If you are a grossly overpaid Athlete, talentless Hip-Hop Star, inside trading Hedge Fund Manager or Trust-Fund baby (I believe that covers the target market) in the possession of a Brooklands, Azure or Arnage Bentley please return it immediately to your authorized Bentley dealer! The following models have been recalled* due to the deadly "Flying B" hood ornament that has been responsible for the impalement of handlers, groupies, gumar's & pedestrians crossing the street at a green light with right of way. Before one of the aforementioned gets impaled on your flying B for getting in your way on your way to the next party, meeting, game, awards ceremony please go to your nearest Bentley dealer to have your flying B retrofitted for a less dangerous hood ornament to ensure no-one mistakes your Bentley for anything other then a Bentley...oh the embarrassment if anyone thought you were in a Rolls Royce...the horror...the horror...
*For the record there is a recall in place for the above listed models due to the flying B hood ornament
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
A Jets fans wet dream come to life...
There is no other way to describe today's HUGE win against the hated & despised New England team in game 2 of the season then a wet dream come true. The highlights of this win include...
3 Touchdown passes by Sanchez to 3 different receivers....who was questioning IF he could throw the ball?!?
A 2 point conversion...how many do they ever make...much less try?!?
2 awesome interceptions
SACKING TOM BRADY!!! Eat it tommy-boy!!!
2 Field Goals
Revis only in 1st half
Great field position in 2nd half due to NE penalties
For tonight bask in the glory of the highlights on TV/Internet & all the articles tomorrow in the NY papers. If this team vs last weeks team keeps showing up...we just might really have something here.While I would like to leave on a positive note & I will...there is one major negative point I must point out. My brother who knows next to nothing about football much less cares (though in all fairness he does have friends/family over for the Superbowl) about the game was taken to the game by one of his clients. Criminal....absolutely criminal.
The positive note...my Nephew turns 4 on Tuesday & Crazyman 4 (his b-day party...kinda like Burning Man but far far wilder & crazier {better food & WC facilities as well} is on Sunday & actually doesn't screw up watching the JETS game since they are playing at night next Sunday) will be getting either a Jets football or a Mark Sanchez t-shirt...maybe both after today's a$$ kicking of NE!
3 Touchdown passes by Sanchez to 3 different receivers....who was questioning IF he could throw the ball?!?
A 2 point conversion...how many do they ever make...much less try?!?
2 awesome interceptions
SACKING TOM BRADY!!! Eat it tommy-boy!!!
2 Field Goals
Revis only in 1st half
Great field position in 2nd half due to NE penalties
For tonight bask in the glory of the highlights on TV/Internet & all the articles tomorrow in the NY papers. If this team vs last weeks team keeps showing up...we just might really have something here.While I would like to leave on a positive note & I will...there is one major negative point I must point out. My brother who knows next to nothing about football much less cares (though in all fairness he does have friends/family over for the Superbowl) about the game was taken to the game by one of his clients. Criminal....absolutely criminal.
The positive note...my Nephew turns 4 on Tuesday & Crazyman 4 (his b-day party...kinda like Burning Man but far far wilder & crazier {better food & WC facilities as well} is on Sunday & actually doesn't screw up watching the JETS game since they are playing at night next Sunday) will be getting either a Jets football or a Mark Sanchez t-shirt...maybe both after today's a$$ kicking of NE!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta... We Salute You!
Does the name Sal Giunta ring a bell or mean anything to anybody? No...it's not like he did much. Simply under fire with his unit cut in half in ran out to carry not one...but two (that's right he ran out under fire twice!) wounded soldiers & then gunned down some "freedom fighters" trying to carry off another one (so they could explain the peaceful beauty of Islam while explaining to him that he is an infidel & then sawing off his head...while video-taping it). What is truly sad here is that he is the first living recipient to receive the Medal of Honor while still alive from the Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan & there have only been 6 posthumous awarded thus far.
Why so few in these conflicts I don't understand. Why they get so little coverage I do. The Left Wing Liberal media doesn't want to give these men the time of day or acknowledge them as hero's. They seem to see them in their sad deluded views as cold blooded killers & butchers. They can't stand knowing that the only reason that they can mouth off as they do is because of men like Sal Giunta! The ugly reality is that they simply cannot face & admit (even though I'm sure deep down that they do & it kills them & eats their guts in the middle of the night) to is that it is men & woman with guns that patrol our streets, our borders, foreign interests & Allies lands & not a bunch of words written on a document. I understand the value of the Rule of Law but they are meaningless without being enforced. The Colonel Jessep* speech in A Few Good Men said it all. The best part is that this movie was very clearly a Liberal view on the superiority of the rule of law & how men & woman with words can get over the big bad Military monsters. Thing is...the writer wrote the best argument for the role & need of the Military in the world we live in. Rove working with Rumsfeld & Darth Cheney couldn't have come up with something as good.
