Hospitality

Saturday, March 14, 2016

We paid a visit to my brother at the JFK University Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. He is spending a short amount of time there. While there, I inquired whether they plan to add Trump’s name to the facility. As of now, not.

Since we were in the vicinity, madam and I had lunch at Seasons 52, 217 Lafayette Avenue, Edison, New Jersey. It’s a fine example of a suburban restaurant, large tables well separated, ample parking, perky service and consistently good food. My young bride had the tuna crunch salad, seared ahi tuna on crisp greens, crunchy almonds, fresh mango, and crunchy wonton strips, tossed in a zesty sesame-ginger dressing, pronouncing it probably the best salad she has ever had ($22). I had the crab cake sandwich with a delicious side salad ($18). The server refilled my Coke Zero without being asked.

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If the threat of a nuclear Iran keeps you up at night, consider this:

Sunday, March 15, 2026

This afternoon, with seemingly every Jewish grandparent in the Tristate area, we went to Lincoln Center to hear the annual concert of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir. Unfortunately, the 100-person Israeli contingent could not leave their country, but the organizers effectively worked around their absence. The music is primarily modern, non-liturgical Hebrew. #1 grandson, a Teen Leader of the group, introduced one of the numbers, an additional source of pride for us. Before the concert, other family members were treated to bagels and lox at Palazzo di Gotthelf.

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Tim Wu, Columbia University law professor, makes the interesting argument social media appears to be “a defective, hazardous product” and should be treated that way at law.  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/opinion/social-media-trial-addiction.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Monday, March 16, 2026

Stony Brook Steve and I had lunch at the Fairway Cafe, 2131 Broadway, which allowed us to shop at the market below after we finished eating. It is rebuilding its restaurant business after the long Covid shutdown with good food at reasonable prices. I had a very large bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a (Kaiser) roll, probably containing three scrambled eggs ($10). Notable were the home fried potatoes, usually dry and tough after sitting on the grill for a week. These were plump, freshly cooked, lightly dusted with paprika and salt, very tasty.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Boy, was I wrong. I gave myself 30 minutes to get from West 79th Street and Amsterdam Avenue (the equivalent of Tenth Avenue) to East 79th Street and Second Avenue for my physical therapy appointment, twice as much as usual because of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Well, an hour and a half later, I had reached Fifth Avenue and East 86th Street, where I accepted defeat and returned home. 

Wednesday, March 18,2026

Michael Ratner and I had lunch at Peng’s Noodle Folk, 1016 Lexington Avenue, a joint previously unknown to us. The attractive non-ethnic decor was predominantly wood and terra cotta. The 60 or so seats at eleven tables were occupied most of the time and we will certainly return to them in the future. It's a good option in a neighborhood sorely lacking in them. I had Soy Sauce Beef Stew Noodle, a big bowl of hot soup loaded with noodles, beef, kale, corn kernels, scallion, red radish and green soybeans ($22.75). Michael had essentially the same dish in a dry version ($21.75). 

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While Peng's offers more than noodles, I limited my intake, because of dinner plans. My young bride and I were joining Elaine and Caring Ken Klein to celebrate Ken's birthday at Kebab aur Sharab, 247 West 72nd Street, an Indian restaurant which translates dubiously as "kebobs and alcohol." We have eaten there before and it has received a favorable mention in the Michelin guide. It was packed soon after we arrived. With all that, I was disappointed in the food, certainly not the company. Although many of their dishes stray from the conventional, their overriding characteristics seems to be overpricing and flavors better on paper than on the plate.

We shared two appetizers, Aloo Tiki Chat, crispy patties with chickpeas, mint and tamarind chutney ($19), and Unlce Chips Aloo Chat, crisp potatoes, clarified butter, tamarind, Sev (crunchy noodles) and chutney ($18). My three companions shared two vegetarian dishes; I had butter chicken, cooked in tomato and cashew curry with a swirl of cream ($30). 

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Fordham University, a Jesuit institution, has a strong Jewish studies program, directed by Magda Teter, an outstanding scholar. Tonight, they presented Anita Norich, Professor Emerita of Judaic Studies at University of Michigan, giving an engaging talk on “Yiddish Disputes” in and about the language. She also happens to be the sister of our friend Sam Norich, former director at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and retired editor-in-chief at The Forward. Professor Norich made the interesting observation that Hebrew, because of its historic roots, is considered patriarchal while Yiddish, associated with the street and the home, is considered feminine.

Friday, March 20,2026

Although I am gainfully retired, I occasionally receive job offers. One just came by e-mail that intrigued me, obviously a good fit, because of how personally it was addressed: ge8pw9en7ns4bg5@icloud.net.

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Still happy?