ed levine, eat my tailpipe

Sorry to be hostile and competitive ,but ed has been my pizza guru. I waited 4 hours on his say so at Biancos in Phoenix. And I dragged my daughter's in laws there...but we loved it. Finally, I may have gotten there first. Tonight on an understated lead from Time Out I tried Toby's Public House on 21st
and 6ave in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Great saloon ambiance with a wine cork ceiling and decoupage in the rest rooms. Many taps. A gorgeous brick oven and a pie so good we ordered another. Certified Buffalo margarita. Crispy yet not crackery. A fine arugula salad with apples and goat cheese. Sure I would recommend
Totonno's or Lombardy's or Patsy's or John's or Franny's or Nicks or or Pizza town or Adrianne's or Amorina or Di Fara's or Giginos or Grimaldis or Savoia or Apizz or La Villa or Arturos (all great) ...nothing is better. Nicola Bertolotti is the pizza impresario.
As we walked to the subway (R at Prospect),we passed a vest pocket park called "Park". So i suggested to my wife that since I had walked by it on the occassion of this great discovery,the park should be named after me. "Yes ,she said, "We'll call it blah blah park."

Madison Cafe Albany

This was the Pine Hills Coffee shop and served french toast on your choice of five breads.It is now Cafe Madison(on Madison Ave).
It may be my favorite Albany choice. Grilled shrimps in a pineapple tequila marinade and comfort bread with olive tapinade.Nice wines by the glass or bottle. Warm balcony seating. Unaffected but professional staff. Oh Albany!

Camp 18 Elsie Oregon

Its been years,but when Jim said he was going to Oregon I immediately pictured the pancakes and the french dip sandwich at Camp 18...huge lumber beams and Paul Bunyonesque portions and a view of the woods. He returned with a wooden post card and an appreciative note and a correction ...I had said it was on mile 17 on the road from Portland to the Ocean...mile 18 would

have been a more accurate lead. 

Ditmas Park Brooklyn on the streets where we "spun the bottle"

S. and D. gave JR and I a stomach satiating and heart warming tour of a neighborhood I last  toured as a pre -teen on the way to spin the bottle parties. Argyle,Rugby Rd., Cortelyou- these streets reminded me of early kisses ,some with tongue but there was also the rejection when I was asked what I had been eating and my answer was "Genoa salami." No tongue on the menu 

or salami November 6..but S,D, jr, and I did discuss liver and onions (at Lou G. Siegals in the garment district).The tour started at Cafe Tibet which overlooks the open Q Train track at  1510 Cortelyou Rd. If

it hadn't been drizzling we could have sat outside under a thatched umbrella and next to a large growth of plastic flowers. Inside we were greeted by a crew of charming Tibetans and a smiling Dali Lama(photo only--but boy that would have been something if...but I digress). We shared the momos(vegi but available in other colors ). These are large hearty steamed dumplings served with a mild and a killer creamy, chili pepper sauce. We then shared JR's turine/bowl of veg-thenthuk, homemade flat noodle soup. Everything on the menu looked new and fabulous...plenty for the pork and fish and chicken and chow mein and fried rice lovers. They now deliver...we were told by each lovely staffer.  718 9412725   Hello Dali!

                     Next was a cocktail break at a flower shop/bar with a comfy version of the bar on N. Moore street in Manhattan  [the Bourbon Library]. This place is called SYCAMORE and it is on Cortylyou and Westminster.  Way in the back is a garden at which we could have sat  had it not been drizzling. Great long planked urban garden with umbrella tables and the smell of local fireplaces in the Fall air. Greeted at the front by a warm friendly voice seated at a clerks desk??...then greeted by a young bartender who immediately poured 4  melon{medori} cordials with pineapple and contreau(?) which we sampled before the tap beers , cider, and wine we ordered.  This is now my bar. The toast was to our new President, whom we toasted again at the next stop{not the last}...POMME DE TERRE 583 Argyle road with some benches outside that we didn't have time to sit at even if it wasn't drizzling because we were seated right away at our table. And were served a wonderful Sancere{topped off with out any request) and mussels,and potato leak soup and salad with tangy mustard dressing and mushroom ravioli in a brown butter sauce and D's entre portion of what he called the best sardines ever. This place is for the Ditmusites ,but sneak into their realm and you will feel at home...cozy french bistro full of happy adopted neighbors... And then to the surprise ending.... NYC ICY!...........

They were CLOSED... so we ventured to Carol Gardens and found solace in some Court Street ices and gelato{ Marias}.

S will investigate why NYices was closed , but if there is no hope we will Try Ralphs on 18st or F and B Spumonis in Bay Ridge. Ubiquitous Uncle Louie will not suffice. Disappointing ending? NOT. Just one of the best nights out ever. Thanks S and D and JR...and thanks for the memories of bottles spinning and hormones surging.