HUNGRY GERALD

At last, bright sunshine ended a long spell of grey (or rainy) Rhode Island weather. HG/BSK were off to Riverside,RI, home of gifted daughter, Lesley R., and her husband, Professor/author Massimo R. Their home has a spacious sun drenched deck facing Narragansett Bay. BSK assisted Lesley in flower planting. HG basked in a comfortable chair on the deck (Welcome after a long shut-in life in HG/BSK’s Central Falls, RI, loft) read New York Review of Books and sipped Spritzes prepared by thoughtful Massimo. Wonderful way to spend a Spring afternoon. (Peckish HG ate a small bowl of cashews with the Spritzes). Massimo served tasty Lambrusco wine with dinner —Lesley’s lush pasta with vegetable sauce made creamy with feta and ricotta. Yums. After playing with Toby, The Wonder Dog and Pip, the gracious female dog, it was off to home for dessert, TV watching and peaceful sleep.

HG/BSK rarely eat any red meat (an occasional lamb chop is an exception).Yes, some pork–chops and ground. Fish, crustaceans, shellfish, vegetables in all varieties, canned Goya beans; fish/chicken/vegetable broth –these are the basic ingredients of BSK cuisine. BSK rarely uses butter but relies on extra virgin Italian and Sicilian olive oil. BSK’s favorite edible is chicken and HG  lovingly teases BSK about this lust. Happily, BSK makes wonderful chicken dishes that are relished by HG. BSK relies on a score of creations but here are three of HG’s favorites. Spatchcoked chicken–first marinated in an oil/ lemon/spice mix and then roasted to a crisp skinned juicy lushness. Chicken thighs glazed with oil and garlic and then drizzled with honey before going in the oven.  A sweet, spicy treat. Poached balls of ground chicken floating in Greek Avgolemono soup. A modest squirt of sriracha gives it a bit of the heat HG craves. Last night, BSK topped a sheet pan with chicken thighs, sliced potatoes, chopped peppers, and scallions.  Eggplant was added and all was topped with a mixture of yogurt, harissa, olive oil and spices. BSK served it with a yogurt sauce. Delicious food accompanied by pinot noir from Oregon. Cluck-cluck-cluck, indeed.

Gifted daughter Lesley R. received  a gift—a big, frozen striped bass. Unfortunately, the fish had not been gutted or scaled. Like her Mom, Lesley meets all challenges. It took some time and effort, but Lesley made the fish ready for the oven–gilded with olive oil and accompanied by a vivid mayonnaise sauce. This was the main dish for dinner at Lesley and husband, Massimo’s, Riverside, RI, home. It was preceded by tasty fried calamari and ended with chocolate cake and cheesecake from a Spanish bakery. The fish was delicious (thanks, Lesley) and the chardonnay (gifted by the lovely Tracy Parsons) was stupendous. A great sumptuous wine. Lesley sent HG/BSK home with a container of abundant cooked striper. Next night, BSK warmed the fish in a sauce of olive oil, fish stock, capers, fennel, tomatoes, garlic, onions and herbs. This was poured over linguine for a sensational pasta dish. Yes, Lesley’s labors provided HG/BSK with a striped bass doubleheader. Good eating.

Bruce Maguire and his lovely companion, Tracy Parsons, visited HG/BSK some days ago (Read the post about that happy occasion).  And, on Sunday another jolly reunion. Donald Kitchen and enchanting wife, Susan, arrived at HG/BSK’s Central Falls, RI. for a luncheon get together. Donald was a Gerald Freeman, Inc. (name changed to Freeman Public Relations) trainee after he spent some years in the Middle East. A Columbia U. dean (friend of HG’s) recommended him. A happy hire. A brilliant, engaging fellow. He became a partner when HG sold the company to his executives. Donald soon left and founded his own PR firm in Manhattan. (married Susan at that time). As anticipated, the company was super successful before he sold it to his employees and went on to pursue other interests. These included a trip around the world on his seagoing sailboat (he is a world class sailor). On land (his home is in Rochester, NY) he made elegant classic furniture and he and Susan tended sugar maple trees (don’t know where the grove is–upper New York State or elsewhere). Don is a true Renaissance man. BSK’s luncheon was much enjoyed–whitefish salad, halibut salad, BSK’s “Green Soup” (recipe promised); ginger snap cookies and coffee. Spirited conversation and memories. Coincidentally, Don and Susan brought a gift of smoked salmon and whitefish salad. Obviously, we  have similar tastes. Don and Susan are avid cyclists and have had long journeys on their bikes (both are very fit and trim). In June they will be cycling in Nova  Scotia. Luckily, they will ferry to Prince Edward Island and check in with summering HG/BSK. Seafood and joy await before they bike the Island.

Heinrich Heine was one of the greatest German poets and writers. He was Jewish and quotable–“That was but a prelude. Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people as well” is among the most famous. On a lighter note, after eating a meal at a Jewish restaurant, he exclaimed: “What a noble religion!!!”. HG was reminded of this after eating a wondrous dinner of chopped liver and matzo ball soup leftover from the Passover Seder in Brookline, Mass., hosted by HG’s nephew Jonahathan Katz and his beautiful, super chic wife, Barbara Ito . Barbara is a great cook and is adept at preparing iconic Jewish dishes. She and Jonathan are experts with French,  Italian, Asiatic, and American food. Barbara makes tantalizing desserts. Here’s the mystery. Barbara has a big time appetite and eats heartily. She doesn’t gain an ounce, is impossibly svelte and young. Go figure.

