HUNGRY GERALD

On alternate Prince Edward Island weeks, HG/BSK dine with BSK’s sister, Noel, and her husband, Yossi, at their verdant Ocean Mist Farm (near Panmure Island) –a showcase for N. and Y’s construction and agricultural skills and creativity. HG/BSK arrived for an Ocean Mist dinner on a warm and humid night. The meal was in the cool and comfy kitchen. Glasses of chilled white wine provided instant joy–the first of many. Main dish was Noel’s fabulous spaghetti with pesto. Perfect food for a summer night. The pesto was full of basil pungency and fragrance. The pasta had a sublime texture. In a bow to Italy, BSK brought a bottle of red Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Flavor bomb.  Big tossed green salad (from Yossi’s vegetable garden).On to desserts. Noel made an old time treat–tapioca pudding. Excellent butter tarts–and for HG, ice cream topped with Ocean Mist just picked strawberries. Yossi had a special treat for HG–a shot glass of apple fragrant PEI moonshine. Smooth and stimulating. HG concluded  the festivities with modest sips of Jack Daniel’s.  To take back to HG/BSK’s north shore oceanfront home: Tiny Yossi potatoes (swell spuds) and garlic scapes. Life can’t be better than this. A zillion thanks, Noel and Yossi.

There was a time when HG relished super dry Martinis (Gin or vodka). No more. A Martini causes instantaneous drunkenness (or slumber). Pre dinner choice is now a Negroni, a gift from Italy. This is the way HG makes it (On the rocks, of course): A modest amount of bourbon, larger amount of sweet vermouth, healthy splash of Aperol. (No slice of orange or lemon. As a sturdy drinker once put it: Don’t want a salad in a glass). Made a discovery recently. Aperol has much less alcohol than the Campari HG has used for years. Keeps HG reasonably sober–nice color and it tastes good. Live and learn.

There are two classic Prince Edward Island dishes loved by all–tourists, natives, and summer home owners. (HG/BSK spend four–or five–months at HG/BSK’s oceanfront home enjoying sea breezes, shore walks and world’s best seafood). These two food classics are fish  and chips; steamed mussels in savory broth. Last night, BSK prepared  unique fish and chips. No chips–instead there were first of season, mineral rich, boiled small potatoes. BSK showered them with a dusting of fresh dill and a spray of Sicilian extra virgin olive oil plus sea salt and ground pepper. Spud heaven. The fish was haddock and BSK dipped the filets in beaten egg and then a fish fry mixture. They went into sizzling oil and brought to a perfect crisp. Cole slaw, hot sauce, Legal Sea Food tartar sauce, lemon quarters, and an avocado-scallion-cherry tomato salad were on the table. Happy classic PEI dinner. HG looks forward to the mussels.

BSK bought two thick salmon filets at Julio’s Seafood in St. Peters (Few minutes drive from HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home). No, the salmon wasn’t wild–farm raised in Nova Scotia. Fresh and flavorful. HG likes salmon cooked medium rare. (It continues cooking after being removed from the pan). Last night BSK dazzled HG with salmon gently cooked to silky, juicy perfection. Translucent. The fish was smothered in BSK’s sorrel sauce. Yummalicious!! Better yet, the dish contained sauteed fennel slices and half a roasted sweet potato (Fabulous with HG’s exuberant amount of butter and sea salt). HG drank much BSK-selected pinot noir and contemplated good fortune. BSK, the love of HG”s life, is a very talented cook and sommelier. (BSK’s skills, abilities and capacity for loving care are boundless).

HG left out a few places from a recent post regarding literary hang outs. Time to rectify. First off, Harold’s Show Spot was a theater hangout. Ben Gazzara, Anthony Franciosa, Shelley Winters, Mike Gazzo and  many others were regulars at this theater district fixture. (The late Mike Gazzo was a playwright, director, acting teacher and actør. He was Frankie Petanagelli,mobster and noble suicide, in “Godfather Two”.) BSK was going to star in an unproduced Gazzo play.  It was going to be funded by a real estate developer pal of HG. A marital mishap caused him to withdraw. (BSK lost her stardom possibility and the developer became a multi billionaire–he owned Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau Hotel for some years). Harold’s was a raucous joint. When  Shelley Winters came in she was greeted by shouts of “Shoiley!!!” (This was Brooklynese for her real name–“Shirley”.) The actors suggested obscene sexual acts with her. Unperturbed, Shelley responded in kind. Cedar Tavern (University Place-Greenwich Village) was the hangout for Larry Rivers and abstract expressionists. Loud and rowdy guys who were rude to women. But, not to five year old daughter, Victoria Freeman (Now an important New York restaurateur). On Saturday walks, HG parked little Vicki on the bar while HG sipped dry Martinis. The artists fed Vicki potato chips (or popcorn) accompanied by orange juice. Grown up Vicki (with a partner and Vicki’s husband, Marc Meyer) owns five New York restaurants—Cookshop, Rosie’s, Vic’s , Shuka and Shukette.  Try them. Food and service are great. The White Horse Tavern (edge of Greenwich Village) was favored by hard drinking poets like Dylan Thomas, Delmore Schwartz—and many others, famous and obscure. Dylan Thomas left there  one night (very drunk) on his way to the nearby Hotel Chelsea. Sadly, he died when he got there.   

