HUNGRY GERALD

Alternate Sunday dinner at Ocean Mist Farm, the colorful, fertile south shore Prince Edward Island home of Noel and Yossi M. (BSK’s sister and brother in law). Noel served a lush, soft polenta covered with a lusty ground pork sauce. So good!! It was reminiscent of the polenta and sausage dish HG enjoyed some years ago in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome. Noel climaxed her meal with bowls of vanilla ice cream smothered with Ocean Mist strawberries. Splendor!! BSK simmers polenta with a chunk of cream cheese to give it a creamy texture (a trick learned from gifted daughter Lesley R.). BSK serves the polenta topped with poached eggs for the world’s best breakfast. Sometimes, BSK adds strips of crisp bacon. A nice touch.

The wonderful, rollicking Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, situated on a scenic field near the Town of Souris, Prince Edward Island, is back. Always held on the third Saturday of July, it was canceled last year because of Covid-19. PEI is healthy (mask wearing is not required) so the musical festival flourishes once more and HG/BSK were in attendance on a sunny, slightly breezy day for the 5PM to 8PM show. Perfect weather and a show that explored the musical heritage of PEI and the other Canadian Maritime Provinces. First was a group that played its own compositions, all based on Prince Edward Island, its dirt roads, rivers, lakes and shoreline. Then, there was a surprise. Abegweit First Nations from Lennox Island performed on a cluster of drums and accompanied the beats with rousing song. HG had never heard live First Nations music. Exciting. Then a group that focused on Irish, English, and French songs with a lagniappe of step dancing. The program concluded with very lively French Acadian music featuring a young woman who was a virtuoso fiddler. All of the seating, food, and beer was handled efficiently. And, the spectators were appreciative, responsive and courteous. Ah, it’s good to be in Canada.

The late, great French gourmand, Curnonsky, proclaimed: The greatest dishes are simple. Yes, BSK, the best home cook, follows that admonition. However, tasty simplicity can only be achieved by emulating BSK’s focus on cooking details. Last night, BSK made a “simple” fried haddock dinner. It was sublime. Here’s how BSK didi it. Fresh from the sea haddock filets (yes, you can’t have exemplary cooking without exemplary ingredients) were dipped in beaten eggs and rolled in a good supermarket fish fry mix. A trusty cast iron pan was heated and given a splash of safflower oil. The fish was fried to a crisp and blotted with a paper towel to remove any excess oil. Simultaneously, BSK boiled mineral rich little potatoes from Ocean Mist Farm, the verdant Prince Edward Island paradise of BSK’s sister, Noel M. and brother in law, Yossi M. (yes, basic ingredients are important). When almost done. BSK sauteed the spuds with Ocean Mist Farm garlic scapes and abundant ground pepper and sea salt. On the table were fresh cherry tomatoes, Hellman’s Tartar Sauce, Frank’s Hot Sauce, Lemon wedges, Himalayan Pink Salt and sour cream ( reflecting HG’s Belorussian heritage, HG likes a bit of smetana with spuds). Dessert was Clement Faugier chestnut puree with whipped cream (HG first tasted sweet chestnut paste with whipped cream at London’s lamentably closed Gay Hussar Restaurant). Wine with the meal was pinot noir. After dinner beverage (for HG): JB Wiser Canadian whiskey. Simple. Perfect.

BSK was a fashionable delight yesterday in a Liebman’s Kosher Delicatessen T-shirt (a gift for BSK from–sadly–the late, brilliant, much beloved Adam Schlesinger). Adam grew up with HG/BSK’s son, Jeremy ( Adam called him “Jerums” and they were as close as brothers during Adam’s all too short life). HG/BSK always considered Adam to be their second son. And, thinking about Liebman’s made HG/BSK realize how much Adam (and his musical genius) is missed. Liebman’s (founded in 1953) was much enjoyed by Adam, Jeremy and HG. Located on Johnson Avenue in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, HG ate there frequently when living in Riverdale in the 50’s. Adam and Jeremy continued the tradition when Adam lived in Riverdale in order to be close to his daughters. Liebman’s may be the best traditional Jewish deli in New York. Encyclopedic menu of greatest Jewish culinary gems. Pastrami and corned beef, of course, but also: Knockwurst, matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, chopped liver, chicken in the pot, farvel and mushrooms, kasha varnishkes, etc., etc. Adam was a big pastrami fan so it is sad that he is unable to taste the great pastrami served at Freeman Shokudo, Jeremy (and wife Maiko’s) barbecue izakaya in Tokyo. So good that if Adam tasted it, he would have wanted to establish a residence in Tokyo.

A few weeks ago, HG received a sad and eloquent e-mail from HG’s long time good friend, the late Bob Cox. “To the amazing, exciting individuals who have brought value in more ways than one to my eighty-two years of living. One of my favorite lines from literature: ‘We are all travelers in this world. From the sweet grass to the packing house. Birth till death. We travel between the eternities.’ Robert Duvall as Prentice Ritter in ‘Broken Trails.’ I travel on, and I leave with the knowledge that I will remember each and everyone of you as I make my exit. Goodbye to all. Live happy and respectful lives. Robert Emmett Cox (7/31/38-6/25/21).” Bob’s suffering from radical cancer surgery came to an end. Bob had a long and successful career. UPI reporter. Colorado Senator Tim Wirth’s press secretary. Publisher and editor-in-chief of Colorado’s Jefferson County Sentinel newspapers. He was a sharp and witty writer. After selling his Abiquiu ranch, Bob leased HG/BSK’s casita on HG/BSK’s Jacona compound and remained there for some 18 months. Bob sold his newspapers but continued to write. His blog, “From the Old Gringo’s Gazette”, was a delight (check if the blog archive is still on the internet). Bob was a progressive force for good. He hated bigotry, racism, sexism and every form of authoritarianism. A frequent dinner guest of HG/BSK, he was fun to be with. Irreplaceable.

