HUNGRY GERALD

HG is not a dedicated carnivore, but HG (and BSK) are fond of roast beef. When HG was young, excellent roast beef was available in affordable sandwiches. Great warm sandwiches were available on New York’s midtown Broadaway at Turf and McGinnis restaurants, large bustling eateries (both long closed). Also closed Brass Rail (near the demolished Roxy Theater) served roast beef on a roll with a bowl of gravy to dip it in. Best roast beef was at Penn Station. A stately Black man carved generous sandwiches (One of his sandwiches was an ample dinner). Very good roast beef sandwiches were served at Roll-N-Roaster (still thriving) in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood. Old timers told HG of the legendary sandwiches served at a delicatessen in Harlem when it was a Jewish neighborhood. Rye bread got a lusty spread of chichen fat to enrich the beef–sliced onion or pickle was optional.  Surprisingly, this sandwich was served at a restaurant on B.116th  Street , Rockaway Beach. Great eating for HG after a day in the sun and Atlantic Ocean. BSK had joyous  Sunday roast beef dinners with BSK’s grandparents when BSK was a little girl in Canada–wonderful roast potatoes, tender beef, mushy veggies. No Yorkshire Pudding–they were a specialt,y of BSK’s late mother, Valerie Kent. BSK inherited her grandfather’s majestic horn handled carving set and uses it frequentlly. In London, HG/BSK enjoyed the roast beef carved from a trolley at venerable Simpson’s on the Strand. Keen’s is HG/BSK’s choice in New York. Gallagher’s in the Theater District serves “Prime Rib OF Roast Beef” for $78. With side dishes (potatoes, creamed spinach, etc.) it escalates the dinner for one at over $100 before wine, tip, taxes,etc. Pricey vittles.