HUNGRY GERALD

Besides BSK, there has been a happy constant in HG’s long life–Pancakes. Yes, HG loves pancakes. The passion began when HG was eight years old. The hungry little guy would run home (2751 Claflin Avenue in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of The Bronx) from nearby PS 86 on Reservoir Avenue for noonday lunch. Most days, HG’s late beloved Mom, Ida Kopkind Freeman, would prepare buckwheat pancakes smothered in melted butter and Aunt Jemima syrup. (Whole milk, rich in butterfat, was the accompaniment).  Radio was tuned to the Yiddish language station, WEVD (The station’s politics were Socialist–the EVD stood for Eugene Victor Debs, the heroic Socialist leader and Presidential candidate). Sun lit up the dinette windows. Schoolboy HG experienced bliss. HG rarely eats pancakes for breakfast these days. However, BSK often makes savory pancakes for dinner (” Supper”  on Prince Edward Island where HG/BSK spend many months at their spectacular sea view oceanfront home). BSK made a lusty batter containing shredded cabbage, garlic scapes, parsley and juicy sea scallops from nearby Julio’s Seafood Shop. BSK sizzled spoonfuls of batter in sizzling olive oil making cakes with lacy edges and soft interiors. Topped with Bulldog Sauce, they were a tasty treat–HG ate many and drank Pinot Noir. Boyhood bliss was repeated. Brandade is a favorite HG dish–salt cod that is desalinated in many changes of water, garlic, potatoes, olive oil, bit of broth, splash of milk or cream–the mix is pureed and a warm mound is gilded with a bit more olive oil and crowned with chopped parsley. HG likes an emphatic amount of garlic in the brandade. If there are leftovers, BSK forms the brandade into small pancakes, fries them in olive oil and serves the good things as a dinner appetizer with PEI mustard pickle (BSK’s brandade fritters are similar to the codfish fritters hawked at Rome’s Campo De Fiori). Some years ago in Santa Fe, HG/BSK dined at a nearby neighbor’s beautiful home. Before HG went to the dining table, HG drank some glasses of icy vodka and watched a dazzling sunset (Yes, HG drank strong spirits in those days. No more. HG now drinks only wine–sparingly) . Dinner was a surprise–stacks of buttermilk pancakes drenched with melted butter and Canadian maple syrup—rashers of crisp, thick cut bacon and a baguette plus sweet butter.  It all went nicely with a French red Bordeaux. HG/BSK have to try this for dinner one night–but no vodka preface.

Three wonderful things are in season now on Prince Edward Island–Garlic scapes, baby zucchini and strawberries. BSK made splendid use of them for dinner last night. BSK constructed a fragrant, tasty pesto of garlic scapes, parsley, baby spinach, walnuts and olive oil. Whirled in the blender, the pesto was as good or better than conventional basil pesto. The small zucchini were sauteed with chopped garlic and sliced onion (Zucchini is splendid when very young–as the seasons progress, the vegetable grows,large and bloated–watery and tasteless). Instead of traditional pasta, BSK mixed the pesto and zucchini with tortellini. Heavenly. To complete the PEI culinary extravaganza, BSK topped salt caramel ice cream with an abundance of sliced strawberries. Yes, living good in HG/BSK’s PEI neighborhood.

A  classic of down home, savory comfort eating is Shrimp and Grits. Just typing those words sharpens HG’s appetite. BSK is an expert at making shrimp and grits. Simple cooking but each element must be cooked with masterly timing. BSK cooks the grits first and keeps them warm. They are lush and creamy because BSK adds a big chunk of cream cheese to the grits–a culinary trick learned from Gifted Daughter Lesley R. The sofrito (sauce) is composed of softened onion slices, chopped garlic, olive oil, tomato paste and a splash of Frank’s Hot Sauce. Must have some green for color and health so BSK steams some baby spinach and adds it to the creamy grits. Shrimp are tricky–even a slight overcooking makes them rubbery. BSK takes less than a minute to cook the shrimp into sweet, tender lushness. The shrimp nestle on a bed of spinach grits and doused with the tangy sauce–the joyous eating is enhanced by numerous glasses of red Argentine Malbec. Yes, much to HG’s pleasure, BSK makes dinner at HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home, a culinary epic. (On PEI, the evening meal is called “supper” and lunch is “dinner”.)

A joyous, gourmand itinerary began 84 years ago–in 1939– when HG was 10 years old and living with his parents at 2751 Claflin Avenue in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx and continued until 1960 when HG was living in nearby Fordham Hill and Riverdale. HG would be off to the shopping and eating paradise of Kingsbridge Road. First stop was at an “appetizing store” for sliced Nova smoked salmon, sable, two slices of expensive sturgeon, pickled herring, sour pickles, sweet pickled peppers, black olives. Next stop was Zaro’s Bakery for bialys, onion rolls, “pletzels”, half a loaf of sliced “corn bread”; “kichel” (Sweet twists of dough for dipping in coffee.) Last stop was Daitch Dairy for its incomparable cream cheese and a slice of roquefort. In HG’s’ preteen days HG drank coffee. ( In later years HG drank beer with cognac chasers). This was the best breakfast/brunch ever and old HG would dearly love to repeat those daylight festivities.  Alas, HG can only remember the lusty taste and joy.

