Hot and Spicy

I apologize for the transmission errors that plagued some of you last week. I hope that it all got sorted out eventually.

Saturday, June 27, 2026

I went on a date this evening, dinner and a movie. Fortunately, my young bride was my date. We ate at Long Island Dumplings, 513 Sixth Avenue, a very informal joint that offers a wide variety of dumplings, dim sum and noodles. You can order on an electronic tablet or with a real live human being. Seating is very limited, two four-tops and a counter with four stools. 

I had good siu mai, $6 for four cylinders of chopped shrimp and pork, and Crispy Chicken Curry Buns, three for $8 the size of golf balls. They were not particularly crispy and weak on the curry, but passable. I enjoyed one of my better half's steamed vegetable dumplings, six for $8.75. It tasted very fresh, with a delicate wrapper. While Long Island Dumplings is one block west and one-and-a-half blocks north of where I attended law school, unfortunately it appeared about 25 years too late to make it my home away from home. 

You are guaranteed not to see a superhero movie at the Quad Cinema, 50 West 13th Street. We went there to see For the Love of a Woman, an Italian production in English set in Israel. It is about a young woman in the late 1970s who reluctantly explores her past as instructed by a letter from her mother delivered after her mother’s death. The woman travels to Israel, which she left as a small child in the 1930s, and learns that her personal history is far more complex than she ever imagined. 

The movie often flashes back to Palestine in the 1930s, but never addresses the two overarching issues in modern Israeli life, the conflicts between Jews and Arabs and between secular and observant Jews. And that’s good, because there is enough drama and tension in the lives explored. It might be hard to find, but For the Love of a Woman is worth tracking down.

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Happy Birthday Mel Brooks, 100 years young. We celebrated by going to dinner at Sala Thai, 307 Amsterdam Avenue, which was very busy although he wasn't there. Its capacity is very deceptive. Walking in you barely see a table or two, but the joint keeps going and going further back and opens to a newly added side room. Walls and ceiling are covered by wood panels, giving a warm feeling. 

Especially warm was the Kee Mao Beef that I ordered, a version of drunken noodles, broad, flat noodles stir-fried with chili, garlic, mushrooms, oyster sauce and soy sauce ($20). It came very spicy, just at the limit of my tolerance, a drink of water following every bite until I made all gone. I had gotten off to a good start with Duck Roti Bouquet, duck, cucumber, scallion, radish and Hoisin mayonnaise wrapped in a crêpe ($16).

Monday, June 29, 2026

You might have to change your travel plans. The Pekin Noodle Parlor, 117 South Main Street, Butte, Montana, the longest operating Chinese restaurant in the country, has closed after 117 years. The owner is reportedly ill and no one is interested in succeeding him. This loss is apparently of more historic than gastronomic significance. From what I have read, the food was enjoyed only by folks who never left Butte, Montana. https://www.reddit.com/r/chinesecooking/comments/1s7nfcz/impressions_of_pekin_noodle_parlor_oldestchinese/?solution=e8b811e8545f9fa4e8b811e8545f9fa4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec739def366d6d464a7c1e12d19637b808&jsc_orig_r=

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

There were several reasons to go to Lungi, South Indian & Sri Lankan Restaurant, 1136 First Avenue. It's relatively new; it just received a positive review in the New York Times (June 2, 2026); our companions Eva and Jerry served in Sri Lanka in the Peace Corps. In all, it was a wise choice. We had plenty of good food, somewhat similar but different from other South Asian meals.

We shared just about everything -- Cauliflower 65, cauliflower fritters tossed in a Manchurian sauce ($16), an excellent dish with an undecipherable name; Masala Dosa, big, flat crêpe stuffed with mashed potatoes ($25); Kari Dosa, big, flat crêpe stuffed with minced chicken ($27); Chicken Chettinad, chicken simmered with curry leaves, coconut and freshly ground spices ($32); lamb Kothu, lamb stir-fried with shredded paratha (bread), vegetables, onions and egg ($30). There was more, but I failed to record everything that we ate. You should visit Lungi, with or without your pencil.

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

When I made a lunch date with Irwin Pronin CCNY Student Council President for Life, we agreed to meet at Our New Place Chinese Restaurant, 242 East 79th Street. When I got there, there were two surprises, the name had changed to Cao Tang New Sichuan Cuisine and something broke in the kitchen and they were unable to cook. However, I was early, so I sat in the airconditioned premises and waited for Irwin, prepared to tell him that we had to go somewhere else. Then, fortune intervened, necessary repairs were made and lunch would be served.

