, died last week–age 88. During the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, he was a prominent figure in popular culture as a drama and tv critic, music critic, essayist and columnist. He was a ubiquitous guest on the talk shows of the time. He wrote eight books. His prose was excellent but he could be very acerbic and destructive (his savage column on Frank Sinatra was shattering). Rex was friendly with the vocal jazz duo Jackie Cain and Roy Kral  (“Jackie and Roy”) The duo were close friends of HG/BSK in Montclair, NJ., where both families lived and Fire Island where they summered. Rex visited Jackie and Roy in Montclair and the trio came to HG/ BSK’s home and listened to Tony Bennett on HG/BSK’s superior stereo. Rex expounded (very perceptively)on Tony’s immaculate phrasing. The next time HG/BSK saw Rex was on a blistering hot August day on Fire Island when he was visiting Jackie and Roy. Rex  said he would cook dinner. He produced a huge beef roast in a gallon of rich brown gravy plus a mountain of buttery mashed potatoes. An incongruous meal for a hot summer night. Surprise!! It was delicious. We soaked up the gravy with slices of Wonder Bread. We ate all of  the impossible meal and drank bottles of chilled Beaujolais Nouveau. Go figure.

Forward (“Fuhrvitz” in Yiddish) was the only newspaper in HG’s home (until young HG was old enough to read the Times). Forward was a Yiddish language newspaper, indispensable reading for HG’s parents, Harry and Ida Freeman. Both were Belarusian immigrants. Founded in 1897 in New York, it had 275,000 readers by the early 30’s. It published Isaac Bashevis Singer among other distinguished Yiddish writers. Under the editorship of Abraham Cahan, its politics were Socialist (though it supported enlightened Democrats like FDR). Forward was found on newsstands throughout New York and vital subway reading for Jewish men and women. One  day, HG’s Mom was in the subway absorbed in Forward’s “bintel briefs” column. A naughty man stood before her, exposing himself. Mom rolled up her Forward and gave him a sharp blow to his intimate appendage. “Get out of here, slob” she shouted!! He raced to an exit. Yes, Forward could be a weapon.

Ground chicken is very versatile and a lighter option than ground beef, pork,lamb, etc. It is particularly tasty when cooked with coconut milk. That’s what BSK did last night–and it was a super yummy supper. BSK sauteed the chicken in vegetable oil and added coconut milk, onions, garlic, baby spinach and cubes of sweet potato–plus a melange of herbs and spices. Dashes of sriracha or other hot sauces made HG jolly.

After a long, painful day at the dentist, BSK didn’t feel like cooking supper. Not to worry. Generous, helpful upstairs neighbor, Glenn,  (a very good cook) arrived with a lush gift of pulled pork and red beans & rice. Wow!! With some splashes of Renfrew Tomatillo salsa, this was jolly eating at HG/BSK’s Central Falls, RI, loft. Glenn is a blessing.