good to see the sentimental goulash brought back such fond memories. for you all...merle Edgar,
Further on Morningside Heights famous deniZens... ...did you know Paul Auster when he worked at Salter's Books, on Broadway? He was a friend, as he was to so many who met him at the store. He sold me many of my textbooks, and supplementary readings for my Columbia courses. This was before he was an author (a published one). He was always talking about "The Anasazi", and had recently come back from the trip to New Mexico where he first became intrigued with them. For me, this was in the very early 1970's, and into the early 1980s when I knew him. I was in S. Amer. after that, and then in grad school, so totally lost track of him, but in that time, he became published, and there's been no stopping him since. It was always great to chat with him; he had a nice way of speaking, and he seemed settled, comfortable in his body, and wise. In his novel, MOON PALACE, Auster tells several interconnected stories, and blends-in the story of the trip to the desert and his considerations of the Anasazi, there, too. It's a strange and interesting book. I wouldn't call it "great", but it has bits of "home" in it. And of course it's titled after the name of my favorite Cantonese Chinese restaurant in the City! (now defunct; did the two brothers [owners] die? or just retire?). What a fine and delicious and informal place, but with old-world, and so gratifying, "Service". I think the brother "John" was always the Cashier, and the most visible Greeter: very friendly, big, guy, with a warm smile. Sometimes I was known to eat Lunch *and* Dinner there on the same day! A fave restaurant of Fred Kantor's, too; how could it not be? Maybe you liked it too? --Joe PS Thread-title still fits... all this sentiment and delicious goulash, of various cuisines!, umm-m; etc. ;-)