HG is very fond of omelets. HG first  discovered their deliciousness in HG’s initial visit to Paris many, many decades ago. Portrait of pleasure: HG seated at a Left Bank cafe. On the table is a two or three egg omelet (“Baveuse”, runny, as requested.) Fresh baguette and sweet butter. Wedge of ripe camembert or brie. Red wine. Visual pleasure of intellectual Frenchmen and elegant Parisiennes. (Creative scarf arrangements). In New York, HG often dined at omelet specialist (Long closed) Romaine de Lyon. HG has written about it and mentioned it was a favorite of Mel Brooks and the late Anne Bancrioft. (Check HG archive). BSK delights HG with BSK’s perfect omelets (Served for dinner at HG/BSK’s oceanfront home on Prince Edward Island and spacious loft in Central Falls, RI.) BSK enhanced HG’s PEI omelet last night with a Mexican side dish of sauteed zucchini, onions, garlic, etc. Zesty eating—BSK saved some of the mix and folded it into BSK’s hearty breakfast omelet.  Eggcellent, indeed!!

Sunday (July 2) was the 60 year marriage anniversary of HG/BSK. On a steamy New York summer day in 1963, Judge George Postel officiated at the marriage of HG/BSK. (The luckiest day of HG’s life). HG/BSK marked the long ago event with a leisurely lunch  at Clamdiggers Restaurant in Cardigan, Prince Edward Island (A short drive from HG/BSK’s oceanfront home). Good food and drink and lovely views of Cardigan harbor (Once a shipbuilding site). HG/BSK shared a starter of crab cakes with PEI mustard pickles. Main dish for BSK was a lobster roll and French fries. For HG: Pan seared scallops and mashed potatoes. The drink was locally brewed Gahan Island Red Ale (This was perfectly poured and is the best ale/beer in the world). Dessert was bread pudding  in caramel sauce and copious amounts of whipped cream (An HG request). HG/BSK clinked glasses and toasted a long, happy marriage that has produced extraordinary children and grandchildren. HG expressed a wish to have more years with wondrous BSK, the love of HG’s life. HG is now 93 and owes the longevity to BSK’s unceasing loving care.

HG/BSK have a delightful furry and frisky member of the HG/BSK family.  Cute mixed breed male, Toby is always referred to by HG as “Toby, The Wonder Dog.”  And, pray tell, what makes Toby wondrous? HG is an old (93) rickety fellow. Yes, HG walks (mostly without a cane or walker). It often appears there’s the possibility of a fall . Not too likely since HG has had two tumbles in the last ten years. But, Toby is alert. If there’s a noise (dropped book, cane, nebulizer) Toby is at HG’s side in a flash barking loudly to summon help. Toby is so smart that if he thinks HG is shaky, he’s at HG’s side barking away. He’s HG’s trusty guardian. Top flight watchdog. If anyone approaches HG/BSK’s homes (Prince Edward Island and Rhode Island) he barks loudly and this alerts HG//BSK (Big bark from a little guy and this often scares delivery persons, workmen and friendly visitors). At bedtime, Toby sleeps at  the foot of HG/BSK’s bed. He does some nocturnal wandering but usually winds up there. Toby is fond of HG but he loves, loves, loves BSK. He can’t get enough snuggles and pats from BSK as BSK murmurs “Good dog. Best little dog.” No need for an alarm clock. Between 8 and 8:30 Toby wakes up his beloved with affectionate licks. Given all of the wondrous Toby qualities HG has outlined in this post, one must agree that he deserves the label: ” The Wonder Dog.”

HG/BSK had a dinner guest last night—beautiful Leslie French (She lives in Toronto but has spent summers for many years in her small house. just east of HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home). Plentiful fresh vegetables in the fridge so BSK made a healthy and tasty pasta dish–al dente penne plus zucchini, cherry tomatoes, onions, scallions, garlic, olive oil, herbs. Plus cheese: Mozzarella, feta, parmesan. BSK fried some thick cut bacon.  Crumbled the  crisp slices and added them to the penne dish. A nice touch. HG sipped HG’s pre-dinner Negroni while the women joined HG with glasses of chilled Rose’. (Good Pinot Noir with the food). BSK made a sumptuous dessert for BSK and the lovely guest: Vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries and a splash of maple syrup. HG had HG’s usual: Clement Faugier Vanilla Chestnut Puree with whipped cream (A taste memory of London’s Gay Hussar restaurant). HG nightcap: A worthy whiskey–Forty Creek– from Ontario’s Niagara district. O, Canada!!!

HG/BSK had a delicious dinner at Ocean Mist Farm, the verdant, fruit and vegetable abundant farm (near Panmure Island in Prince Edward Island) of BSK’s sister and brother in law, Noel and Yossi M. Big, juicy local lobsters were on the table plus potato salad and coleslaw (A BSK contribution). First of the lobster harvesting season and they were delicious. Strange omission. HG did a recent post about the  great variety of fresh seafood available at Julio’s Fish Mart on PEI and Tony’s Fish store in Providence ,RI  (It’s a quick drive from HG/BSK’s spacious Central Falls, RI, loft.). Didn’t mention lobster. Lots of tasty lobster.–live and cooked–at both sites. Prices are a fraction of New York. Hand me the lobster cracker and other utensils!!! Don’t neglect the melted butter!!