at the sign of The Pink Pig

At The Galleries: Picasso And Gilot, And Diebenkorn

[New York Peasant by Wilfrid:  May 31, 2012]

A lavish, multi-level show at the uptown Gagosian illustrates Picasso's response over ten years, 1943-53, to his wife and muse Françoise Gilot.  A beauty, and a thoroughly worthwhile artist herself, Gilot was evidently nothing less than an obsession for Picasso.  The fierce sun of the south of France also seems to pervade the exhibition.

Gilot looks out at us so relentlessly, from pictures and portraits of every kind, that it's almost a relief to find refuge in the small section of the show devoted to her paintings.

For Pink Pig Readers: Discounted Bacon Bash

Just on the remote chance that some of you like pork, even in its cured form, I take pleasure in bringing you a special offer.

20% off tickets at all prices if you click on "Add Coupon" at checkout, and enter "pinkpig."  You will also be making an invaluable contribution to filling my trough by doing so.   Two sessions of baconeering on Saturday, June 23, and I hope you enjoy your rashers.

 

In case it isn't blindingly obvious, I am not the proprietor or promoter of Bacon Bash, and this is a courtesy offer.  By purchasing tickets you enter into a contract with third parties, not me.

Mile End v. Katz's: The Verdict

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  May 31, 2012]

The New York Times' Local East Village site asked me to compare the iconic Katz's pastrami sandwich with the smoked meat sandwich from the new kid on the (nearby) block, Mile End.

Mile End's smoked meat sandwich: $12

Read my ruminations right here.

At The Galleries: Larry Rivers, Lucien Freud

[New York Peasant by Wilfrid:  May 29, 2012]

At Tibor de Nagy, a rather disappointing, if undeniably colorful, set of paintings by Larry Rivers from the last two decades of his career.

The gallery has long had a close association, of course, with the New York schools of painters and poets, and Rivers - a man with a foot in both camps, studying with Hans Hoffman and collaborating with Frank O'Hara - is at home here.  Always a friend of figuration, this period sees him wryly celebrating celebrity itself: there are portraits of Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Fred Astaire, as well as artists like Mondrian, Matisse, and Balthus.

Tastes of Brooklyn Winery

[Free stuff by Wilfrid:  May 28, 2012]

The invitation to sample the new release of wines from this Williamsburg winery was welcome.  I hadn't visited the wine bar up front before, and I was curious to see the vintner's art at work on North 8th Street.

It was a preview in fact: the wines will be available to the public June 7.  It was also an occasion to celebrate the opening this month of the Grand Atrium, a high-ceilinged oasis of natural light next door to the dark, wood-paneled bar.

Festivals, Shows And Fun: Ten Years Ago

[Pink Pig Time Machine by Wilfrid:  May 28, 2012]

Looking at the run-up to Memorial Day 2002 brings back some distant memories.  For example, I met up with a number of early eGullet members at the Ninth Avenue Food Festival.  I can hardly believe it was a decade ago I caught up with "Forbidden Broadway."  And I dined at two once popular, now long gone restaurants.

The Ninth Avenue Food Festival is not what it was.  In fact, ten years ago the novelty had begun to wear off.

5 East Village Burgers: 5 Napkin Burger

[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 25, 2012]

All the fives today, as I call on the assistance of my daughter to help me close out this series of burger reviews.  I needed some support to take on "The Original," that ten ounce monster.

The Five Napkin chain -- seven branches nationwide -- only appears in this series, of course, thanks to their recent opening near Union Square, on the corner of 14th Street and 3rd Avenue.   Not that you need any directions to locate this huge, busy, red-canopied space.

5 East Village Burgers: Bareburger

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  May 24, 2012]

Bare Burger is something of an outlier among this week's contenders, offering as it does a self-consciously alternative (and maybe even healthy) burger experience.

Grass fed meat?  Elk?  Ostrich?  Step this way...

5 East Village Burgers: That Burger

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  May 23, 2012]

This is a nicely put together little number, and you'll find it on Avenue B, behind a counter inside Billy Hurricane's, a boisterous sports bar.  You can order it downstairs too, in Idle Hands, where the beer and bourbon selection is more extension.

This is burger-making which doesn't pretend to push the frontiers of the art, but which makes coherent sense.

5 East Village Burgers: The Cardinal

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  May 22, 2012]

When everyone has access to quality beef (often from Pat LaFrieda, whether as ground meat or packaged patties), and anyone can find Martin's potato rolls, or order buns from  Tom Cat bakery, how are we to differentiate between burgers?

Although taste is traditionally kind, I have to say it often comes down to planning and construction.  I may have to get technical here, all A Hamburger Today-like.