We call morons who can throw & catch a ball hero's & frail miniature men with big heads who can fake emotions hero's. Few of them are & those that are are hero's due to their actions & charitable causes off the field & film. Firefighters, Police, Our Military, EMS, Doctors/Dentists/Nurses, Teachers, etc are hero's. They either save lives or do things to make our lives better.
The Medal of Honor is given to those who under extreme & terrible life threatening conditions risk & too often give their lives for others. They should be on the front pages of our papers. Not someone who caught a ball or puked on themselves when they fell out of their car without any underwear on. If you have not heard of the following men then go to :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Medal_of_Honor_recipients#War_in_Afghanistan
Jared C. Monti
Michael P. Murphy
Jason Dunham
Ross A. McGinnis
Michael A Monsoor
Paul R Smith
Nobody asked them to do what they did, they weren't highly paid for it, they didn't get a do over, a next inning, quarter, cut, or take...they gave their lives to save their fellow brothers in arms & so you could sit on your couch drinking your beer eating your hot-dog, looking at your playboy while watching sports while cursing out your President & assorted elected officials. Which for the record...half of those would get you stoned to death in many Muslim countries & the last one could get you shot in Russia or China. Don't take your freedom for granted. Sal Giunta & the men listed above risked & gave too much for you to.
*Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Why so few in these conflicts I don't understand. Why they get so little coverage I do. The Left Wing Liberal media doesn't want to give these men the time of day or acknowledge them as hero's. They seem to see them in their sad deluded views as cold blooded killers & butchers. They can't stand knowing that the only reason that they can mouth off as they do is because of men like Sal Giunta! The ugly reality is that they simply cannot face & admit (even though I'm sure deep down that they do & it kills them & eats their guts in the middle of the night) to is that it is men & woman with guns that patrol our streets, our borders, foreign interests & Allies lands & not a bunch of words written on a document. I understand the value of the Rule of Law but they are meaningless without being enforced. The Colonel Jessep* speech in A Few Good Men said it all. The best part is that this movie was very clearly a Liberal view on the superiority of the rule of law & how men & woman with words can get over the big bad Military monsters. Thing is...the writer wrote the best argument for the role & need of the Military in the world we live in. Rove working with Rumsfeld & Darth Cheney couldn't have come up with something as good.
We call morons who can throw & catch a ball hero's & frail miniature men with big heads who can fake emotions hero's. Few of them are & those that are are hero's due to their actions & charitable causes off the field & film. Firefighters, Police, Our Military, EMS, Doctors/Dentists/Nurses, Teachers, etc are hero's. They either save lives or do things to make our lives better.
The Medal of Honor is given to those who under extreme & terrible life threatening conditions risk & too often give their lives for others. They should be on the front pages of our papers. Not someone who caught a ball or puked on themselves when they fell out of their car without any underwear on. If you have not heard of the following men then go to :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Medal_of_Honor_recipients#War_in_Afghanistan
Jared C. Monti
Michael P. Murphy
Jason Dunham
Ross A. McGinnis
Michael A Monsoor
Paul R Smith
Nobody asked them to do what they did, they weren't highly paid for it, they didn't get a do over, a next inning, quarter, cut, or take...they gave their lives to save their fellow brothers in arms & so you could sit on your couch drinking your beer eating your hot-dog, looking at your playboy while watching sports while cursing out your President & assorted elected officials. Which for the record...half of those would get you stoned to death in many Muslim countries & the last one could get you shot in Russia or China. Don't take your freedom for granted. Sal Giunta & the men listed above risked & gave too much for you to.
*Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Nobel Peace Prize: Reason O won it #60 Billion...& Counting
Looks like Captain Super Awesome is about to out-do any & all Presidents past once again (& you thought ObamaCare was going to be his legacy...btw enjoying your new higher premiums yet?) Right now before Congress ("you know" {shout out future Ms. Guvnor Ms. Caroline Kennedy}the one with the majority of peaceful intellectually & morally superior Democrats) is an arms deal valued at $60 Billion (largest arms deal ever) big ones for state of the art US Fighter Jets to our good friends the Saudi Arabians. Yes, those same good friends who the only thing they export more then oil is terrorism in the guise of the Wahhabi sect of Islam (feel free to google if you are not familiar...but not exactly the peaceful practitioners of Islam). In addition there is another 30 Billion on the table for Navel vessels & other misc gear. Get this...the reasoning behind this...to counter-balance Iran in the region...& this is based upon...?
Let's take a step back with a brief history lesson. Saudi Arabia as a modern entity was founded back in 1932. American Engineers discovered the oil & thus we got the first contracts...while FDR was President. That's right he's the one that cut the original deals with the House of Saud. So make no mistake, every President since then has been tight with them. So, sorry to tell you...but it wasn't only the evil root'en toot'en Cowboy Dubya, nor his Daddy or even just Ronnie Raygun who was in with the House of Saud...but Mr. New Deal, Peanut-boy, Slick Willie & now The One. While wars were breaking out in the Middle-East they either stayed out of them or sent few troops & did some financing...along with an oil embargo back in 1973. They have been buying arms from us for years...heavily since the 90's. Yet when Kuwait was attacked did the mighty well armed Saud Army go in? No, Bush Sr had to lead a coalition. Did they take out Saddam's nuclear ambitions...no that was the Israeli's. Syria's...nope Israeli's again. Are they using any of their planes & ships for peaceful purposes? You tell me how much they helped in Haiti, Thailand, New Orleans, Italy, Pakistan, etc...not much. Why we have this dysfunctional relationship is beyond me. They sell us oil that we use & they buy billions in weapons from us that they don't.
I think we should stop buying oil from them...stop selling arms to them & convince the Chinese & Ruskies to go in & take it after the House of Saud falls. Then they can deal with the "freedom fighters" in the streets...in the alleys in between Mosques on every block & kill each other over what oil is left. Just a thought...one can "hope" right?
If anything besides selling to the Israeli's maybe I would cuts deals with Iraq for oil/weapons. They have plenty of oil yet to drill up & unlike the Saudis who have 0 war-fighting experience...the Iraqi's do. Plus unlike the Saud's who hate the Persians but do nothing but whisper to the Israeli's to do something...then condemn them in public the Iraqi's have been to war against Iran. At least if it comes down to it they will fight.
Let's take a step back with a brief history lesson. Saudi Arabia as a modern entity was founded back in 1932. American Engineers discovered the oil & thus we got the first contracts...while FDR was President. That's right he's the one that cut the original deals with the House of Saud. So make no mistake, every President since then has been tight with them. So, sorry to tell you...but it wasn't only the evil root'en toot'en Cowboy Dubya, nor his Daddy or even just Ronnie Raygun who was in with the House of Saud...but Mr. New Deal, Peanut-boy, Slick Willie & now The One. While wars were breaking out in the Middle-East they either stayed out of them or sent few troops & did some financing...along with an oil embargo back in 1973. They have been buying arms from us for years...heavily since the 90's. Yet when Kuwait was attacked did the mighty well armed Saud Army go in? No, Bush Sr had to lead a coalition. Did they take out Saddam's nuclear ambitions...no that was the Israeli's. Syria's...nope Israeli's again. Are they using any of their planes & ships for peaceful purposes? You tell me how much they helped in Haiti, Thailand, New Orleans, Italy, Pakistan, etc...not much. Why we have this dysfunctional relationship is beyond me. They sell us oil that we use & they buy billions in weapons from us that they don't.
I think we should stop buying oil from them...stop selling arms to them & convince the Chinese & Ruskies to go in & take it after the House of Saud falls. Then they can deal with the "freedom fighters" in the streets...in the alleys in between Mosques on every block & kill each other over what oil is left. Just a thought...one can "hope" right?