We started with Chengdu Cold Noodles, ordered as "mild spicy" delivered as hot, hot ($9.95). Then, we splurged on Peking Duck, 1/2 for $38.95, complete with four pancakes, scallions, cucumbers and Hoisin sauce. It was very good, almost as fat-free as you could expect from duck, but it was no more than 1/2 of 1/2 of a duck. The right size would have warranted a higher price, although a higher price might have deterred us, an issue for economists to ponder.

On the way home, I stopped into the oddly named Salt & Straw, 360 Amsterdam Avenue, to pick up some much better than average ice cream. I bought pints of Birthday Cakes (sic) and Blackberries, "Hunks of birthday cake flecked with rainbow sprinkles folded into salted vanilla ice cream and ribboned with juicy blackberry jam," and chocolate babka w/ hazelnut fudge, $12.50 each. This proved to be a big bargain considering the resulting delight at Palazzo di Gotthelf.

.  .  .

Speaking of pondering, the other day I explained Jack Benny and his famous slow reaction to the challenge "Your money or your life?" to someone a half century younger. Later, I realized that this alternative applied to the United States Supreme Court's somewhat contradictory rulings the other day on executive power, that is President's Trump's power over independent regulatory agencies. In Trump v. Slaughter, the court overruled the 91-year precedent of Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which limited the grounds for removal of a member of a federal regulatory agency. In this case, the agency was the Federal Trade Commission, which pursues fraud in business and consumer relations. Back-to-back with this decision was Trump v. Cook, where a different majority conditionally protected a Governor of the Federal Reserve System from removal. The real difference, Slaughter's job entailed protecting you and me, while Cook operates in the international finance playground, admission by invitation only. 

Friday, July 3, 2026

The Big Apple is the Baked Apple as the temperature reached 100° for the second day.

Color Blind?

Saturday, June 20, 2026

How time flies. In 1984, I saw La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway. It opened in 1983 and ran four years. Tonight, I saw a revival of it as part of the Encores! series which is devoted to old musical shows. I have subscribed to Encores! for 32 years, starting in its second year. Typical works predated WWII, a fertile period for Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Jerome Kern, among others. For me and much of the audience, those old shows were only known by reputation, if at all. However, now, with the passage of time, I qualify as an old timer. I saw the original as well as the revival. Of course, Mick Jagger will be 83 next Friday.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

I have been retired for about 10 years now after working at the New York State Supreme Court (actually the lowest court in the state not the highest) for 14 years. I was thoroughly satisfied with this job which involved researching and writing about legal matters. However, if you have followed this slog, you know that I am particularly attracted to research of a certain character — the best pizza, the best restaurants, the best bagels. Now we have a worldwide listing of allegedly the best hamburgers. 

https://www.timeout.com/news/the-best-burger-places-on-the-planet-have-been-ranked-heres-the-top-30-061826

While I have no regrets about my ultimate career choice, I would have been happy tracking down the best tiramisu or the best French fries.

Monday, June 22, 2026

I just learned that Honda and Sony had a joint venture to develop a new automobile. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/20/business/afeela-automakers-spinoffs-brands.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

They spent hundreds of millions of dollars and were close to releasing it to the public when they cancelled the project. It seemed like such a surprising failure for these two industrial giants. The changing shape of the market seemed to be at fault. 

I believe that, had they gone to market, disaster awaited them if they kept the proposed car’s name — Afeela. For those of us who have had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, it sounds like a Hebrew word, but that wouldn’t save it. To the ordinary ear, it sounds squishy. “I have a new Afeela.” “Let’s take my Afeela.” “How do you like my Afeela?”

According to clutch.co, there are 53,870 agencies or companies in the branding business, not counting Grandpa Alan. At least, I could have told them to pick another name. An obvious possibility would have been Shonda, although that might have drawn opposition from Shonda Rhimes, the very successful television executive, and chuckles from those with a passing knowledge of Yiddish where shonda means shame.

.  .  .

Paul Hecht, Thespian Emeritus, shares this brilliant cartoon.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

A popular Iranian singer has been sentenced to 74 lashes for appearing without a hijab.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/iran-singer-artists-sentenced-to-74-lashes-each-over-concert

Fortunately, she had previously dropped Hava Nagila from her repertoire.

.  .  .

Kim Sykes made a lovely dinner for us, branzino, roasted potatoes, cherry tomato salad. Since we took a taxicab back and forth, I could drink the refreshing Sauvignon blanc. Of course, Kim and Terrific Tom live on the 43rd floor, facing west over the Hudson River. Bread and water would have pleased us under those circumstances.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Reviewing last night’s local election results, I repeat my challenge to the emerging progressive forces: Fight Republicans.

