LA PAVONI

I HAVE OWNED TWO OF THESE PAVONI EUROPICCOLA'S AND YES, I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THEM TO BE A CHALLENGE. BUT, THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT AND TO HAVE IN YOUR LIFE. I SOLD THE FIRST ONE YEARS AGO TO MY FRIEND STEVE WHO HAS MASTERED IT. (I REALLY MEAN THAT WHEN I SAY MASTERED, HIS COFFEE PULLS ARE PERFECTION) THE SECOND WAS A GIFT THAT I PASSED ON TO SOME FRIENDS WHO TEND TO FETISHIZE OBJECTS LIKE MYSELF. WELL, I TRADED A RANCILIO AND GOT THIS OLD GIRL BACK FROM THEM AND I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER. I LOVE TO LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY ON MY KITCHEN COUNTER. (NEXT TO MY NESPRESSO AND BRAUN DRIP FOM THE 80'S) I MAY NEVER MASTER THIS MACHINE BUT, I AM NOT LETTING GO OF IT AGAIN.

 JAMES BOND PULLS A COFFEE ON HIS PAVONI FOR "M" IN LIVE AND LET DIE

SPRING GRILLING:SARDINES

MY LAST STOP ON THE EAST END OF LONG ISLAND WAS THE FISH MARKET AND THESE LITTLE DEVILS STOOD OUT (AS DID THE MUSCLES). EACH SARDINE GOT A BELLY FULL OF FRENCH GREY SEA SALT, A RAMP AND SOME TARRAGON.
NEXT STOP THE GRILL.

LAST OF THE RAMPS

DRIZZLE OF OLIVE OIL AND LEMON ZEST

JUST BEFORE GRILLING

 CHARCOAL+WEBER=GOOD

 SEAFOOD CARNAGE

HOME WITH THE RANGE

WITH SPRING HERE I TOOK DELIVERY ON THE '95 RANGE ROVER FOR THE FARM. WHAT A DIFFERENCE FROM THE LR3 LANDY (WHICH DRIVES LIKE A SPORTS CAR, NOT A TRUCK). IT WAS GREAT DRIVING (MADE THE TRIP FROM EASTERN LONG ISLAND TO UPSTATE NY) BALLSY, ANALOG AND RAW. IN A WORD, FUN. I HATE TO SAY THIS BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SNOW.

A BURGER IN QUEENS

TWO BROTHERS (OF THE PALM STEAK HOUSE FAMILY) HAVE BRANCHED OFF TO OPEN THE BURGER GARAGE IN LONG ISLAND CITY. THEY ARE GRILLING UP A PAT LA FRIEDA BURGER MIX (ACROSS FROM THE CITICORP BUILDING) WITH REAL OLD SCHOOL STYLE. SIMPLE, GRIDDLE FRIED PATTIES, PICKLES AND FIXINGS ON A MARTIN'S POTATO BUN. THEY ARE ALSO TAKING SOME CUES FROM THEIR STEAK HOUSE DAYS WITH THEIR PERFECTLY GOLDEN FRIED ONIONS. I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT. I WAS SO EXCITED TO TRY THE TWO BURGERS WE ORDRED I FORGOT TO TAKE THE BEFORE PICS. SORRY, GO SEE (AND EAT) THEM YOURSELF.

ANOTHER WOODSMAN

EARLY COLT WOODSMAN. 

.22 CALIBER TARGET PISTOL

CHANCE

JULIA LEACH HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED HER NEW LINE CHANCE. INSPIRED BY SIMPLE, GREAT DESIGN, CHANCE HAS TAKEN THE ICON OF THE STRIPED-T AND HAS BUILT A BEAUTIFUL LINE. HER POP UP SHOP IS AT 211 ELIZABETH ST. FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO GENTS, GET DOWN THERE AND BUY A GIRL IN YOUR LIFE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

 THE POP UP

BEAUTIFUL SCARF/POCKET SQUARES:

 I PICKED A COUPLE UP.