If anything besides selling to the Israeli's maybe I would cuts deals with Iraq for oil/weapons. They have plenty of oil yet to drill up & unlike the Saudis who have 0 war-fighting experience...the Iraqi's do. Plus unlike the Saud's who hate the Persians but do nothing but whisper to the Israeli's to do something...then condemn them in public the Iraqi's have been to war against Iran. At least if it comes down to it they will fight.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Train Travel Tales
While New Yorkers may have the rep of not be friendly & just always on the move...it's only the latter statement that is true. Things move fast here & we don't stop & say hello to everyone we pass by. However, put us in a social setting anywhere & anytime you find out just how gregarious we are. As a prime example on my way back home yesterday on the LIRR it stopped as we pulled into Penn Station awaiting another train to pull in. While I'm standing waiting for the door to open with two other women one of the women's husband walks over. The wife asks "is that woman still sleeping". He replies "Yes, don't worry she''ll be fine". Don't you think we should wake her? ". I interject...she'll be fine. I have a good story about a friend who fell asleep...I tell mine...& then the single woman tells hers & then the Husband tells his...here they are....(Readers Digest Versions)
Combo's Night Out (My Story)
One of my best friends from College is out right after work on a weekday. Gets loaded & makes it to the train. Gets on the right train. Passes out cold. Wakes up somewhat confused...looks at his watch...it's 7am. Looks out the train window...he's back in Penn Station! He rode back & forth all night. Gets off the train & goes to work...
The Good Conductor (Single Woman)
Girl goes out at night with friends & is supposed to meet up with friends on Long Island. Gets loaded...but makes it to the train...even the right line (noticing a theme here). Passes out & wakes up confused. Friends have been calling her on her cell phone & she finally picks up. She's so drunk she doesn't know were she is or where she is going. As Conductor walks by she starts trying to communicate with him. The friend on other side of phone hears her rambling & says "give the Conductor the phone". He takes the phone & they ask him if he can please put heir friend in a cab & gives him the address. Drunk friend shows up 15 minutes later in a cab...after the Conductor walked her down the stairs & put her in the cab...
EMS Middle of Night Calls (Husband)
Guy was a EMS volunteer working the night shift. Used to get frequent calls from LIRR Conductors to come pick-up drunks. Not your run of the mill...but your total disasters (see above for "like")...the ones the Conductor were worried would get in a car... kill themselves & whomever else they crashed into. I was surprised EMS would do this...but he said that this was a regular occurrence. The Conductors didn't want to let these people loose & the EMS workers would drop them off at the local Hospital to dry out...
I'm guessing the "sleeping woman" is going to be alright...she may even have a story of her own for her friends, family, & fellow passengers...on the train ride we call Life...
Combo's Night Out (My Story)
One of my best friends from College is out right after work on a weekday. Gets loaded & makes it to the train. Gets on the right train. Passes out cold. Wakes up somewhat confused...looks at his watch...it's 7am. Looks out the train window...he's back in Penn Station! He rode back & forth all night. Gets off the train & goes to work...
The Good Conductor (Single Woman)
Girl goes out at night with friends & is supposed to meet up with friends on Long Island. Gets loaded...but makes it to the train...even the right line (noticing a theme here). Passes out & wakes up confused. Friends have been calling her on her cell phone & she finally picks up. She's so drunk she doesn't know were she is or where she is going. As Conductor walks by she starts trying to communicate with him. The friend on other side of phone hears her rambling & says "give the Conductor the phone". He takes the phone & they ask him if he can please put heir friend in a cab & gives him the address. Drunk friend shows up 15 minutes later in a cab...after the Conductor walked her down the stairs & put her in the cab...
EMS Middle of Night Calls (Husband)
Guy was a EMS volunteer working the night shift. Used to get frequent calls from LIRR Conductors to come pick-up drunks. Not your run of the mill...but your total disasters (see above for "like")...the ones the Conductor were worried would get in a car... kill themselves & whomever else they crashed into. I was surprised EMS would do this...but he said that this was a regular occurrence. The Conductors didn't want to let these people loose & the EMS workers would drop them off at the local Hospital to dry out...
I'm guessing the "sleeping woman" is going to be alright...she may even have a story of her own for her friends, family, & fellow passengers...on the train ride we call Life...
Monday, September 6, 2010
Eataly
One would think that the Recession is over or never happened in the first place judging by how busy Eataly was this past Saturday mid-morning. In what was the Toy Building on 5th Ave btwn 23rd & 24th is now a Temple to Italian food both imported & local. I managed to not go to crazy on my first go around & managed to keep it to under $75.00. The place is broken up into a number of food stalls, restaurants, a book store, wine store, a rooftop beer garden, & they also have classes. The place was a madhouse so I only stayed so long but picked up a number of goods. I'll share these with you to give you a feel for what's available. I started with a large cup of Lavazza Coffee to get me going (the area is decorated with cutouts from the Lavaaza calendars...high end photographers working with beautiful actresses & models...think Campari or Pirelli calendars...I'm really into photography so I loved it) I then made my way through the growing & maddening crowds & picked up the following...