.  .  .

Michael Ratner and I spent an interesting evening together. We drove (I’ll explain later) to Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine, 82-18 45th Avenue, Elmhurst. This seemingly obscure joint was recommended by Eater.com, a very reliable source. It’s small, eight tables. The walls are covered with colorful pictures of the food from its large menu.

Malaysian cuisine is inherently pan-Asian and fun to choose from. We had Roti Canai, the floppy Indian crepe with curried dipping sauce ($4.25); Malaysian satay beef, six skewers of grilled beef with peanut dipping sauce ($10); Mee Siam, angel hair noodles stir fried with prawns, egg, chicken, chiles and coconut milk ($12, a real bargain); Hainanese chicken, half a poached chicken ($18). If it were convenient, I would eat here weekly.

We continued on to Citi Field to see our favorite baseball team, for the first time this season, play the Chicago Cubs. And that’s why we drove. The Mets-Willets Point station on the #7 line is reached by a very tall, very steep staircase which is too much of a challenge for these alte kockers. With my handicap parking placard, we drove close to the gate on level ground.

I can’t entirely lament what followed, the Mets losing 10-5. They played a strange game; the Mets hit four home runs while making six errors, a parlay with the longest odds imaginable.

Friday, June 26, 2026

After President Trump read Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's majority opinion upholding the reversal of protection for Haitian refugees which concluded that Mr. Trump’s many statements about Haitians were not “overtly racial,” and that it was unlikely that race had been a motivating factor in the administration’s decision to end the protections, he supposedly asked some dinner companions, "Is that schmuck deaf and blind?"

Wish I Said That

Saturday, June 13, 202

The Upper West Side’s Power Couple headed northeast today to witness history, #1 grandson’s graduation from high school. It is a defamatory rumor, however, that he is the first one in the family to accomplish this.

We are staying in Newton, Massachusetts, instead of the usual Natick perch, because the school is in nearby Brookline, saving 15 miles. We had dinner at the Social Restaurant & Bar, 320 Washington Avenue, Newton, in the lobby of our hotel. It is a big, somewhat gentrified sports bar. Early evening Saturday, the large screen televisions around the room had little hometown contests to bother us with.

I had a French Dip Burger, a very fat pattie of shredded and ground beef, with Swiss cheese, carmelized onions and horseradish aioli, accompanied by a large portion of herbed French fries ($14). What makes it French Dip is the small bucket of beef drippings on the side to be dipped into. This is known as "au jus," treated as a noun more often than not on many American menus. As far as I know, this is a Los Angeles invention where only Spanish is treated with respect. Done right, it can be quite satisfactory and this one was, although it did not rely on sliced roast beef as its base.  

.  .  .

What’s the alternative?

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Did something happen last night?

.  .  .

The temperature reached 90° while the graduation ceremony was conducted in an unairconditioned gym. Actually, a winter event would have worked well because of the warmth generated by the adoring parents and grandparents. The accomplishments of the young men and women graduates overcame the physical conditions, however, and we were happy to share the occasion with them. Our guy won an award and co-led the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner and Hatikvah. What's not to like?

.  .  . 

Our family gathered for dinner at Lehrerhaus, 425 Washington Street, Somerville [Washington is a favored street and avenue name in the Boston vicinity]. It is a Kosher establishment that also serves as a place of learning. 

The physical menu is a visual pun, dishes in the middle and commentary up and down the sides akin to a Hebrew prayer book. The table shared Spring Fava Bean spread and Chopped Not Liver (mushrooms and nuts) $9 each, with fresh pita. As my main course, I ordered Mac & Cheese Kugel, a crispy version of the classic dish ($22). Then, a variety of desserts passed among us: Boston Cream Napoleonka, vegan (!!) chocolate, vanilla custard, crispy phyllo ($13); Basbousa, semolina cake, cardamom cream, grapefruit marmalade ($14); and a sundae with birthday cake ice cream ($12). 

All three generations came away satisfied.

Monday, June 15, 2026

I pondered the Knicks championship on the drive home. A remarkable aspect was, of course, the command demonstrated by Jalen Brunson, son of a former Knicks player, voted the tournament's most valuable player.  At 6'2", he was the smallest player on the court. One of his opponents was 14" taller. For heaven's sake, I am 6'2".

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

America's Favorite Epidemiologist received floral tributes and greetings from near and far today on the occasion of her birthday. While she continues to mature, she doesn't age.

.  .  .

