Friday, January 31, 2003

Eric’s Spicy Thursday was spent with friends this week – Paul, Marissa and Emily AW – at Pearson’s BBQ in Jackson Heights, Queens.  Where was had some fairly decent BBQ.  They’ve got the preparation just right – Pearson’s was until very recently the only joint with a pit in all of New York – though there are some problems.  A better dry rub, Arkansan Paul pointed out, would improve things.  Plus there is the inutterably bizarre fact that they do not serve white bread.  Instead they serve “Portuguese Rolls”, and while this is not quite as offensive as it sounds, the bread having enough spongy quality to call faintly to mind Wonder, it is far from ideal.  Paul and I have decided that in the name of good BBQ and cross-cultural exchange, we’re going to come in next time bearing gifts and advice.  The place has promise, they just have some learning to do. On another front, I would like to belatedly address a burning issue on everyone’s mind.  As our country stands at the brink of war, and our economy slides perilously toward the trashcan, our national psyche was further wounded this week by another horror, the “Joe Millionaire” scandal.  Of course you all know the sordid affair to which I refer -- Melissa’s cooking date with Evan. Yes, it is sad to see our younger generation sunken so low in depravity and sloth that they cannot make themselves a spaghetti dinner.  But I feel I must for the sake of women everywhere leap to Melissa’s defense.  First, cooking in a castle makes everyone nervous.  (Not to mention all the cameras.)  Secondly, though the camera work left the scene ambiguous, I would argue that Melissa did indeed find the garlic – behind the refrigerator, which is an odd place to keep garlic, but who am I to question the French – and it was Evan, condescending little chauvinist bastard, who sniffed it before – wrongly, I maintain -- declaring it to be an onion. I must apologize for weighing in so late on this important issue.  I wanted to make sure I had my thoughts in order. So, speaking of the perils of cooking in strange environs, it looks like I may be taking the Julie/ Julia Project on the road – we’re movin on up, to the upper west side.  125th Street to be exact, where lives my allergic but devoted friend Helen.  Will report back…. 7:24:50 AM    comment []