A Rustico Classico bread from the bakery (all the breads looked great)...molto bene
A Cheese made w/Barolo Wine, Prosciutto de Parma, & Piccante Cotto...all molto bene as well & the Cotto is very spicy. Since these goods came from the same stall...guessing it wasn't Kosher just in case you were wondering
Heirloom Tomatoes, a LI Red Tomato & Arugula from the Produce Dept...Here's a funny story & kudos to the grocer...when he saw that I picked 3 heirloom tomatoes he came over & said I had to try the LI tomato...it's the best he has...then reached into my cart & pulled out one of the green heirlooms...put it back & sent one of his guys to weight & price the LI Red for me...I said I appreciate the heads up & will take your advice but can I have my other tomato back as well...Of note...the one he recommended was half the price of the Heirlooms...so he clearly wasn't pushing price. I've yet to try the LI Red but the green Heirlooms were AMAZING...
Cherry Tomato Arrabiata, Peeled Cherry Tomatoes in a can, & Somesortacurly pasta from the Grain & Sauce section. The pasta was very good & the spicy cherry tomato sauce was good as well....however...even though it is imported from Italy...it's not as good as the Michael's of Brooklyn I get from Whole foods & Todaro's. The imported stuff was more processed while the Michael's is chunky & looks like your Grandma made it. As a quick side note...I gave the Michael's a try a year ago when I stumbled onto it. It turns out after conversations with my Mom & some research on the web...the place is now a catering hall & restaurant but started out as a pizza place...across the street from the apartment that my parents first lived in when they had me in Brooklyn! How's that for crazy circumstances. I find the best spicy sauce in a jar & better then almost every restaurant I've been to in a Whole Foods decades later from the place my parents used to go for their Garbage Pie (for those outside NYC...it means the works...sausage, pepper, onions, meatballs, pepperoni, & mushrooms)...crazy huh? Anyway...I hedged my bet that the imported sauce would be good but not great & thus purchased imported whole peeled cherry tomatoes to make my own sauce (stay tuned for results).
Pistachio Spread - I have a sweet-tooth & I'm a chocolate-a-holic. So when I saw the chocolate spreads other then Nutella among the chocolate bars I figured I'd give one a go. I love Pistachios & have never seen the combo ...it's always Hazelnut or Almond...I'd give it a whirl. On the way home when I realized I forgot if it was dark or milk...it turned out it's neither...but just Pistachio spread which was a very pleasant surprise. I've been wondering why there is peanut, almond, hazelnut butters but not Pistachio. Have not opened it yet...but will soon enough...
Well like I said it was busy & I tried not to go to crazy. The meat department looked good & they are working with US ranches to produce Piedmont meats, seafood dept looked good as well. There was a counter for pastries that looked great & a Gelato bar I missed as well...next time. Hopefully this gives you a good feel for what's available. I highly recommend you go.
Now while I think this was a good start...I would like to see more of these. The best I've ever seen anywhere...by far is the Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona. It kills me that they have something that blows away anything we have. So...to give it some real competition since New York is such a global city we need Temples of Gastronomy to various cultures...
Asia-Pac Market - While most of these countries could have their own let's set up one big one for Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, & while we're at it some stalls from Oz & New Zealand
Mercat De la Boquria NYC - Spanish food is amazing & very diverse...it's not just Paella & Platas Brava...
La Ville-Lumière - Hey c'mon...we need to have one for the French...they do have pretty good food & wine (& woman). I would add in some stalls from neighbors Belgium & Switzerland.
Adriatic/Aegean Market - Stalls from Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Serbia, Albanian etc...Just imagine the battles over the coffee & baklava! Plus Croatia has all all sorts of great Liqueurs, Perserves, Fig Sweets, & some great cured Beef...
Mid-East Market - You...yes you that wants to build bridges between Muslims & Americans...this is how you do it...through FOOD. Food is the common denominator. We all love to eat & with a place full of stalls from Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Iraq etc...selling Oils, Honeys,Spices,Exotic flavored Sweets, prepared foods, etc...that would bring people together! This is how everyday Americans can learn about the Middle-East...through it's food. By breaking bread & sprinkling some sea-salt on our food together vs. rubbing salt in deep wounds on holy ground...hey...remember...we're talking deep thoughts here...