The Borowitz Report informs us that "Ayatollah’s ‘Art of the Deal’ Becomes #1 Bestseller."

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Hannah Shizgal-Paris is the top chef at Roman’s, 243 Dekalb Avenue, a 14-year old restaurant that is getting attention for making the New York Times list of 100 best local restaurants. It’s a small, boxy place, tightly packed with a dozen tables and a full-service bar with ten stools. The hard, flat surfaces keep the noise level high.

We were happy to agree with Elaine Shizgal Cohen’s suggestion that we have dinner at her niece’s restaurant. With Caring Ken Klein aboard for ballast, we were in the car almost one-and-a-half hours to cover seven miles in rush hour. It was worth it, good food and the zing of having the chef come over to your table and take a picture with you.

While the restaurant is supposedly named for the owner’s son, it is solidly Italian. We shared a fava bean purée with sourdough bread ($20) and a very large salad of little gems lettuce, cucumbers, piave (cow’s milk cheese) and mustard vinaigrette ($25). I had cavatelli (small shell-like pasta) with a spicy lamb sausage ragu ($30) and a forkful of my young bride’s spaghetti with zucchini, basil and parmigiano ($29). 

For dessert, we shared two portions of chocolate sorbet, which the New York Times described as “stunningly dense and dark as the far side of the moon” ($10). Our meal earned Roman’s its place on the best restaurant list.

.  .  .

An update from Andy Borowitz:

"Ayatollah Names Trump Employee of the Month"

Chow Time

June 6, 2026

Warm weather means gazpacho at Zabar’s, 2245 Broadway, three varieties — homemade, Andalusian and watermelon, our favorite ($11.99 for 24 fluid ounces).

.  .  .

For years now, I have heard the annoying Kars4Kids jingle at all hours on any number of television stations. What I missed is that, according to its website, Kars4Kids is "a registered nonprofit Jewish organization." That’s another cross for us to bear.

.  .  .

The Supper Club met tonight at the Posmans. Eva provided a lovely main course of roasted salmon, while Susan prepared mushroom and goat cheese galettes (flat, round pastries) and my young bride made her first ever cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Mission accomplished.

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Motek is Hebrew for sweetness, more of an appellation (sweetie pie) than a description. It is also a successful restaurant at 928 Broadway with many sister establishments in south Florida. We met Denise and Rob Teicher there for lunch today. It's a large place, very deep and loaded with people when we arrived at 1:15. Very noisy people. 

We sought some relief by going to a smaller room on the floor below where it was quieter and cooler. Be advised, though, that it is at the bottom of a steep staircase. Also, the distance from the kitchen above made service occasionally ragged. On the other hand, the menu of Israeli/Middle Eastern items was large and interesting. We enjoyed a shared plate of zucchini latkes with applesauce and sweet labneh (strained goat's milk yogurt) ($16). I then had chicken schnitzel, two pieces of flattened chicken breast in a pretzely coating, a tad dry, with a radicchio salad on the side ($26). 

I hope to return at a less noisy time to try some of the many hot and cold mezzes, pitas treated as flatbreads, and lamb dishes.

 

Monday, June 8, 2026

I went through Times Square and the vicinity of Grand Central Station to get to my doctor’s appointment and the evidence was clear — the Knicks have captured the Apple. Knicks shirts and caps (and at least one pair of socks) outnumbered the Yankees and Mets gear together. Since I could not but tap dance to my own drummer, I wore a New York Rangers T-shirt lettered in Hebrew. I gathered not only admiring glances, but expressions of approval from young and old alike.

The result of the game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden tonight was ultimately disappointing. My favorite comment came from Jimmy Kimmel on Donald Trump's interest in the game. "You'd think that he would be rooting for the Spurs, right? It's what got him out of Vietnam."

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

I got the bandages off my hand this morning and drove to Seasons 52, 217 Lafayette Avenue, Edison, New Jersey. As my faithful readers know that must mean that we had lunch with my brother, who lives right nearby. An added treat was the presence of Benjamin, his #2 grandson visiting from California after attending a conference in Philadelphia. 

Among the virtues of Seasons 52 is the absence of fried food, French fries for instance. Instead, many items are grilled. Also, no dish is reputedly over 595 calories.

https://www.mashed.com/285228/the-untold-truth-of-seasons-52/

Its wine collection is extensive and varied, with many selections offered in 6 and 9 oz. servings. As the designated driver for the usual one-hour drive home, I abstained.

