The 2003 Blackout, And Jean-Georges: 10 Years Ago

[Pink Pig Time Machine:  August 19, 2013]

The 2003 blackout fades into insignificance compared with the catastrophes we've faced since then--several major blizzards, and of course, above all, Hurricane Sandy.

But it seemed inconvenient at the time, after the initial novelty wore off.  It didn't do much to interrupt eating, though.

In fact, the beautifully warm and sunny weather saw me make a walking tour of Corona at the beginning of the week.  The only reason I didn't eat a sandwich at the Corona Pork Store was that I had already picked up an "Italian special hero" at Leo's Latticini.

But calories were not to be avoided.  Local Italian families were enjoying a party in the bocce court opposite the Pork Store--with lots of traditional music.  They took one look at my daughter and began plying us with sausage sandwiches and lemonade.  This was also the occasion of my first--but by no means my last--visit to the Lemon Ice King of Corona.

We also hit Blue Hill in Greenwich Village before the lights went out, for a highly seasonal tasting menu.

Kumamoto oysters

Tomato parfait, lobster and tomato confit

Halibut, corn broth

Venison, mixed beans

Apricots stuffed with almond flour

Fresh strawberry canneloni

My journal tells me I brought my own wine--but not what it was.

On Thursday August 14, the family took a holiday and traveled out to Coney Island.  Nathan's for lunch: clams and hot dogs.  And boy, did we dodge a bullet.  It's a long haul back to the East Village, of course, by subway.  We made the journey, arrived home, switched the lights on.  And there was a pop, and everything shut down.

I've always remembered how close we came to being stuck in Coney Island (with a toddler) for the duration.

So the first night and morning of the great blackout wasn't so bad.  Thursday evening, people were out on Avenue C, blithely drinking and partying in front of the local precinct house, which lit the street with power from its generator.  Local bars Lava Gina and Micky's Blue Room filled big plastic trash cans with beer and ice.

It was less fun once everyone ran out of cash--the ATMs weren't working.  It was also the kind of weather where a shower would have been nice.  The 29 hour wait for the power to return eventually seemed interminable.  But that was before Sandy.

I'd had a reservation lined up at Jean-Georges in advance, and when Saturday arrived the restaurant was still having problems, not with the kitchen, but with the A/C.  I got a call telling me that jackets for men were waived.  Here are the two menus:

Tradition

Egg with caviar

Scallops, mustard sauce

Garlic soup, frog's legs

Lobster

Turbot, sauce Chalon

Squab, foie gras, corncake

Summer

Foie gras brûlée, balsamic, strawberry

Peekytoe crab, peas, foam

Corns custard, beets,

Lobster braiosed with made

Red mullet, tomatoes

Veal tenderloin tomatoes

***

Fourme d'Ambert, Pont L'Eveque, Tomme de Savoie, Chevre, Blue cheese

Chocolate dessert tasting; orchard dessert tasting

Petits fours, more chocolates

To drink: Veuve-Clicquot Grand-Dame '95.  Billecart-Salmon Rosé NV.  Zind Humbrecht Hengst Gewürztraminer '93.  A now unidentified claret.  A Russian River Pinot Noir.