what's for dinner?

the political climate surrounding the upcoming election is forcing me to proselytize. and it ain't gonna be pretty. obama or mccain. the choice is horrendous and the choices are completely lacking. we deserve so much more, and all the time we are presented with less and less. inexperience and mis-representation. self-aggrandisement and lies. an appalling lack of respect and responsibility for the public which would be laughable if it wasn't so pitiful. pitiful for us, the american public. who time after time are forced to make choices between bad and worse, the frying pan and the fire. taking matters into our own hands is the only solution left. throughout history, politicians have taken advantage of their constituents and the political machine to further their own careers with little or no regard for those they purport to serve. in the most extreme of situations, the people have revolted. that's right, people. revolution. what i'm here to advocate is nothing less than civil disobedience. at dinner one night john's dad pointed out that when someone invites you to dinner, they generally give you at least a choice of foods which are appealing to you. for too long our choices at the political table have been not only un-appealing but completely un-palatable. we are forced to choose something that will not nourish us, and actually which will ultimately kill us. there are many of us at the table left hungry and starving for want of making that choice. it's time to create our own choices. take matters into our own hands. depose the despots and clear the way for public servants with all our better interests in mind. strength through unity, and unity through a faith in the good of all. become a part of the (r)evolution. set a different table, and eat hearty.

kats's delicatessen

every once in a while i like to do something typically "touristy" and take in a little more of this great city. on the anniversary of 9/11, something i can't even think about without getting emotional, it seems only fitting to mention an institution in eating. recently i found myself in the lower east side. one of my favourite, if not THE favourite, neighborhoods in NYC. i stopped in to the place where "harry met sally" (yes, that's the place), and had, what else, a pastrami on rye. not just any pastrami on rye; but the tenderest, most savory and perfectly spiced pastrami between two slices of a rye at once delicate and crunchy. katz's delicatessen, which claims to have been around for about 120 years, is the place for all eatables Yiddish and Geshmak (that's "tasty and delicious"). take in the tenement museum while you are in the neighborhood too. i like ethnic, and going to places like this gets me thinking about just how diverse NYC really is, and how incredible that all of us live here, side by side, and have contributed to the glory of this place which some of us are proud and happy to call home. i lost a piece of myself on 9/11. something that i will never get back. i've never been so close to that kind of destruction, and i grieve today for all that loss just as i have since that awful day. it's always pissed me off to hear people bad mouth the US or NYC. so i have only one thing to say..."GET THE FUCK OUT!!!!" you're on dangerous ground when you fuck with that!!! don't come shitting where i live 'cause i will fuck you up!!! so come visit the center of the universe, the big apple, and as they say at katz's "ess, bench, sei a mensch!" (eat, pray, don't act like a jerk!).
A LITTLE MUSIC


A LITTLE HUMOR


A LITTLE NOSH

here's the beef!!

Benjamin’s Steak House was nothing short of amazing. While the specialty is, of course, beef in all its forms, do not hesitate to sample the seafood, I did. I began my meal with appetizers of stuffed clams and lobster cocktail. These were not just chopped up little bits of clams with stuffing, these were whole, juicy and delicious clams still attached to their shells and surrounded by a filling that did not overpower the seafood. The lobster cocktail was an entire, small lobster, which came already neatly sliced in half, since I was sharing, and with the claws carefully pre-cracked so the guest can easily access the delicious meat inside without a lot of fuss. I also had the fried bacon appetizer. I can never say enough about bacon but this thick-cut slab of perfectly cooked heaven-on-the-hoof was a blue ribbon winner. For an entrée I ordered the porterhouse for two, with sides of mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. The portions are meant to be shared and there was clearly enough of the porterhouse for more than two but it was so great john and I ate the entire thing. Perfectly cooked filet mignon on one side and sirloin on the other, brought to the table sizzling and pre-slice on a bed of au-jus, so tender it melted in your mouth “like buttah!” The mashed were creamy and the asparagus was trimmed and cooked crisp. We shared a crème Brule, although I don’t know where I found the room, which was both velvety and crisp, with a side of homemade whipped cream that was light and perfectly sweet. The staff was genial from the beginning. We were cordially greeted by the hostess Susan, who escorted us to the bar to wait for our table; the general manager, Victor, welcomed us and seated us, and the meticulous French-service was supervised by our waiter Javier. I watched other satisfied guests that evening who shook hands with their waiters and the GM, as we did, and thanked them for their gracious service and outstanding food. It is a perfect dinning experience which should not be missed in a city which has the best to offer.