I started with a spinach and strawberry salad, tossed with Gorgonzola cheese, white balsamic vinaigrette and toasted almonds. It was a little overdressed, but delicious ($11). Then, I had a trio of “handcut” wood-grilled beef tenderloin tacos topped with fresh pico de gallo, cotija cheese and a taco slaw, served with a side of avocado-lime crema and a southwest organic greens salad ($16).

Another feature of Seasons 52 is interesting desserts served in small portions. I had a raspberry cannoli sort of ($4).

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Sea Salt, 1123 First Avenue, is a newish Greek restaurant, four years old, with 25 marble-topped tables and an eight-stool bar. It is conveniently located for Barbara & Bernie, cousins of cousins, and I was able to get a parking spot right on First Avenue. A large party was seated as we completed our meal, but otherwise it was half full and relatively quiet.

The menu was predictable, but well executed. We shared three mezze, humus, babaganoush and red pepper/walnut spread, with lots of fresh pita ($25, 3% more for credit card). Bernie and I each had the Koftedes Plate, six grilled minced lamb and beef patties, rice and green salad ($28). The women swapped vegetable mousakka ($25) and bronzino with capers, olive oil & lemon sauce ($36). Every morsel was consumed.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

0kay, I despaired and turned off the television at halftime. 

.  .  .

The euphoria resulting from last night’s basketball game is pretty firmly entrenched, but this article from Time Out has me annoyed.

https://share.google/R2fYu9nrj7KmyvsjX

It is labeled “The world’s 20 best food cities right now.” The list, in order, is:

• Lima
• Bangkok
• Mexico City
• London
• Barcelona
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Melbourne
• Beijing
• Athens
• Lisbon

I have visited six of these, London, Barcelona, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing, Athens and Lisbon, although only the first two more than once. Significantly, I have also been to San Francisco many times and have lived in New York for very many decades and cannot abide their omission from this list. They may not outdo a Beijing or a Lisbon in its local cuisine, but they offer an unmatched range of excellent choices from around the world. A basic problem with this survey is its reliance on "thousands of locals" who may have never been exposed to a good bagel.  

You might want to see how many of these cities offer one of the World's Most Iconic Sandwiches.

Friday, June 12, 2026

I had lunch at Dimsum Garden, 1068 Second Avenue, one of four related restaurants. It has a large dim sum menu, but I was feeling entirely conventional and ordered one of the 35 lunch specials @ $12.99, including soup, a small vorspeis and rice. I ate egg drop soup, a spring roll and orange chicken with brown rice, all quite good. By the way, their mustard was as hot as I have ever had.

The joint was empty when I walked in at noon, but soon there were 16 other people eating in. There are five booths and seven tables, mostly made of blonde wood. And the air conditioning worked just fine as the temperature rose to 93°.

    

Handy Man

Saturday, May 30, 2026

I don’t think that I am any more courageous than average, but there are situations that call for boldness. I must challenge the basic principle of Chowhound’s list of “The Hands Down Best Bagel Shop In Every US State, According To Reviews.”

https://www.chowhound.com/2180635/best-bagel-shop-every-state/

Utopia Bagels is not a bad choice for New York State, although it would not be mine. That’s not the point. New York covers a land area of 54,556 square miles; it is the 27th largest state in size. As large as the Holy Land is, it contains only 40% of the state's population. Forgetting the distance within the Holy Land itself that a person would have to traverse to get to one of Utopia's four locations, a lot of New York State residents would have to pack a lunch to get to Utopia Bagels. Designating it as the go-to place for bagels is not helpful. We won't even consider what a Californian or a Texan who might have the good sense to desire a bagel might have to endure to get their state's best. Chowhound's list is an unnecessary provocation for too many people.

.  .  .

Over 10,000 lawyers have left U.S. government service since the Second Coming, leaving about 40,000 still employed. Both numbers seem quite large and nowhere near what I might have guessed.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/us/politics/trump-administration-exodus-of-lawyers.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

For many of those displaced attorneys, this might be a blessing, offering them an opportunity to move into the private sector or other government venues not so notoriously politicized. Others might have to resort to advertising their availability on benches at bus stops, spiking the demand for bus stop bench painters.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal, North London's football (soccer) club, to win the Premier League championship, the most prestigious prize in professional football, the World Cup viewed as more of a criminal enterprise. The victory was sufficiently exciting to cause rioting in France and the arrest of 780 people. Let's see what happens when the Knicks win the National Basketball Association championship. 

Monday, June 1, 2026

Marilyn & Michael Ratner’s wedding anniversary is one day later than ours, although they got a 35-year head start. Also, Marilyn just had a birthday while America’s Favorite Epidemiologist has hers in a few days. So, we decided to have a bang-up joint celebration with lunch at Le Bernardin, 135 West 51st Street, awarded the highest ratings by Michelin and the New York Times. 

