La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
San Geraldo and I have worked our way through most of the sweets I brought back from New York. We quickly finished off a small packet of dark chocolate–covered graham crackers and an assortment of caramels from Jacques Torres (click here). SG enjoyed two boxes of Raisinets (his favorite movie theatre food). I enjoyed Milk Duds (my favorite movie theatre food). I bought three bars of Halva (halvah) and have two left.
Have you ever had halva? It’s from the Middle East. The kind I’m most familiar with is made from sesame paste (tahini) and sugar or honey. My father, whose office was in Downtown Brooklyn not far from my hotel, would often bring home fresh halva from Sahadi’s, a market originally opened in Manhattan in 1895 and moved to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn in 1948. The shop thrives and is now run by a fourth generation of Sahadis (whose ancestors came from Lebanon). My halva came from Economy Candy (click here), since I couldn’t travel with the fresh, unpackaged kind. The packaged brand by Joyva is excellent and made in Brooklyn. I chose marble halva, infused with chocolate.
I bought tabasco chocolate for a spicy friend, and Tootsie Roll Pops for just about everyone I know. Our friend Lulu had brought more chocolates from Finland and those were [mostly] waiting for my return. They’re gone. English friends brought us a box of English pecan chocolate sticks from Hotel Chocolat. Since San Geraldo doesn’t like (loathes) pecans. I was forced to finish those off myself.
Despite all this, San Geraldo has felt it necessary to buy a few boxes of dark chocolate–laden biscuits from the supermarket and, the other day, he baked three loaves of chocolate chip banana bread. I’ve been going for walks, doing laundry (nine loads since my return), and washing dishes. The cats get their treats twice a day and attention whenever they want it. San Geraldo continues to dunk bread in his Coke — in public.
The coffee mugs at top were gifts from Susan in Oregon, who had them shipped to my hotel. San Geraldo insists he’s Beast and I’m Beauty. I don’t agree, but I won’t argue. Today’s video is just a reminder of how lucky SG is to have someone like me and not someone like Jon Richardson. (And I’m so lucky to have him.)
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San Geraldo y yo nos hemos abierto camino a través de la mayoría de los dulces que traje de Nueva York. Rápidamente terminamos un pequeño paquete de galletas integrales cubiertas de chocolate negro y una variedad de caramelos de Jacques Torres (haz clic aquí). SG disfrutó de dos cajas de Raisinets (su comida favorita en el cine). Disfruté Milk Duds (mi comida favorita de cine). Compré tres barras de Halva (halvah) y me quedan dos.
¿Alguna vez has tenido halva? Es del Medio Oriente. El tipo con el que estoy más familiarizado está hecho de pasta de sésamo (tahini) y azúcar o miel. Mi padre, cuya oficina estaba en el centro de Brooklyn, no muy lejos de mi hotel, a menudo traía a casa halva fresca de Sahadi’s, un mercado que abrió originalmente en Manhattan en 1895 y se mudó a Atlantic Avenue en Brooklyn en 1948. La tienda prospera y ahora está dirigida por una cuarta generación de Sahadis (cuyos antepasados vinieron del Líbano). Mi halva provino de Economy Candy (haga clic aquí), ya que no podía viajar con el tipo fresco y sin empaquetar. La marca empaquetada de Joyva es excelente y está hecha en Brooklyn. Elegí halva de mármol, infundida con chocolate.
Compré chocolate tabasco para un amigo picante y Tootsie Roll Pops para casi todos los que conozco. Nuestra amiga Luly había traído más chocolates de Finlandia y estaban [en su mayoría] esperando mi regreso. Se fueron. Unos amigos ingleses nos trajeron una caja de palitos de chocolate con nuez inglesa del Hotel Chocolat. Como a San Geraldo no le gustan (odia) las nueces. Me vi obligado a acabar con esos yo mismo.
A pesar de todo esto, San Geraldo ha creído necesario comprar algunas cajas de galletas cargadas de chocolate amargo en el supermercado y, el otro día, horneó tres barras de pan de plátano con chispas de chocolate. Salí a caminar, lavé la ropa (nueve cargas desde que regresé) y lavé los platos. Los gatos reciben sus golosinas dos veces al día y atención cuando lo desean. San Geraldo continúa mojando pan en su Coca-Cola, en público.
Las tazas de café en la parte superior eran regalos de Susan en Oregón, quien las envió a mi hotel. San Geraldo insiste en que él es la Bestia y yo la Bella. No estoy de acuerdo, pero no discuto. El video de hoy es solo un recordatorio de lo afortunado que es SG de tener a alguien como yo y no a alguien como Jon Richardson. (Y tengo tanta suerte de tenerlo).
• HANDS OFF MY CHOCOLATE [manos fuera de mi chocolate] de Economy Candy no se compara con Lindt.
• Mármol halva. El halva fresco con pistachos siempre fue mi favorito.
• “¿Losa o rebanada?” preguntó. “Losa”, dije. Más como la mitad de pan.
