HUNGRY GERALD

Prescient HG. At the height of the Vietnam War (Police action? Battle to prevent evil Communism spreading across Asia through the Domino Effect? American craziness?) HG made two predictions: Uncle Ho would win and New York and some other American cities would get some splendid Vietnamese restaurants. Well, Ho won;  Vietnam is a growing American tourist destination. Capitalism toppled all Dominoes and it looks like China (if it ever calls its loans) will own the United States. And, you can get some terrific pho
all over the land of the free, brave and bigoted. When HG lived in Denver he haunted Federal Boulevard,  lined with more than 40 Vietnamese eateries. So, when can we expect some Iraqui restaurants with platters of mezze and inventive kebabs? Of course, Afghan barbecue has many fans and is eagerly anticipated. (Soon, HG hopes, after this nutso war ends).  Before the New York World’s Fair of 1939 New York had a few very cheap French restaurants..mostly on the far West Side catering to the crews of French Line cruisers like the Normandie and Ile de France. Then war hit in 1939. Henri Soule ran the French Pavilion at the Fair. Eye opening cuisine. The Fair closed. Soule wisely stayed in the United States. Opened Le Pavilion in New York. Great haute cuisine. It was the breeding ground for great chefs, sous chefs, waiters, busboys, maitres d’ who all went on to open wonderful restaurants and change American dining and cooking forever. Moral For the obsessed gourmand like HG there’s always a silver lining.