It ain’t cheap. My membership in the Democratic Socialists of America was voided by walking in the front door. The only choice for lunch in the dining room is a three-course menu at $139 a person with a supplement for some dishes, typically those with caviar. The lounge offers a $94 three-course lunch and an a la carte menu. Something to drink, tax and tip gets you easily to $200+ per person in the dining room and it’s wonderful. Tables in the high-ceilinged room are a discreet distance apart. Service is impeccable; bread is offered four times during your meal with little butter pots each time. Not just bread, but a choice of five — brioche, baguette, raisin walnut, olive focaccia and sourdough.

The first course has a choice of 21 items. I had a 2” disc, described as “Crab Avocado; Celeriac Remoulade, Dijon Mustard-Citrus Sauce.” A popular choice for the others was “Hamachi Sashimi; Pickled Mushroom and Watermelon Radish, Citrus Dashi.” 

The main course offers 12 items. While Le Bernardin is known for its fish and seafood, I could not resist “Sautéed Duck Breast; Caramelized Endive and Glazed Broccolini, Port-Tamarind Sauce.” Others chose “Steamed Halibut; Truffled Morels, Wild Mushroom Bouillon” and “Pan Roasted Merluza [Spanish hake]; Stuffed Baby Sweet Peppers, Lobster Gumbo Sauce.” 

Desserts completed the chorus of oohs and aahs. Here, there was a choice of seven plus ice cream and sorbet. My three companions all had “Pistachio Praliné, Grand Marnier Bavarois”, a pistachio praline atop velvety Bavarian cream infused with Grand Marnier, an orange liqueur, beautiful to the eye and the tongue. Predictably, I went chocolate, “Warm Peruvian Chocolate Tart, Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream.”  

There were, of course, amuse bouche before and petit fours after. My nap lasted three hours.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Happy Birthday, Allison.

.  .  .

I discovered today that I blow my nose right-handed. This is one of the things that I do exclusively with one hand or the hand, making me cross-dominant, not ambidextrous. Since boyhood, I have written with my left hand and eaten with my left hand, yet I throw a ball and bat righty. I cannot do otherwise. When I went to tennis camp in January 1983, I spent the entire first day trying to figure out which hand to hold the racket in. As new tasks arose over the decades, I instinctively went one way or the other. 

This all became relevant today when Dr. Michael Rettig sliced open the middle finger of my right hand to cure its spontaneous locking, known as trigger finger, an annoying but non-threatening condition. For the next week, my right hand is heavily bandaged and in a sling and I will learn exactly which hand washes the other.

 

Thursday, June 4, 2026

It's not a perfect correlation, but Trump states seem to be more dangerous for workers as well as for the rest of us.

Friday, June 5, 2026

Stony Brook Steve, Terrific Tom and I had lunch at Schnipper's Quality Kitchen, 820 Eighth Avenue. The decorless space is very well located, sitting at the base of the New York 

Times building and across the avenue from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The last stop of the M104 bus is right across the street. It also makes good hamburgers.

I had the Burger Special #2, a double cheeseburger, lettuce, tomato and special sauce, with French fries and a fountain drink, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper et alia, unlimited ($18.50). 

  

While we enjoyed the food and each other’s company, we had the added pleasure of meeting Mircea Petrescu, a young Romanian man living and working in Belgium, in New York and the United States for the first time on a quick business trip. After spending time with the contemporary version of the Three Stooges, Mircea started asking about New York apartments.

Phony Baloney

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Several weeks ago, I admitted to being conned by a phony advertisement for L.L. Bean. Just at the time that I was considering dumping polo shirts that were the worst for wear, I saw on my  phone an offer for L.L. Bean polo shirts at a drastic discount, purportedly as a result of a store closing. I ordered five in different colors, feeling fortunate for the coincidental timing. 

After a week, I realized that I had not only not received shirts, but I had not received the flurry of e-mails (much preferable to emails) that usually follow an on-line purchase, no confirmation, no notice of packing, no notice of shipping. I called L.L. Bean and learned that, while I was on record as a customer, I had no order pending and no store closing sale was being conducted.

I successfully challenged the credit card transaction and held my breath as to the possible misuse of the card by these scammers. I did not cancel the card immediately, because it was used in so many recurring transactions. I dodged the bullet there. However, the bad guys have not ceased firing.

Here are screenshots of seemingly fabulous deals that popped up on my phone in recent days. 