When HG/BSK lived in Montclair, NJ. HG commuted to HG’s public relations office by express bus (Then a brisk Manhattan walk to HG’s destination). However, HG had time to stop at the Midtown Bus Terminal Frankfurter counter for the best hot dog in the world. It was topped with tangy sauerkraut and yellow mustard on a steamed bun and washed down with a not too sweet root beer. (HG has never had a bow-wow snack to equal this Midtown treat). Other quick Manhattan treats were the tacos served from a doorway in the West 30’s (It was the only taco stand in New York) and the Italian grilled sausage and peppers served on Italian bread from a truck in Greenwich Village. During warm summer months, HG visited a gloomy little shop on lower Madison Avenue (owned and run by two Holocaust survivors–husband and wife–  whose Nazi number tattoos were visible on their arms). Among other things they sold Schav (Ice cold sorrel soup). It was as good as the Schav made by my late Mom. Nothing could be more refreshing on a sultry day.

BSK knows when a Melissa Clark (NY Times) recipe is a winner. BSK does creative tweaks and makes enough for two dinners–a “doubleheader”–one night of cooking and two nights of pleasure. The recipe is “Indian Butter Chickpeas”. Melssa calls it “a riff on Indian butter chicken” (Chickpeas replace the chicken). It’s a rich stew of tomatoes, ginger, onion, garlic,coconut milk, garam masala and lots of other spices. BSK added cubed eggplant and two favorite BSK spices–turmeric and aleppo pepper. At the last moment, BSK tossed shrimp and cooked rice into the sizzling stew. Sensational. Best curry ever, HG looks forward to the “nightcap” tonight  Two chutneys–hot and sweet–on the table. Ale is the drink. Happy,happy,happy!!!

BSK is influenced by BSK’s memories of HG’s robust appetite of yesteryear. That appetite has diminished as the old guy (95 in November, hopefully) keeps getting older. So, BSK cooks an exuberant amount of food resulting in many containers of leftovers in the fridge. Anticipating lunch, HG examined the leftovers: chicken soup; fish stew; polenta; couscous; sheet pan hake;roast chicken. HG chose the lusty chicken soup and it was splendid when reheated with a splash of sesame oil and sriracha.  HG’s son-in-law, Massimo Riva, the brilliant Professor/author, is keen on leftovers. He eats them all accompanied by chunks of bread. His lunch drink is tea or water–wine if it’s a leftover dinner. HG doesn’t classify a second night (double header) as a left over. Just a dinner cooked in an amount for dinner two nights in a row (a BSK specialty).                   

A wonderful  Rhody visit  from Bruce Maguire and Tracy Parsons. HG thinks of Bruce as HG’s “Irish Son”. Bruce was fresh out of college some 45 years ago when HG hired him as a trainee at Gerald Freeman, Inc. (name later changed to “Freeman Public Relations”). Bruce soon became invaluable as a publicist (specializing in the toy industry); financial and pension fund manager; bringing the company into the computer and online age. He also did the disagreeable tasks of firing and enforcing personal hygiene rules. He has continued as owner and CEO of Freeman Public Relations and has outstripped HG in leadership and business acumen. An outstanding success. The visit was the first time HG/BSK met Tracy, Bruce’s loving companion. A lovely, handsome woman (Bruce also looks much younger than his years). Tracy is owner and design director of Parsons Cabinetry, headquartered in Upper Montclair, NJ. (Freeman PR is in Fairfield, NJ). Parsons Cabinetry, founded 36 years ago, specializes in high end custom cabinetry and millwork. Bruce is teetotal and Tracy is not–she brought two splendid  wines and Bruce gave HG bottles of non-alcoholic Phony Negroni, a tasty substitute for an alcoholic cocktail. Dinner began with prosciutto and fig appetizers plus toasts topped with halibut salad, Main dish was BSK’s delicious Barcelona stew of cod, potatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs (a pungent bowl of rouille enhanced it). Key lime pie for dessert. HG drank much Napa Valley red wine (Tracy gift) and it was sublime. Yes, fabulous dinner and reunion. Want a repeat.

HG//BSK joined gifted daughter, Lesley R., and her husband, the illustrious Professor/ author, Massimo R., for a joyous sea feast at Bristol Oyster Bar in the historic town of Bristol, RI. Yes, the eatery’s specialty is oysters but there are many other good things on the menu. Taking advantage of half price raw bar offers, HG ordered 30 oysters  (Big, medium sized and all perfectly shucked). HG obeys the injunction: Only eat oysters during months with an “r”. So, April is okay for lush, briny oysters from Rhody’s cold waters. This was followed by: Yellow Fin Tuna Poke–the chopped tuna was mixed with avocado, fried soba noodles and sriracha aioli. It was the best poke HG ever tasted; Fluke Ceviche– thinly sliced fish was mixed with strawberries, lime juice and shallots. Delicious. HG ate the two fish dishes (shared a small amount).  The other folks had a giant Jonah crab cake with remoulade and an herb salad plus calamari with fried pepperoncini. Desserts were generous creme brulees and chocolate mousse. BSK used HG/BSK’s $100 gift certificate (a Christmas present from Lesley and Massimo) to pay for the food and the dazzling bottle of Muscadet that accompanied the meal. Wonderful restaurant, Wonderful time. (If you want to take advantage of half price raw bar items these are the days and hours—Monday to Thursday 4PM to 6PM. Sunday 12PM-2PM. Get there any time at the noted hours and order from the raw bar, Our group was seated at 5:30 on a Thursday eve).