HUNGRY GERALD

The idiot neo-fascist in The White House thinks he looks like the fictional Lone Ranger when he wears a disease-preventing mask. Of course, the Ranger wore his minimal mask over his eyes — a useless device during the pandemic, and questionable as an effective disguise. Typical of Trump that he’s concerned about his personal appearance rather than the health of Americans. Egocentricity verging on madness. Anyway, it made HG think back 80 years. Home from school, HG had a snack and listened to radio serials before joining HG’s friends in street games. The Lone Ranger and his companion, Tonto, were favorites (BSK recalled that actors Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels portrayed these western heroes). Other favorite serials were “Jack Armstrong, The All-American Boy” and “Renfrew of the Mounties” (Renfrew was the beginning of HG’s love for Canada). Best of all radio personalities was “Uncle Don”, a precursor of “Mr. Rogers” of TV. HG recalls the song young HG sang with Uncle Don: “Hippity gitz hotsah rimboree sibonyeh skippity,high low dee, honeykodoke and nalacazon, sing this song with Uncle Don. We’ll buy stamps and war bonds too; to Uncle Sam we’ll be true blue; We’ll show Hitler we’re no saps; Stamp on him and lick those Japs.” World War Two patriôtism with a touch of ethnic slurs.

HG was famished last night but stomach rumbling was quieted by BSK’s big pot of flavorful chowder. It is a dish focused on the glories of life by the sea on Prince Edward Island. So, what was in the “chowda”? Mussels from St. Peter’s Bay. Cod from the North Atlantic. Local bacon. Clam broth from a previous meal of local steamed soft shell clams. Dry white wine. Saffron, Thyme. Potatoes. Onion. Garlic. Cherry tomatoes. A melange of herbs and spices. HG looked at the savory pot of goodness and murmured: “Huge. We’ll never finish this dish.” HG/BSK each had three helpings. All gone except for a few scraps. HG finished the meal with the ultimate Canadian dessert: A pecan butter tart topped with much vanilla ice cream. Life is good in the Canadian democracy (not led by a lunatic neo-fascist).

Gifted daughter Lesley was disappointed. Chongqing House in Providence is HG’s favorite Szechuan restaurant and Lesley had promised HG a take out feast from the restaurant. Eek!! Horrors!! Chongqing closed on June 1. No take out. No nothing. Promised to reopen soon in a nearby location after Covid-19 subsides. A “new concept”, they say. HG is dubious. To make up for it, Lesley picked up a big order from DenDen, a Providence Korean eatery. Lots of good food. HG’s favorite: A spicy stew of tofu with shrimp, mussels and squid. Also ate good unagi, noodles, cod, seafood and vegetable pancakes. Braised pork belly. Cold vodka. Local beer. Breezy al fresco meal on the deck. Happy, happy celebration before leaving for Prince Edward Island in the AM.

HG/BSK’s multi-talented son, Jeremy, is now a resident of Tokyo (with wife, Exquisite Maiko; son, Handsome and musical Haru; daughter, Adorable Teru). SJ has a remarkable eye for the majestic, trivial, eccentric and castaway elements of urban life. Indeed, he is a poet of urbanism. When living in Brooklyn, SJ photographed abandoned chairs. Once useful objects of comfort, these chairs now went to scavengers and garbage trucks. SJ called them “Sad Chairs” and they gained attention, with wistful, haunting captions, on the internet. There are few cities larger and more densely populated than Tokyo. However, nature is much admired by Tokyo urbanites. HG has now turned his camera on “Hairy Houses”, small buildings literally smothered in ivy or other greenery. “Hairy Houses” (so named by Adorable Teru) are an upbeat follow up to “Sad Chairs.”

When HG’s children, Lesley and Jeremy, were young, HG denigrated Mother’s Day as one more crass ploy to stimulate consumerism. Over the years, HG has had a change of mind. After all, in this frightening, dismal world of a murderous pandemic and a fascist fool President, why eliminate a day that celebrates motherhood? So, let’s honor BSK. Besides BSK’s almost limitless skills and talents, BSK is the ultimate Mother, a source of comfort, advice, romantic counsel and more (much, much more) for HG/BSK’s children and grandchildren. Fortunately, BSK’s nurturing quality has been extended to HG for almost 57 years of marriage. Without BSK’s constant care and devotion, HG would not be writing this. HG would be a memory.