Upon examination, the vendor is not the instantly recognizable manufacturer. Rather, the company behind these deals is "Holmbech Thomas". And who is Holmbech Thomas a/k/a holmbechthomas? According to its website, “holmbechthomas is a trendy and diverse fashion department store, offering a wide range of stylish clothing, accessories, and more to satisfy your unique fashion cravings.” If you look beyond its own characterization, however, you find Holmbech Thomas is often cited for non-delivery, delivery of wrong items, delivery of damaged goods, unresponsive customer service, and unsatisfactory refund policies. See, e.g. https://gridinsoft.com/online-virus-scanner/url/holmbechthomas-com and https://gridinsoft.com/online-virus-scanner/url/holmbechthomas-com

I was lucky, but there is a lingering problem. It's becoming hard to believe anything you see unless it happens right in front of you. These bogus advertisements look as real as they might be. People are being annoyed, harassed and blackmailed by A.I. images, resulting even in suicides. I don't think that we can turn to the Federalist Papers for an answer.  

Sunday, May 24, 2026

We hosted brunch for four special guests — Carol Kessner, David & Julie Friedman and Mossad Moshe. Bagels & lox and whitefish salad were, of course, on the menu, but these deserving folks were also treated to lukshen kugel from the loving hands of my young bride. 

Monday, May 25, 2026

For my wedding anniversary today, I received Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding and Levain Bakery’s chocolate chip cookies. Happy Anniversary to me.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Mossad Moshe and I went to Roosevelt House, 47-49 East 65th Street, once the home of Eleanor and Franklin, now operated by Hunter College as the Public Policy Institute, to hear Zalman Newfield discuss leaving the Lubavitch Hasidic community. Newfield, Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies at Hunter College, was raised in a family of eight children. Somewhat atypically his parents came to Hasidism as adults, so Newfield had close relatives outside the community. Nevertheless, it was a challenge to choose a secular path as an adult, attending Brooklyn College and New York University where he got a Ph.D. This is the basis for Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey Out of Hasidism. His doctoral dissertation became his first book, Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, for which he interviewed 74 other exiters, as he calls them. 

Unlike others whom I have heard reciting similar experiences; Newfield was not resentful of his former life. In some ways, he feels that his intellectual development emerged from his yeshiva training where close reading of text is crucial.

.  .  .

The Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn has voted to boycott Israeli products. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/park-slope-food-coop-passes-020916580.html

Debate continues on the use of Russian dressing.

 

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Many of us are very excited by the historic National Basketball Association playoff run of the New York Knicks. Landrey Shamet, a player, said "Knicks fans are a specific species of human that should be studied." Support for that observation comes from a look at the pricing of the first game of the finals at Madison Square Garden. 

May 28, 2026

"President Donald Trump plans to attend NBA Finals game in New York"

Let the booing begin.

.  .  . 

We saw Giant, starring John Lithgow, in a performance that won him an Olivier in London. He plays Roald Dahl, the extremely successful children’s book author who was a rabid antisemite. In a fictional encounter with his agent and a representative of his publisher, he resists apologizing for an anti-Israeli book review; “never before in the history of man has a race of people switched so rapidly from being much-pitied victims to barbarous murderers.” 

The play is set in 1983, after Israel’s war with Lebanon. Its Jewish author started writing it in 2018, but it might have been written yesterday, dealing with reactions to Gaza. Dahl’s most inflammatory statements come from the record and ultimately hold all Jews responsible for Israel’s military actions, something that, I believe, is happening again today.

Friday, May 29, 2026

We had dinner with Barbara and Bernie, cousins of cousins, at Trattoria Dell'Arte, 900 Seventh Avenue. This large, colorfully decorated joint was jammed and noisy. I had not been there for 30 years, when I had lunch about 20 feet from Jerry Seinfeld. If he was here this evening, I couldn't find him in the crowd.

We shared an excellent Margherita pizza, with a paper-thin crust, cut into 8 pieces ($28). Then, we diverged. I had Cavatelli (small pasta shells) with short rib ragù, good but pricey at $32; Bernie had spaghetti and short rib meatballs ($30); Barbara had a Little Gem Caesar Salad ($19); and my inamorata had a Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad ($20). We reconvened over a delicious tiramisu ($16).

Musical Chairs

Saturday, May 16, 2026

For the second time in recent weeks, my brother caught me making a stupid mistake. Last week, I attributed a famous George Orwell quote to 1984 when it was so obviously from Animal Farm. A few weeks ago, I changed Deborah Lipstadt’s last name to Hofstadter, confusing her with Columbia historian Richard Hofstadter. While my brother is older, he is clearly more alert than I am.