A Rustico Classico bread from the bakery (all the breads looked great)...molto bene
A Cheese made w/Barolo Wine, Prosciutto de Parma, & Piccante Cotto...all molto bene as well & the Cotto is very spicy. Since these goods came from the same stall...guessing it wasn't Kosher just in case you were wondering
Heirloom Tomatoes, a LI Red Tomato & Arugula from the Produce Dept...Here's a funny story & kudos to the grocer...when he saw that I picked 3 heirloom tomatoes he came over & said I had to try the LI tomato...it's the best he has...then reached into my cart & pulled out one of the green heirlooms...put it back & sent one of his guys to weight & price the LI Red for me...I said I appreciate the heads up & will take your advice but can I have my other tomato back as well...Of note...the one he recommended was half the price of the Heirlooms...so he clearly wasn't pushing price. I've yet to try the LI Red but the green Heirlooms were AMAZING...
Cherry Tomato Arrabiata, Peeled Cherry Tomatoes in a can, & Somesortacurly pasta from the Grain & Sauce section. The pasta was very good & the spicy cherry tomato sauce was good as well....however...even though it is imported from Italy...it's not as good as the Michael's of Brooklyn I get from Whole foods & Todaro's. The imported stuff was more processed while the Michael's is chunky & looks like your Grandma made it. As a quick side note...I gave the Michael's a try a year ago when I stumbled onto it. It turns out after conversations with my Mom & some research on the web...the place is now a catering hall & restaurant but started out as a pizza place...across the street from the apartment that my parents first lived in when they had me in Brooklyn! How's that for crazy circumstances. I find the best spicy sauce in a jar & better then almost every restaurant I've been to in a Whole Foods decades later from the place my parents used to go for their Garbage Pie (for those outside NYC...it means the works...sausage, pepper, onions, meatballs, pepperoni, & mushrooms)...crazy huh? Anyway...I hedged my bet that the imported sauce would be good but not great & thus purchased imported whole peeled cherry tomatoes to make my own sauce (stay tuned for results).
Pistachio Spread - I have a sweet-tooth & I'm a chocolate-a-holic. So when I saw the chocolate spreads other then Nutella among the chocolate bars I figured I'd give one a go. I love Pistachios & have never seen the combo ...it's always Hazelnut or Almond...I'd give it a whirl. On the way home when I realized I forgot if it was dark or milk...it turned out it's neither...but just Pistachio spread which was a very pleasant surprise. I've been wondering why there is peanut, almond, hazelnut butters but not Pistachio. Have not opened it yet...but will soon enough...
Well like I said it was busy & I tried not to go to crazy. The meat department looked good & they are working with US ranches to produce Piedmont meats, seafood dept looked good as well. There was a counter for pastries that looked great & a Gelato bar I missed as well...next time. Hopefully this gives you a good feel for what's available. I highly recommend you go.
Now while I think this was a good start...I would like to see more of these. The best I've ever seen anywhere...by far is the Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona. It kills me that they have something that blows away anything we have. So...to give it some real competition since New York is such a global city we need Temples of Gastronomy to various cultures...
Asia-Pac Market - While most of these countries could have their own let's set up one big one for Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, & while we're at it some stalls from Oz & New Zealand
Mercat De la Boquria NYC - Spanish food is amazing & very diverse...it's not just Paella & Platas Brava...
La Ville-Lumière - Hey c'mon...we need to have one for the French...they do have pretty good food & wine (& woman). I would add in some stalls from neighbors Belgium & Switzerland.
Adriatic/Aegean Market - Stalls from Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Serbia, Albanian etc...Just imagine the battles over the coffee & baklava! Plus Croatia has all all sorts of great Liqueurs, Perserves, Fig Sweets, & some great cured Beef...
Mid-East Market - You...yes you that wants to build bridges between Muslims & Americans...this is how you do it...through FOOD. Food is the common denominator. We all love to eat & with a place full of stalls from Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Iraq etc...selling Oils, Honeys,Spices,Exotic flavored Sweets, prepared foods, etc...that would bring people together! This is how everyday Americans can learn about the Middle-East...through it's food. By breaking bread & sprinkling some sea-salt on our food together vs. rubbing salt in deep wounds on holy ground...hey...remember...we're talking deep thoughts here...
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