Sadly, HG/BSK’s son, Jeremy, will no longer hear that greeting from Adam Schlesinger, his lifelong best friend and virtual brother. For HG/BSK, Adam was a second son, watching him from birth to growing up on New York’s Upper West Side and Montclair, N.J. . From his earliest years, Adam was precociously musical. HG will not comment on Adam’s musical career. There have been numerous obituaries (from the New York Times to Rolling Stone) praising his contributions to popular music, movies, and the stage. The best critical analysis of Adam’s work was by Jody Rosen of the New Yorker. What HG can comment on is that Adam was brilliant and funny, a serious wit. It is very hard for HG and BSK to write or think about our second son without becoming tearful. However, we will never forget him. HG/BSK have a memorial grove on HG/BSK’s New Mexico property. There are three pine trees in the grove memorializing three remarkable people: HG’s sister, Beulah Naomi Freeman Katz, beloved by all whose lives she touched; BSK’s father, Roy Kent, a decorated bomber pilot in World War Two. A true war hero; BSK’s uncle, David Kent, a Canadian judge specializing in family and juvenile law. He focused his Christian beliefs on justice and mercy. When the pandemic allows, HG/BSK will plant another pine in the grove. In memory of Adam Schlesinger. Be assured the tree will get much sunshine and water.

No, Rhode Islanders don’t subsist only on Dunkin’ Donuts (though they eat a zillion); Hot Wieners; Coffee Milk; Del’s Lemonade and Stuffies (a concoction only edible after being dunked in Rhody’s great clear, clam chowder.) Fresh seafood (oysters, clams, scallops, squid, etc.) are very good and prepared skillfully at both Yankee and Portuguese restaurants. There is an abundance of ethnic restaurants (Greek, Peruvian, Mexican, Japanese, Italian and more). An HG favorite is Chonquing House in Providence, an authentic Chinese restaurant. On this wonderful holiday visit with Gifted Daughter Lesley R., her husband, Profesore Massimo R. (who overwhelmed HG/BSK with great wines); beautiful and brilliant granddaughters, Arianna and Sofia, HG/BSK discovered Rasoi, an Indian restaurant in Pawtucket. Wonderful place for a joyous family meal. Rasoi is very innovative and creative. The chefs give the dishes a tweak that makes them soar above the usual Indian restaurant fare. HG’s favorites were the grilled shrimp with spinach and a fabulous vegetarian dish, cauliflower. The description was:”sweet, spicy and golden fried”.It was all of these things. There were exemplary dosas stuffed with chicken and peas; crispy samosas; eggplant (baingan bharta)); Indian cheese and spinach (saag paneer). Adding to the joy was basmati rice, dal and Indian beer. And, the prices are very moderate. HG/BSK will be back.

Rhode Island Spirits in Pawtucket, R.I., is one of the great small, craft distillers. The other is Myriad View, just outside of the Town of Souris in Prince Edward Island, Canada. During HG/BSK’s annual Rhode Island holiday visit, HG has been drinking the RIS Rhodium brand vodka three ways: before dinner: On the rocks; with lime juice; with a splash of Aperol or Campari. RIS distills its vodka seven times and finishes with sliced apples. There’s no apple taste and the vodka has a remarkable flavor and finish. It’s now HG’s favorite vodka, better than Grey Goose and the other expensive brands. Another winner is the distillery’s Grapefruit Limoncello. There is no better after-dinner drink. On next Rhody visit, HG will try the company’s gin. Made with a unique blend of botanicals. HG will compare it with Myriad View’s excellent gin. Let’s chill those martini glasses. (If you are in Rhody, visit the distillery’s Tasting Room and get pleasantly tipsy on expertly mixed cocktails in a lovely, historic setting.)

HG’s wonderful daughter, Victoria Freeman, arrived in Rhode Island (via train) from New York for a brief, glorious visit. She has a demanding schedule running four restaurants with chef/husband Marc Meyer. (Cookshop, Rosie’s, Shuka, Vic’s). Adding to the pressure is the opening of a fifth restaurant, Shukette, in late January. On top of all this, Vicki and Marc hosted a Christmas dinner for 15 at their Hamptons home. However, Vicki managed to arrange her half-day visit with HG/BSK, Lesley, Massimo and Arianna R. (Sofia left for New York early in the day). So, there was time for a beach walk, conversation, laughter, pre-dinner drinks, Dad-Daughter bonding. Since Vicki doesn’t eat meat, the festive dinner was based on seafood from Tony’s Fish Market, excellent source for every variety of fish, shellfish, bivalves, crustaceans. Lesley did a tasty saute of plump shrimp followed by pasta in a delectable swordfish sauce. Joyous meal. Joyous reunion.

Excellent simple dinner last night. Started with a plate of thinly sliced prosciutto, white anchovies, chopped tomato and olive salad. Loaf of good bread. Then, steaming bowls of chickpea soup garnished with bacon and topped with grated parmesan and a dusting of red pepper flakes. This ultimate comfort soup is Lesley R.’s happy modification of Marcella Hazan’s recipe. Soup was followed by a cheese platter and green salad. HG and Massimo R. were happy to share the last piece of Pretty Penny cheese encircled by a mottled, pungent rind. There was also a good Stilton from London’s Neal’s Yard and an Italian truffle cheese. Greek fig jam complemented the cheese and sliced pears. HG enjoyed a sweet finale: Red wine and a Loretta’s New Orleans praline. This is a very sweet praline and HG finds red wine moderates the sweetness. Some folks don’t like a sweet thing with red wine. HG finds the combination yummy.