HUNGRY GERALD

Yes, hours before the dramatic game seven between the Pacers and Thunder, HG had a mind change. HG wants the Thunder to win. The reason: HG had just learned that MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is Canadian. He was born in Toronto and lives in the Ontario province. He was on the Canadian Olympic team–he’s a Canadian patriot and proud of his democratic country. HG spends many happy Canadian months at HG/BSK’s oceanfront home (panoramic sea views and sunsets) on green, gentle, diverse Prince Edward Island. BSK is Canadian—born in Ottawa and spent childhood years in Sarnia. She is the love of HG’s life (married 62 years)—without her dedicated 24/7 care and love, HG would long be dead or doomed in a nursing home. Because of BSK, HG is 95 and a fervent fan of her and the great Gilgeous-Alexander. Win, Shai–Win!! And he did.

HG would watch NBA playoffs during the Larry Bird, Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Willis Reed and Magic Johnson years. Didn’t watch for a while but did some Stephan Curry viewing. However, this current playoff has HG mesmerised. Sunday night is the climax—Pacers vs. Thunder–score is 3-3. Thunder has been the favorite—they are probably the best team in the NBA. But, the Pacers keep coming back and coming back. Very much like an injured Reed leading the Knicks to a championship yesteryear. HG will be rooting for the Pacers but if HG was betting, HG would go with the Thunder. .Won’t be a thriller, HG predicts. One team will be hot. The other–not.. We will see.                                                                                                                                         ……

When Castro took power in Cuba, many Chinese restaurateurs migrated to the United States. That’s how New York became the home of Cuban Chinese restaurants. They were located on the upper west side and in the neighborhood around the George Washington Bridge. They’ve had a surprising longevity–outliving Castro and still turning out remarkable food at affordable prices. HG often ate at the Washington Heights eateries. Favorite dishes: Cubano sandwiches. Avocado and orange salads. Butterflied fried shrimps. Moros y Cristianos (black beans and white rice). Cuban pot roast and chopped pork dishes. The meal ended with black coffee–very strong and very good. HG doesn’t recall any desserts. In any case, HG would be too full to order any. 

Hake is a fabulous fish. BSK is a fabulous cook. When they get together in the kitchen HG is rewarded with a dazzling supper. HG has often written about hake, a fish first encountered decades ago in Madrid. For some obscure reason, one doesn’t see hake on American restaurant menus. Go figure. Knowing BSK’s tastes, HG/BSK’s local fish merchant on Prince Edward Island (HG/BSK have an oceanfront home there) is Julio. He phoned BSK and told her he just got a delivery of sparkling fresh hake. Good news. BSK covered a sheet pan with asparagus, red peppers, onions and garlic and gave it a splash of olive oil and lemon juice. It went into the oven and when the menage softened, the hake filets went on top and baked briefly. BSK’s timing was on point. The asparagus were firm and delicious and the hake–ah, the hake–was succulent. Spectacular eating. This was accompanied by rice flavored with turmeric and a bit of saffron (cannellini beans were mixed with the rice). HG/BSK drank a hearty red wine and had Canadian butter tarts for dessert. HG/BSK basked in the satisfaction of having a great supper in a gentle, diverse democracy.

BSK grows much sorrel in the kitchen garden of HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home. The sorrel abundance is the basis for delicious suppers. Last night, the evening meal started with fabulous warm sorrel soup. When chilled to the verge of iciness, the soup is (in Yiddish) called “schav”. During warm weather, HG’s late Mom would top bowls of this refresher with a dollop of sour cream. Flanked by a boiled potato, it was the best summer lunch. After the soup starter, BSK served a salmon filet smothered in BSK’s lush sorrel sauce and a favored companion—a baked sweet potato (drenched in much butter by HG). Happily, BSK cooked the salmon in Paris style–medium rare. This way, the salmon flakes into silkiness. Well done salmon is tasteless. HG/BSK drink red wine with salmon  because it goes well with strong flavors. Last night, the wine was a tasty (and relatively inexpensive) Canadian wine from the province of Ontario.