• “Son las 10 de la noche. ¿Sabes dónde están nuestros aperetivos?”
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El cómico inglés levemente obsesivo-compulsivo, Jon Richardson, habla sobre cómo (y cómo no) cargar un lavavajillas.
One of the first stops when we visited Paris was to get halva – love the pistachio kind, too. What a prince you are to sacrifice yourself to pecan/chocolate! But then you are living with a king.
sillygirl,
Yes, I’m a prince and completely selfless.
Lots and lots of goodies.
David,
And less and less goodies.
If I had nickel for every time I’ve said yo Carlos, ‘You do it your way and I do it the right way.’ I’d have a boatload of nickels.
Clearly Jon has been inside my home.
Bob,
Jon stole his material from your life, didn’t he? My 4-year-old friend told her mother: You do what you want and I do what I want. It’s called compromise.
Four-year olds are so entertaining!
OMG! So it IS universal among couples! LOL But it is true that I do it the right way, just so you know……..lol
I like halvah/tahini.
Jim,
SG just leaves it all on the counter for me… but he has learned to appreciate rinsing.
We do share a love of all things chocolate…
Frank,
Don’t visit Jacque Torres hungry… or Economy Candy….
I was supposed to complete that sentence with “on an empty stomach!”
SG’s banana bread looks better than all of the other sweets combined. Banana bread should only be eaten by the slab! I need English subtitles for that video. I watch my Sherlock dvds with subtitles. I’m American, English is a fast spoken foreign language to me 🙂 Love to hear it though.
Deedles,
The banana bread served with mandarin orange slices IS the best. We watch everything with subtitles. It saves me hitting pause (sometimes) to explain what’s going on.
So many goodies! I love a nice piece of halva every once in awhile if it’s fresh and creamy. Unfortunately, I often find the commercially packaged type old and dry. And that video is hilarious!
Debra,
The first package was very fresh and creamy. But nothing beats the real thing.
I have a friend who collects Rae Dunn everything. She’d kill for those mugs.
Shirley,
I had never even heard of Rae Dunn until I saw Susan drinking from one of those mugs. I’m now hooked. So well done that all I want to do is hold it. I was stunned that Susan found them and sent them.
I just purchased a theater size box of Milk Duds, an impulse buy, my first Milk Dud in many decades.
I was so disappointed when I finally had a late night private moment to indulge. The current Milk Duds are not real chocolate, but some strange bitter brown coating, and totally nothing compared to what I remember as a kid. I ended up dumping the remaining calories in the trash.
Anon,
I thought it was just me. But as a result of your comment I looked it up, and found this: “In 2008, the Hershey Company changed the ingredients of some of its products to replace the relatively expensive cocoa butter used with cheaper oil substitutes. This was done to retain a current product price, rather than having to raise prices in the marketplace for products containing cocoa butter.”
Any way is the right way.
BTW – you both are beautiful beasts!
Wilma,
We never used the dishwasher anymore, but when we did I loaded, SG left everything on the counter. It was easier that way.
Wilma,
I like being a beautiful beast… or a beastly beauty.
Lordy! You both have a sweet tooth!
I have a difficult relationship with halva/tahini – the texture is a bit like Polyfilla (which I think is known as “Spackle” in the US, and “Aguaplast” in Spain ), which is off-putting. That banana bread, however, looks delicious! Jx
PS Dipping bread in Coke? Where on earth does that tradition originate..?
Jon,
SG started dipping bread in coke when he was around 12 after his visits to the orthodontists when the wire braces would be tightened. The cold soft bread felt good in his mouth.
That video clip IS hilarious, though I’m afraid that guy would end up with the pointy toe of my boot up his arse!
Tundra,
His wife, Lucy Beaumont, is equally hilarious and can give him a run for his money.
I haven’t even heard of some of that stuff –ha!
Judy C,
You have been deprived.
Love the mugs x
John,
So do I. The shapes make you want to hold them and touch them and the coffee tastes better.
I too think you should share the mugs ‘we both are” that sort of thing.
Urspo,
Susan thinks the mugs should be assigned according to mood. SG would still end up with Beast most of the time.
My favorite movie candy? I can’t remember the name, but it’s those little chocolates with white specks.
Kirk,
Nonpareil candies? SO good!
LOVE those cats! I wonder if it’s possible to buy two BEAST mugs? That’s what we’d need in our household.
When I lived in NYC I used to buy Jacques Torres for my family members at Christmas!
Steve:
I’ve seen individual BEAST mugs on ebay. They’re used. Otherwise, it’s a boxed set. You could buy two sets and give the BEAUTIES to someone else.
I had never even heard of Jacques Torres until this visit. It still surprises me how much I didn’t know about the city.
Wow, that sure sounds like a LOT of sweets! I wouldn’t fit through the front door if I had access to such tempting fare.
Jennifer:
We’re managing to eat healthy and reasonably portioned meals and I’m walking and exercising. AND the sweets are almost gone!
I’ve definitely never tried halva
Neko:
I can’t guarantee you’ll like it but I think it’s worth a try.