.  .  .

My mistakes aside, we had a lovely day. We joined the celebration of Dana and Gary’s second granddaughter’s baby naming. For dinner, we joined Kim and Terrific Tom at Spice Symphony, 317 West 46th Street, which mixes Chinese food with a predominantly Indian cuisine. It was fully occupied with a noisy pre-theater crowd.

We shared Shrimp Piri Piri, three pieces of spicy shrimp in cedar vinegar, curry leaves and Goan chilies ($16). Then, we proceeded in individual directions. I went to the Chinese side of the menu with Triple Szechwan, “Hakka style noodles and rice mixed and stir fried in a Chinese wok with oil, vegetables, soya sauce and fiery red szechwan sauce” with lamb ($26). This hodge podge was very good.

I drank three more glasses of Coke Zero after the first one was delivered to my lap. I dried off by the time we left to see The Balusters, a new play by David Lindsay-Abaire. It is a funny take on a neighborhood association struggling to maintain gentility in the face of traffic and personal problems.

Sunday, May 19, 2026

Toby McMullen came over today to conduct the purge of my clothes closet that I have been impotently threatening for the longest time. Efficiently and dispassionately, he reduced my haberdashery to almost manageable size

.  .  .

Nicholas Kristof’s commentary on Israeli treatment of Palestinian prisoners is given two full pages in today’s paper. I believe that it is flawed, but I will leave it to others to dissect. However, I am reminded that Eric Hoffer, a philosopher who taught at Berkeley after working 21 years as a longshoreman, observed in 1968 “Everyone expects the Jews to be the only real Christians in this world.”

Monday, May 20, 2026

I have passed Playa Betty’s, 320 Amsterdam Avenue, countless times without entering. Today, however, it was the destination for lunch with Jeffrey Heller, Human Rights Warrior, and his law school buddy, Bob Axelrod. Convenience was the initial consideration, but the California-Mexican cuisine was more than satisfactory.

I had two tacos, “Short Rib & Egg, Mexican coke short rib with scrambled eggs, salsa roja, cilantro & cotija on a flour tortilla” ($7), and “Baja Fish, Tempura-battered cod with cabbage slaw, jalapeño crema, pico de gallo and cotija cheese” ($7). 

After the good food, we went two blocks north to the oddly named Salt & Straw, 360 Amsterdam Avenue. This ice cream company has been in business since 2011. Most of its stores are in the West; one other is in the Holy Land at 540 Hudson Street. Founded in Portland, Oregon, its website drips with sincerity. “Using ice cream as a blank for storyteller, we fearlessly explore ingredients, discover emerging artisans, and share unifying experiences.”  https://saltandstraw.com/pages/about

Fortunately, they make excellent ice cream, really excellent ice cream. I had a cup with small (by choice) scoops of Chocolate Babka w/ Hazelnut Fudge and Strawberry & Coconut Water Sherbet. I can’t wait to limp back for more, although it has no indoor seating. By the way, Bob treated, so I don’t know how much it cost, but who cares?

Tuesday, May 21, 2026

Pastrami Queen, 1125 Lexington Avenue, remains open after its sister establishment on West 72nd Street has closed for a change of identity. Michael Ratner and I met for lunch there today and dug in.  

I forgot that it was Tuesday when they offer a very good deal on twin sandwiches and went to the peak of Kosher delicatessen, a center cut tongue sandwich ($36.15). Excellent sour pickles and coleslaw came with it, as well they should at this price. Dr. Brown’s Diet Black Cherry was my beverage of choice ($2.60 a can for a captive audience). We shared a large order of French fries, brown and crispy ($9). Yes, expensive, but Michael and I are 168 years old.

Wednesday, May 22, 2026

I registered for the 25th reunion of my law school class tonight. In the morning, I took my car in for routine service and shopped afterwards on the way home. Since my Trader Joe’s is closed for renovations, I went to their (his?) Harlem branch, 123 West 125th Street, only circling the block once before finding a parking space almost in front of the door.

It reached 93° while I was running my errands. That and the promise of thunderstorms later easily convinced me that I wasn’t leaving the house again today. I’m sorry to miss the 25th reunion, but I’ll aim for the 50th.

Thursday, May 23, 2026

It turns out that there is something Donald Trump and I have in common, neither of us attended Don, Jr.'s wedding. Donald Trump Jr marries Bettina Anderson ahead of Bahamas wedding celebration

Friday, May 24, 2026

Here is a little tale about American life in the 21st century to warm your heart. Parents brawl over seating at Toledo kindergarten graduation ceremony