HUNGRY GERALD

Many, many years ago the late actress, Shelley WInters, came to a party in newlywed HG/BSK’s one-bedroom W.67th Street apartment in Manhattan. ” I want a nosh,” she demanded in a loud voice. Young BSK was flustered—she thought Shelley wanted a pill or medicine. HG to the rescue.  A “nosh” is Yiddish for a snack. HG gave the actress a slice of ham on rye bread and a glass of wine. Peace. “Nosherie” (variety of “noshes”) were prevalent in the New York of yesteryear. An HG favorite was a slice of pumpernickel topped with chicken fat,sliced onion and kosher salt. Local delicatesses catered to “noshers” with a bowl of small chunks of garlic salami—“A nickel a shtikel”. “Candy stores” had salty pretzels and “appetizing stores” had sour dill pickles –fine “noshes”. Of course, there were sweet “noshes”. Joyva halvah bars were the best. It appears to HG that many Americans live on “noshes”—potato chips, Cheetos, Doritos, candy bars, fast food items –all washed down with Coke, Pepsi and other sugar and chemical drinks  The result:  Obesity and malnutrition.