HUNGRY GERALD

Disgrace. Trump American Nazis occupy the Senate (one sits in vice president’s chair) and House. of Representatives. This is what the USA has become after four years of an unspeakable President. This leads HG to wonder. What if these Nazis had been African-Americans protesting centuries of oppression and slavery? HG’s conclusion: There would be many black faces in heaven.

HG/BSK are not big time New Year’s Eve celebrators. Too much frenzy and drunkenness. So, happy to be alone in HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island home. Wood stove warmed and BSK’s cuisine delighted. Dinner was Moroccan chicken stew simmered with preserved lemons and served over fluffy couscous. Drank pinot noir and clinked glasses with toasts of love and hope. New Year’s Day was a long, delightful day of college bowl football. Surprisingly, all of HG’s favorite teams won. Georgia won a nail biter over surprising Cincinnati. Northwestern demolished Auburn. Alabama beat Notre Dame. No contest. Finale was Ohio State battling favored Clemson. Ohio State demolished Clemson with a record performance by quarterback Justin Fields (he threw six touchdown passes). Dinner was an HG delight: Linguine with garlic, anchovies and chopped parsley. Marked a perfect day.

The joint, pokey, slammer, bars. These are all nicknames for prison. There are more, all dismal. Prison is abhorrent. Even the toughest guys; murderers; seasoned mafiosi; drug lords, do their utmost to avoid being behind bars. And, that includes informing on their closest friends and associates in order to have criminal charges dropped. “Omerta” ?? Fuhgeddaboutit!!! The Nazi pig in the White House is like any other criminal. He will do anything to avoid imprisonment. HG/BSK believe this is the reason the swine is trying to demolish the structure and traditions of American elections. When oink-oink is an ordinary citizen, not protected by Presidential immunity, he would probably face a tax evasion indictment.. And, possibly other indictments stemming from his business indebtedness. Plus, illegal Presidential actions. While the foundations of the American democracy are being shaken, HG/BSK remain at their Prince Edward Island oceanfront home, possibly the safest pandemic free place in America. And, of course, comfort reigns at dinner. Two nights ago, BSK cooked Pappardelle alla Norma from Ottolenghi’s recipe. Lush. And, the luncheon leftovers were good. Last night, there was the ultimate comfort food: Bowls of steaming chickpea soup. BSK ignored Marcella Hazan’s excellent recipe and made BSK’s inventive variation. BSK hit a soup home run (with bases loaded).

The Nazi/Fascist in the White House specializes in “the big lie.” Pandemic as a Democrat fraud. Obama birthing scandal. Russian influence in 2016. “Fake News” as a label for the media mentioning him and his policies unfavorably. FBI, the “deep state” and intelligence community plotting against him. Etc., Etc., Etc. But, his big lie about Biden/Harris winning the 2020 election is very dangerous. His continuous campaign charging a rigged, illegal election (He’s raised more than $170,000,000 to fight this battle) attacks a linchpin of democracy—the free electoral process. This is one more effort to use Hitler’s tactics to create an American autocracy headed by him. The German journalist Jochen Bittner wrote an illuminating article in the New York Times: “1918 Germany Has A Warning For America.” He pointed out that the rise of Nazism was based on “the big lie”: Germany was not defeated in World War One. It was the victim of a “stab in the back” by social democrats and, of course, Jews. Hitler’s message to the German people was only the Nazis could make Germany great again and avenge the cowardly “stab in the back.” The Germans swallowed Der Fuehrer’s Kool Aid. Despite the popular vote, despite the defeat of his legal challenges, despite the certification of his loss in key states, the Nazi/Fascist Trump continues to trumpet his election big lie. And, millions of Republicans are swallowing Trump’s Kool Aid. The Nazi/Fascist may be doing irreparable harm to American democracy.

Yes, HG/BSK are overjoyed by the Biden/Harris victory. But, gnawing doubts about the future of American democracy remain. Trump is the internet age, twitter, social media version of Hitler. Just a Nazi without a brown shirt. But, 70,000,000 Americans voted for this pig. While the Nazi played politics with the pandemic, more than 200,000 Americans died of Covid-19. And, some 1,000 a day are perishing now. Remember: He allegedly called the pandemic a “Democratic hoax.” He wouldn’t wear a mask and encouraged his fellow citizens to do likewise. He downplayed Covid-19 relentlessly because he thought it was impeding his support among working-class Americans. Given a choice between a politics that spelled death or a politics that could save lives, the Nazi chose death (Hey, that was always Hitler’s message). Hitler demanded loyalty to himself –Der Fuhrer–not Germany. And, the Republican party has become a Trump cult just like Hitler’s Nazi party, not a traditional, rational, conservative political party. HG foresees many dark days ahead and a continuous battle to keep American democracy alive. Our democratic institutions have remained sturdy despite the Nazi attacks. For how long?

