oh mary...

i know, you're all probably starving, so have i been for a long time. let's try to put it behind us...


it's nice to come back on memorial day when we are all getting memorial about something or someone. i've been catching up on the early nyc history (one of my favorite things), which, anyone who IS anyone will know, is stellar. antebellum manhattan continues to innovate...the highline, governor's island, the trade center of the world. eats is no exception (ARE no exception?). and a-propos the early fishing history of the big apple, mary's fish camp tries. 1840's innovation, and turmoil, are alive and well, and just as frenetic...not its best feature. but lets talk about the oysters. but oysters are as oysters are, and mary, unfortunately, had nothing to do with them...but they were fabulous, raw and fresh and with a mignotte or sauce or h=radish. pre-civil war america was HUGE... mary's fish camp is small in size and achievement. the flavors fresh but incohesive, the seafood fresh and well, if blandly prepared, yet done a miserly misjustice...the experience repulsively compelling. noteworthy lacking in adornment gives the food focus, but doesn't occupy the spotlight the way it could. gottta have seafood now? two blocks away? there are plenty of places for drinks if you gotta queue; if you gotta...go for the oysters. 'nuf said.