HG/BSK relished a wonderful dinner last night at Ocean Mist Farm, the verdant compound in Gaspereau on the south shore of Prince Edward Island, home of Noel M. (BSK’s sister) and her husband, Yossi M. (45 minute drive from HG/BSK’s St. Peter’s oceanfront home). Yossi and Noel outdid themselves. Noel made an enticing platter of hummus decorated with tomatoes and olives accompanied by Noel’s home baked, za’atar dusted pita— plus a big bowl of warm, perfectly cooked Israeli couscous. It all melded beautifully with Yossi’s barbecued ground lamb kebabs. A side of yogurt was the sauce.  Accompanied by numerous glasses of wine–white and red–this was a memorable feast. Sweet conclusion was bowls of Farmers vanilla ice cream.. (As always, Yossi was very thoughtful. He barbecued ground lamb instead of chunks of lamb–made it much easier for HG to swallow).

HG was musing (Musing is a favorite old age pastime) and thought about HG’s favorite female vocals, songs that keep dancing in HG’s head. Here they are in no particular order: Billie Holiday (“Strange Fruit”); Edith Piaf (“La Vie En Rose”); Nina Simone (“My baby just cares for me”); Bessie Smith (“Gimme A pigfoot”). And, Barbra Streisand’s comic masterpiece from “Funny Girl”: “Private Schwartz From Rockaway” with its delightful last line–“Is coming home General Schwartz”.

Julio is one of HG/BSK’s favorite people. His Julio’s Seafood Market and Oyster Bar on St. Peter’s Landing is close to HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home. Julio supplies BSK with the freshest fish (the staple of BSK’s cuisine) and calls BSK when he has something special like line caught tuna. He did something wonderful for HG/BSK’s 61st anniversary dinner.  As BSK watched, Julio filled a flat bottomed, crushed ice lined wooden box/tray with a dozen perfectly shucked Colville Bay oysters. It was the highlight of the dinner–even though the main dish of spaghetti with gently sauteed Julio sea scallops was no anti-climax. Dessert was Canadian Butter Tarts topped with ice cream. A joyous celebration.

Nostalgic dinner for HG. Alas, BSK didn’t share. BSK said she doesn’t like hot dogs and never did. During their courtship and early marital days, HG/BSK often had franks and beans at HG/BSK’s Upper West Side apartment and Fire Island beach house. BSK would enhance the Heinz baked beans with sauteed onions, ketchup and a dash of Tabasco. Dish made HG happy when accompanied by chilled beer. So, last night HG grilled three Schneider’s franks (Alas, no ketchup in the fridge,  but HG enhanced the beans with Chinese Bulldog Sauce and Sambal Oelek. The Hebrew Nationals of old were not available on Prince Edward Island but Schneider’s is a worthy all beef substitute.) Had the tube steaks with PEI mustard pickle. Heavenly combo. Local ale. Joyous journey into the past.

HG was weak and dizzy for most of the day. HG had trouble getting up from a seated position–needed help from BSK. Walking was impossible. Bleary eyed and no appetite. HG mused: Is this the end? To quote BSK’s maternal grandmother: Is HG going to “slip off this mortal coil” ? BSK to the rescue. BSK surmised HG was seriously dehydrated–had not drunk any water during the day. BSK gave HG three big glasses of ice water. HG drank them all and gradually began to feel much better. Leslie French, HG/BSK’s beautiful friend and neighbor, was the dinner guest. BSK cooked a tasty Morocco influenced chicken tagine. Splendid food but HG would find it difficult to swallow. Instead, HG supped on a big bowl of chicken broth enriched with rice noodles, beaten egg, and silken tofu (For protein). HG relished the meal and began to feel alive. Dessert was Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream topped with BSK’s rhubarb/strawberry compote. HG was active and eager to continue joyous living at HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home. 

Tuesday (July 2) is the big day–HG/BSK’s 61st wedding anniversary. A day of joyous (and challenging) memories. HG/BSK rejoice in their wonderful children and grandchildren. Daughter Lesley R. has been in a long and happy marriage with her husband, Massimo (much loved and admired by HG/BSK). Likewise son, Jeremy, who is happily married to his wife and business partner, Maiko Sakamoto (diminutive in stature but a giant in culinary skills, business smarts and capacity to love and nurture Jeremy and their children, Haru and Teru). Very old HG (95 in November) is very shaky, often dizzy, and has difficulty walking and doing minor household tasks. Today, HG recalled the very athletic things HG/BSK did together until HG advanced into HG’s mid 80’s. Long beach walks and city walks. Ocean swimming and bodysurfing (BSK bodysurfed into the advanced days of pregnancy). Kadima and other Fire Island beach. games–volleyball and touch football (BSK startled men by outracing them and with good hands snatching HG’s passes). One wall and four wall competitive paddle and racquetball. Horseback riding and equestrianism at HG//BSK’s Colorado ranch, perched at a 9,000 foot elevation in the Rocky Mountain foothills.   Skiing (BSK very good and HG very bad). Tennis (BSK quite good and HG very bad). Much bicycling (First in New York’s Central Park and then in Vancouver’s Stanley Park and other venues in that bike friendly city–also cycled in Denver,Nantucket and Santa Fe. Yes, HG/BSK did all of this and more plus regular workouts at gyms. (Might be why HG is still alive). My niece-in-law, Viki Freeman, commented on old guys married to younger women:The geezers want Nurse and Purse. Well, HG doesn’t need Purse but HG is very grateful for the 24/7 nursing care BSK provides (While maintaining a mostly equable temper despite HG’s incessant demands). HG is still very much in love with this remarkable woman. BSK appearance: Still stylish and chic,svelte, beautiful, shapely. Creativity: Painting better than ever. BSK’s canvases of Colorado and New Mexico landscapes and plateau vistas dazzle HG– as do Prince Edward Island seascapes. And, each night BSK cooks delectable meals–all with a BSK creative tweak. Yes, despite handicaps, HG–because of BSK–is a happy man who wants more years with The Wonder Woman.