HG/BSK are very lucky to have Julio’s Seafood Shop minutes away from HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home (spectacular sea views and sunsets). Julio’s is located at St. Peter’s Landing and stocks a dazzling variety of fish and shellfish.  Julio’s contains an oyster bar where HG hopes to devour a dozen shucked specimens accompanied by chilled white wine. BSK shopped at Julio’s yesterday and brought back an abundance of steamer clams (not a speck of sand after a Julio rinse) -plus big, juicy shrimp cooked by Julio. These ingredients made a taste tingling supper. BSK knows how to cook steamer clams so they are an unbeatable sea treat. HG  dipped the clams in broth (not necessary because they were so clean) and then in melted butter enriched with a few drops of Tabasco. Gourmand bliss. This was followed by a shrimp and cannellini bean salad mixed with a multitude of herbs from BSK’s kitchen garden.  Wow! HG finished the meal by drinking the savory clam broth with a squeeze of lemon.  It was a perfect summer supper.

TOBY, The Wonder Dog, is HG’s beloved companion.  Here on Prince Edward Island, the site of HG/BSK’s oceanfront home (sea views and sunsets), Toby and Pip (daughter Lesley and her husband Massimo’s charming female dog) sleep in HG/BSK’s bedroom (L. & M. are in Padua, Italy). Silent  sleepy dogs provide convenient wake ups. Toby is very alert to the dangers confronting HG (infirm and 95-years old). If there are any signs of a mishap, Toby is at HG’s side, barking loudly for help. Splendid guardian. Toby is a small dog with a big appetite. He always wants a nosh. When HG dines at table, Toby is on the floor at HG’s side, alert for any crumbs. He also looks at HG with big imploring eyes. The message: “You are a big guy. I’m a famished little dog. Give me some of your food.”). In times past, HG gave in to Toby’s eloquent beseeching and fed him morsels from the table. Angry objections from BSK. You will make the dog ill, BSK accused. So, no more table treats for The Wonder Dog. But, he still guilt provokes HG.

Rain drenched Prince Edward Island. HG, comfy in HG/BSK’s snug oceanfront home, contemplated lunch. Pleasant discovery. There was a bowl of quinoa (a favorite HG grain) in the fridge. HG warmed it up with a chunk of butter, covered it with a big layer of sour cream, dusted it with sea salt and ground black pepper. A large cup of coffee. Bliss (reminiscent of youthful Bronx lunches with chicken fat instead of butter as the lubricant). BSK makes pasta with vegetable sauces better than any restaurant.  HG is looking forward  tonight to BSK’s super-lush cauliflower and blue cheese pasta. This will be accompanied by grated parmesan, lots of ground black pepper and a splash of olive oil.   Glasses of Malbec.  Comfort and happiness.

Yes, “going to the movies” illuminated HG’s  growing up years in The Bronx. “Dracula” created a lifelong fear of bats. “Frankenstein” was the source of a stomp footed impersonation. “Robin Hood” inspired little HG to improvise a bow-and-arrow..  HG never called movies “cinema” They were just “movies.” These are HG’s favorite (in no order) movies and documentaries that HG has watched repeatedly through the years; Children of Paradise, Grande Illusion, Tampopo, Rashomon, Godfather ! and 2, Goodfellas, The Dead, Prizzi’s Honor, Citizen Kane, Chicago and Cabaret musicals–also  Singing In the Rain; Sweet Smell of Success;  A Sunday in the Country; Shoah; Sorrow and the Pity; Schindler’s LIst. There’s a preponderance of Mafia and Holocaust movies and documentaries, so be it.

A lavish birthday dinner for 84-year-old BSK (Looks half that age and still lithe, beautiful, energetic and shapely). BSK’s kid sister, Noel M., and her husband, Yossl M., staged the event at their verdant Ocean Mist Farm near Panmure Island on the south shore of Prince Edward Island. Also present at the festivities was their neighbor, Marina. The menu was lobsters (harvested from the waters in the morning) and potato salad. Splendid side dish was seasonal asparagus grown at Ocean Mist Farm. Delicious meal of local taste treats. BSK blew out the candles on an iced cake baked by Marina. Chilled glasses of Rose’. Ice cream for dessert. Happiness. Hey, BSK, have many, many more B’days. (Took home slices of Marina’s cake. HG had it for breakfast this morning covered with honey. Yum with coffee).