Bob Cox and friends in retirement near Abiquiu, New Mexico.

July 2 marked the 58th wedding anniversary of HG/BSK. Greedy HG wants 58 more years with BSK, the love of HG’s life and possibly the best woman in the world. BSK’s talents are as voluminous as BSK’s virtues. Not the least of them is BSK’s unceasing efforts to keep HG alive. So far, BSK has succeeded. Time to celebrate at Clam Diggers, the very good seafood restaurant on the scenic waters of the town of Cardigan. Portions are super generous and the cooking is superior. HG/BSK had steamer clams in a delightful broth of clam juice, cream, onions, peppers and spices. A creative dish. This was followed by giant platters of fried seafood with crisp French fries, cole slaw and much tartar sauce. BSK’s platter contained scallops, clams and haddock (enough to feed two or three people). HG had a platter of scallops and shrimp. Abondanza!! HG was very hungry but could barely finish the food. Not exaggerating. This was the best dish of fried seafood HG has ever eaten. Crisp and greaseless. The quality of the scallops and shrimp was impeccable.(BS vouched for her fryup as best ever). Drank Gahan’s Red Ale (a local PEI brew) and toasted the good fortune that has kept HG/BSK together. Clam Diggers has a very good bread pudding dessert but were too sated to indulge. Thoughtful daughter Lesley R. had sent HG/BSK a gift certificate for the dinner but HG/BSK forgot to bring a necessary paper. Good. Will use the gift for a Clam Diggers feast when the family gets together (hopefully) on Prince Edward Island next month.

Prince Edward Island is covered with beautiful fields of purple Lupin. They have tips of pink, white and green. A glorious seasonal sight (alas, Lupin season has a short life). Green thumb BSK gathers Lupin seeds and plants them along HG/BSK’s driveway and in BSK’s garden. The flower is a joyous sight arranged on the dining table in a BSK hand crafted pottery vase (yes, BSK is a Renaissance woman). Surfing the net, HG learned that Lupin has been a food throughout the world for many centuries. Takes much processing to remove harmful elements. HG will pass and just admire Lupin’s decorative qualities.

Lucky HG. Dinner at Ocean Mist Farm, the verdant south shore Prince Edward Island paradise of BSK’s sister, Noel M., and husband, Yossi M. (HG/BSK and N/Y exchange dinners on alternate Sundays). HG dined on two big, fresh from the sea lobsters. Cooked nicely. Lots of melted butter, hot sauce and PEI spuds. Perfect summer dining. BSK, allergic to crustaceans, had an enjoyable meal with gently sauteed local scallops. HG had a lush dessert of vanilla ice cream with Ocean Mist raspberries. The rest of the table had Noel’s rice pudding (made with a generous amount of raisins). HG climaxed his good time with after dinner sips of Canadian whiskey gilded with a few drops of Angostura Bitters.

“Boulevardier”. A wonderful word (American approximation would be “man about town”.) Boulevardier evokes Paris and its lights, Eiffel Tower, fashionable Parisians and Parisiennes, brasseries, restaurants, cafes, museums, galleries, art and architecture. And, of course, the Seine. It is also a cocktail favorite in Paris. HG makes it with one and a half shot glasses of rye whiskey, one shot glass of Campari (or Aperol), one shot glass of sweet vermouth. Mixed and poured over ice. Bartenders squeeze the essence of orange peel over it. HG prefers the citrus tang of some lemon juice. So, play a Django or Piaf CD. Sip a Boulevardier. Dream.

Wondrous BSK had a birthday on June 3. BSK turned 80. Looks decades younger. Beautiful in every way one can be beautiful—in face, form, creativity, energy. And, of course, in love (HG/BSK will be married for 58 years this July). BSK’s love enriches the life of HG, HG/BSK’s children, HG/BSK”s grandchildren. And, all reciprocate that love. A lucky family, indeed. Pandemic restrictions have eased up a bit on Prince Edward Island (yes, we’re still there) so HG/BSK decided to celebrate in a restaurant. Have not dined out in more than a year. Restaurant choice was Clam Diggers, a restaurant with lovely water views, located in the town of Cardigan, a 15 minute drive from HG/BSK’s oceanfront home. Had a splendid meal. For HG: Crab cakes as a starter followed by a lobster roll with an overabundance of lobster (portions are very generous), crisp French fries (made with PEI spuds),cole slaw.. A lavish dessert of cheesecake enrobed in chocolate and topped with whipped cream. For BSK: A big salad of fresh greens from local gardens. A giant platter of fried scallops, fried clams, fried haddock (the local seafood was cooked perfectly, not a drop of grease); French fries and cole slaw. BSK’s dessert was a lush bread pudding. HG drank Gahan’s (PEI brewery)Island Red Ale served in a glass chilled properly.  The best. BSK started with a glass of pinot grigio but then switched to Gahan’s wonder beverage. Much joy. We’ll be back.