Panettone, the Italian sweet bread/cake is a holiday treat. Happily, it appears at Christmas and New Year celebrations. Panettone, which originated in Milan. is accompanied by sweet wine in Italy. (HG first tasted it that way at a New Year’s Eve visit decades ago with son in law Massimo R.’s parents–Gianni and Franca–at their home in Portogruaro, Italy. Massimo’s brother, Stefano, served HG while setting off firecrackers and rockets). Unforgettable night. Panettone is studded with raisins, candied orange, citron and lemon zest. HG likes it at breakfast, slightly warmed and covered with strawberry jam. The best use for the treat is as a base for French toast. Thick slice is dipped in a mixture of beaten eggs and milk flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. Fried in butter until golden brown. Gilded with Canadian maple syrup. Weather at HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home is chilly. Will make this comforting dish next week as election tensions escalate. Challa, the Jewish/Russian egg bread can be substituted for panettone. There’s a loaf in the freezer, a Canadian Thanksgiving gift. Looking forward to much goodness.

HG/BSK and visiting daughter, Lesley R., and her husband, Massimo R., have two talented and gracious Prince Edward Island friends: Silva S. (a brilliant architect who designed HG/BSK’s oceanfront home) and her husband, Neb K. (a prominent Dean at Prince Edward Island University). Their home is an astonishingly beautiful design (by Silva, of course) with lovely water views. HG/BSK and the R.’s were invited for what they thought would be drinks and snacks. It turned out to be a multi-course feast served in a comfortable, sheltered, scenic outdoor area. It started with an array of phyllo vegetable pastries, a Balkan eggplant tapenade, artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, etc. HG drank a vodka and Aperol cocktail. The others had chilled white wine. Neb then shucked a few dozen excellent oysters. The dinner could have ended there with sighs of joy. But, no. Out came a big pot of steamed mussels in a tangy tomato-based broth accompanied by good bread for dipping. The feast continued with a platter of tender, juicy broiled lamb chops (these were from lamb bred on a neighboring farm). Went well with glasses of fruity Argentine Malbec. Dessert was a confection of berries, a crisp and whipped cream. Great company. Great food. Great atmosphere. A memorable night of fun and flavor.

We need laughter. Now, more than ever. HG is saddened by the absence of columnist Dave Barry. He made HG/BSK laugh out loud. (The late Russell Baker of The New York Times made HG smile. But, no Barry induced belly laughs). Writers who evoke HG mirth are S.J. Perelman, Woody Allen, P.G. Wodehouse, Steve Martin (Too few written comic pieces, but they are priceless). Ludwig Bemelmans evokes gentle smiles. Gourmand HG likes to read about food. Best writers about food and dining are M.F.K. Fisher (don’t like her recipes); Alec Lobrano and Mimi Sheraton (read her book, “In My Mother’s Kitchen”). Calvin Trillin amusingly writes about food but his talent is versatile and far-reaching. His New Yorker profile of crime reporter Edna Buchanan is a non-fiction classic. A.J. Liebling’s “Between Meals” provokes the appetite for food, wine, Paris and sex. Two women (both deceased) are HG favorites: Marcella Hazan (her cookbooks are the most consulted by HG/BSK) and Nora Ephron (her appreciative critique of the pastrami sandwich at Langer’s Delicatessen in Los Angeles makes HG tearful as HG contemplates the demise in much of the United States of traditional Jewish heartburn heavens).

HG is very fond of the short story form. Serious short story writers were never big sellers. Readers opted for novels. In this time of the internet, magical phones, etc., HG has little knowledge of the literary world. However, HG still reads and enjoys short stories. The very best are by Alice Munro, the distinguished Canadian writer and Nobel prize winner. (Yes, as witness BSK, HG is very partial to Canadian women). Munro wrenches HG’s heart. She is masterly. Next on HG’s list are two deceased Jeiwh writers: Bernard Malamud (who wrote in English) and I.B. Singer (who wrote in Yiddish). Both wrote well-received novels but HG believes their genius was best displayed in their short stories. Anton Chekhov remains timeless and contemporary. Two Irishmen, William Trevor and James Joyce were great short story writers. Joyce’s “The Dubliners” is an ageless classic. “The Dead” (from “Dubliners”) is unforgettable with an ending of pure poetry (John Huston did full justice to “The Dead” in his movie version. HG/BSK watch it every Christmas season).

Oh, what a delightful birthday dinner. HG/BSK daughter, Lesley R., received many gifts (including lavender oils from Ocean Mist Farm where BSK’s sister, Noel M., and Noel’s husband, Yossi, are equestrians, livestock breeders, agriculturists). Facetime greetings from Tokyo-based brother, Jeremy (and his family); daughters Sofia and Arianna (presently in New Mexico). Of course, a birthday dinner at HG/BSK’s oceanfront home on Prince Edward Island wouldn’t be complete without treats from the sea. So, the menu consisted of two types of oysters–small Colville Bays and large Malpeques. Both are exceptional and were perfectly shucked by Lesley’s distinguished husband, Profesore Massimo R. Moules et frites (steamed mussels and potato fries) was the main dish. BSK cooked the mussels in BSK’s distinctive manner and Lesley baked French fry-shaped spuds in the oven. Crisper and tastier than conventional French fries. Giving the dish a Belgian touch, there was a bowl of hot sauce laced mayonnaise on the table. This was appropriate for dipping the fries. Green salad and cheese followed (HG had the old guy’s usual meal finale: French chestnut puree with whipped cream). When HG sipped a Portuguese grappa, HG basked in the pride of having a daughter like Lesley. A brilliant writer and communications professional. Devoted and constructive mother and wife. Beautiful. A powerful force for good. And, naturally, a splendid cook. Deservedly much loved. (And, she can sing and whistle). Yes, HG/BSK look at Lesley and give thanks for good luck.