HUNGRY GERALD

BSK (The love of HG’s life) cooks delectable meals every night at HG/BSK’s Central Falls, RI. loft. An eminent restaurant critic said that great restaurants must serve outstanding food–but also be consistent. That describes BSK’s home cooking. Yes, HG eats well at home but also at Rhody’s numerous ethnic restaurants, clam bars, oyster eateries, etc. The state’s official dish is squid with hot peppers–Ocean State folk enjoy robust food. However, sometimes wistful nostalgia overtakes HG when he recalls restaurants of the past when HG/BSK lived in New York and New Jersey. New York winners: Grand Central Oyster Bar and its fabulous Oyster Pan Roast. (Still open and thriving).  Gage & Tollner famed for its mutton chop, sauteed clam bellies and shad and shad roe when in season (Closed for some years but now reopened–lofty prices). Christ Cella–best steak in the world (long closed). Sammy’s Roumanian–schmaltz, icy vodka, very good Eastern European/Jewish food served in a room bursting with noise, music and Jews having a drunken good time. (Original location closed but now reopening in a new downtown location). Coach House–Superb lamb chops, black bean soup (long cllosed). Sweets–plain spoken seafood restaurant (Long closed). Russian Tea Room–salmon caviar and blini, borscht, karsky shashlik (HG refers to the RTR of years ago. It closed and reopened as a glitzy, insipid “luxury” restaurant). Rappaport’s–best Jewish “dairy” restaurant (long closed). Le Veau d’Or–A cozy happy bistro reminiscent of Paris and serving classic dishes like brains and black butter (long closed but has now reopened with excellent food and stratospheric prices). HG/BSK enjoyed Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean food in the Chinatown, Flushing and Sunset Park neighborhoods.They are still going strong. New Jersey: Belmont Tavern in Belleville has gained national fame with its Stretch’s Chicken Savoy and bowls of cavatelli in tomato and cheese sauce. Stretch is gone but the dishes remain lush with no changes. RT 46 in Clifton is home to many wonderful Italian restaurants and their many fans keep them busy.