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06/11/2005 Archived Entry: "NYC Food for Father's Day"

If you don’t have a copy of my new book yet, this weekend you have two opportunities to purchase an autographed copy and come say hello to me.

Allow me to point out that Arthur Schwartz’s New York City Food is a perfect Father’s Day gift. For Dad or Grandpa. It’s more a reading and browsing book than a cooking book, although it has more than 100 legendary dishes that were created in New York City.

If Dad or Grandpa likes to cook, he’s going to love the recipes for Steak Diane, Lobster Newburg, and Child’s Wheat Cakes, the best pancakes ever. As an “opinionated history” it has hundreds of contemporary photos, old menus, old views of old-time restaurants, and entertaining and informative essays on foods and restaurants your father and grandfather will remember fondly. I have been getting great feedback from men (and women) who have no interest in cooking but are interested in reading about the old days in New York.

Today, Saturday, June 11, I will be at the Williams-Sonoma store in Manhassett, Long Island, from 1 to 3 p.m.or so. The exact address is 2110-B Northern Boulevard. Phone number (in case you need directions or whatever) is 516-365-1650. I will be demonstrating how to make manicotti (with crepes, not pasta) and there will be plenty for you to sample.

Tomorrow, Sunday, June 12, I will be at the Williams-Sonoma store in Cedarhurst, Long Island, from noon to 2 p.m.or so The exact address is 416 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst. The phone number is (516) 295-9484. I will also be making manicotti there, a dish that I should mention in passing is perfect for Shavuot, the Jewish holiday that starts Sunday evening and celebrates the giving of the 10 commandments to Moses. It is usually celebrated with a dairy meal. Blintzes would be traditional for Eastern European (Ashkenazy) Jewish families. Think of manicotti as Italian blintzes. I’ll explain how they are almost the same.

Your last chance to get an autographed book before Father’s Day will be next Saturday, June 18. That day I will be at Cook’s Companion in Brooklyn from 1 to 3 p.m. The exact address is 197 Atlantic Avenue, near Clinton Street. (See my blurb on this in the Maven’s Appearances on my website. There are some notes on where to eat.) The phone is (718) 852-6901.

And I haven’t forgotten my New Jersey friends. I will be doing my slide lecture on New York City Food (my reviews say it is a stand-up comedy act, but not quite) at the Monmouth County Library on Sunday, June 26, at 1:30. The exact address is 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, N.J. For reservations, call (732) 431-7242 days, or (732) 431-7222 nights and weekends.

There are more appearances coming. Please keep checking the Maven’s Appearances for