HUNGRY GERALD

Autumn is HG’s favorite season. Prince Edward Island has been delightful this October. Many crisp,sunny, breezy days. Malpeque oysters are very good in October. (A month with an “R” in it). And, of course, the colorful leaf displays of trees and shrubs. HG is a “leafie”, an autumn leaf lover. Montclair, NJ, HG/BSK’s home for many years, was an autumn color explosion. When living in New York, HG/BSK would bicycle to Central Park to enjoy the changing season. Sometimes HG/BSK would cycle over the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy the colorful tree-lined streets of Brooklyn Heights. Traditionally, Vermont has been the mecca for leafies. One year HG/BSK motored there to view the spectacle, Sadly, by the time HG/BSK arrived, frost and winds had removed all the leaves. This past Sunday night was alternate week dinner at Ocean Mist Farm, home of BSK’s sister, Noel M., and Noel’s husband, Yossi M. The thirty-minute drive to Ocean Mist was alive with color. Dinner was barbecued pork chops accompanied by, surprise!!, the last sweet corn on the cob of the season. Yums. HG celebrated by drinking locally brewed moonshine, ‘White Lightning” Powerful. HG managed to get to the car for homeward trip. Shakily.

HG/BSK were introduced to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim at the Fire Island home of their dear friends, Jackie Cain and Roy Kral (sadly, both are deceased). A great jazz duo, “Jackie and Roy”, met Jobim In Brazil and were enchanted by his bossa nova rhythms. After a day in the sea and sun (HG/BSK had a dune house a short walk from J & R’s rental), HG/BSK would stroll to their tree-shaded residence. Roy would mix an icy XL dry martini for HG and set a Jobim record spinning on a turntable. Heavenly memory. HG’s favorite jazz CD is “Getz/Jobim: Girl from Ipanema”. HG listens to it once a week (martini in hand). THere’s a vocal on the CD by Astrud Gilberto. But the ultimate joy is the collaboration of the great saxophonist, Stan Getz, with the voice and music of Jobim. Getz’s solos of Jobim’s music are works of art. The musical marriage of Getz and Jobim seems unlikely. Getz was the son of Jewish immigrants to the USA from Ukraine. Jobim was Brazilian by birth and musical training. Go figure.

Yes, autumn on Prince Edward Island is glorious. Colorful leaves. Gentle winds. Crisp temperatures. Seasonal oysters. And, in terms of the coronavirus, PEI is one of the safest places on earth (fingers remain crossed, however). What interferes with HG’s oceanic pleasures is election anxiety. Despite favorable polls, HG is concerned that quasi dictator Trump and the fascist corrupt Republican party might manage to steal the election. A Biden defeat would mean the end of democracy in America. Almost 250 years of a noble experiment, the hope of the world, would come to a crashing halt. Hey, it happened in Germany in 1932. HG will be 91 on Nov. 9. Realistically, HG doesn’t have many more years left. The lucky man married the love of his life, BSK, and has been blessed with a wonderful son and daughter, four glorious grandchildren; a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law who are loving, talented and admirable in numberless ways. In addition HG has a life-enhancing daughter, Victoria, from HG’S first marriage, and Victoria’s multi-talented husband, Marc Meyer, another wondrous son-in-law. As the cliche has it: HG’s cup runneth over. When the Moloch Hamoves (the angel of death) arrives for HG, the old guy’s wish is that the big, black bird, perch on a United States that is still a democracy.

Shakshuka is eaten in every dining facility in Israel. At home, of course, but also in restaurants, diners, coffee shops, gas stations, etc. It figures. Life in Israel can be tense and shakshuka is the ultimate comfort food. Basically, this is a dish of stewed spicy tomatoes, garlic, peppers, herbs. It is topped with poached eggs (BSK is a world champion poacher). Accompanied by a bowl of Greek yogurt and sour cream enhanced by HG’s customized mix of zaatar, cumin, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, olive oil and lemon juice. Fiery harissa on the side. Lush shakshuka dinner last night. BSK “French fried” mineral-rich wedges of Prince Edward Island potatoes in the oven. Glorious. Crisp on the outside. Flavorfully soft on the inside. Joyous, comforting meal.

Some decades ago, HG/BSK toured the magical island of Sicily with the R. family (daughter Lesley, granddaughters Arianna and Sofia, son in law Massimo, the distinguished Professor, and authority on all aspects of Italian culture). Massimo was an invaluable guide. One sunny day, HG/BSK and family lunched on the terrace of a hilltop restaurant. Beautiful view of the ruins of a Greek temple (columns still intact). This was a reminder that Sicily had been occupied by many nations (European and Arabic) through the centuries. HG/BSK relished their lunch dish of Spaghetti a la Norma (pasta with an eggplant sauce). Through the years, BSK duplicated the dish for many joyous meals. However, the ultimate, ecstatic a la Norma was produced last night as Prince Edward Island (and HG/BSK’s oceanfront home) was battered by hurricane-force winds (the sea was a froth of whitecaps). Oddly, much of PEI lost electric power but HG/BSK’s system remained intact. BSK used the “Pasta alla Norma” recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbook: “Keep It Simple.” Yes, HG has noted that traditional Italian methods for pasta dishes were superior to Ottolenghi’s riffs on the subject. HG was wrong. Ottolenghi’s recipe called for oiled slices of eggplant to be roasted for 30 minutes before being added to the other ingredients for further simmering. Italian recipes call for raw cubes of eggplant to be cooked in the pan. The Ottolenghi recipe created the silkiest, juiciest, flavorful sauce ever. BSK said BSK will try other Ottolenghi pasta recipes. HG looks forward.

Monday, Sept. 12, was Canadian Thanksgiving Day (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day in USA). HG/BSK have much to be thankful for. Living healthily and happily in HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home during the pandemic is one of many blessings (plus the HG/BSK family in Rhode Island, New Mexico, and Japan have been healthy). Fingers are crossed. No turkey this Thanksgiving Day. Instead, BSK prepared a feast of Indian dishes ranging from chicken curry to cauliflower with sweet pea chutney. Other dishes included saag paneer (using feta cheese instead of Indian paneer); dal (made by HG); refreshing raita salad. Mango chutney, chopped lime pickles and warmed naan. Dining companions were BSK’s sister, Noel M., and brother in law, Yossi M.; Morina Pipes and her son, Daniel. Morina is a Russian from an area bordering Syria. Daniel lives in Charlottetown while pursuing his Masters degree (and running a paint contracting business.). Morina and Israeli husband, Amram, farm many acres near N. and Y. ‘s Ocean Mist Farm. Amram, a skilled agriculturist, is presently in Uzbekistan working with an Israeli team on an ambitious irrigation project. HG/BSK’s guests did not come empty-handed. The multitude of gifts included fresh produce, wine, challah, tasty cookies. Morina’s dish of zucchini in tomato sauce went nicely with Indian fare. White and red wines were drunk in abundance. Laughter and high spirits. A memorable event.