Category Archives: Blog

A Gift Of Language – SNACKIES

The British have a wonderful way of saying things. Americans tend to forget that English is their language. There is a famous quote attributed to Oscar Wild that explains difference between the British and American English “Two people separated by a common language”. Our daughter Jennifer learned the differences when she lived in New York City with her friend Amy Robjohn who is from Weybridge in Surrey England, just south of London. A few samples of the simple differences included:

  • Running shoes were “trainers”

  • Lining up for coffee at Starbucks was “standing in a queue”

  • Soccer is “football”

When Amy first came to visit us in Memphis, Jenn took her to Costco. Amy loved Costco’s sampling program and appropriately call the samples: “SNACKIES”.  The handle has stuck. For example, the Kenny family rejoiced when “SNACKIES” reappeared after Covid. As it turns out, Amy claims that the term SNACKIES isn’t a British thing, just and Amy thing. To us it is simply a language gift.

Amy told us that the trendy British handle for SNACKIES is “Picky Bits”. Picky Bits are the English equivalent of tapas. Nearly half of Brits refer to British-style finger food as ‘Picky Bits’, with 52% choosing it as the meal of choice in warmer weather. (WalesOnline)

Amy came out to visit us in Westhampton recently and “SNACKIES”, became the appropriate theme for a light lunch. Past the catchy name, who doesn’t like snacks, that can also be called appetizers.

The menu:

The menu is interspersed with special local ingredients:

  • Royal Red Shrimp harvested in the very deep water off of the coast of Long Island.

  • Mom mom’s Herbs, picked from the herb garden outside the kitchen window that my mom nurtured for 40 years.

  • Heirloom tomatoes from the local farmstand.

  • Boar’s Head Mortadella a cousin of the bologna that was a staple of my youth

A smiling  Amy

Deviled Eggs with Royal Red Shrimp and Smocked Salmon

Mortadella & Peperoncino Crostini Bites
Fresh Ricotta & Heirloom Tomato Crostini Bites

Ham & Mortadella Roll-ups

Melon & Berries

Peaches and Banana’s with Brie and Blackberry Jam

Whether you call them SNACKIES or Picky Bits we have to thank our friends from across the pond for the perfect name for a quick/delicious meal. And, the Kenny family gets to thank Amy for a language gift and a fun time whenever we get together

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

 

A Vineyard – Give Me A Break

Charles Schwab ran an ad about 12 years ago talking about “real life” investments strategies, that closed with the line saying:  Investing in: “A Vineyard – Give Me a Break”. Every time we visit a vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island, I think about this ad. While investing in a vineyard may not make financial sense. Spending an afternoon with friends, a picnic lunch and visiting a few vineyards in the Hamptons is pretty sweet.

Click on the picture to watch the ad

There has been a proliferation of vineyards on Long Island. Visiting a few is a lovely way to spend a summer or fall afternoon. However, in my tainted opinion, the wines are generally awful. I must qualify this with the confession that I have been trained as a flavor panelist 3 times. While 3 times might be a charm, the fact that I needed so much training, may be an indication that I don’t have a particularly discerning pallet.

The East End Wine Trail is a short 20 minute drive from our place in Westhampton

 The wine industry on Long Island is relatively new. The east end of Long Island has a rich agricultural history. In the past, Long Island has been famous for potatoes. The rich soil is a mixture of loam, sand, and gravel. Almost anything can grow out here. The Terroir for the grapes is also greatly influenced by the cool sea breezes coming off the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island sound. The local wine experts will tell you that the latitude and climate is vey similar to the Bordeaux region of France. The first vineyards were planted in the 1970’s and today there are over 40. There are over 25 types of grapes grown in the area. Some do better than others. The blended Bordeaux style wines get a better reception. Wine makers, given more tools, can make a more balanced wine. For some reason, I have wound up with a collection of dessert wines. After going through a tasting of 3 or 4 varietals, which is usually ended with a sampling of a late harvest, sweet wine. In order not to offend your host, one might feel obligated to buy something and the sweet wine isn’t bad. With this said, there is a reason why this collection doesn’t get consumed as quickly as other wines.

The “Usual Suspects” (Janice & Len Lewen, Kathy & Scott Flora, Kathy & Don Bell, Peggy & Phil Rose, photo credit goes to Joe and Amy Chaudoin) enjoying a September afternoon on the North Fork

Wölffer Estate Vineyards in Sagaponack (South Fork) is famous for its Rosé which they market as “Summer in a Bottle”. The wine might not be great, but the marketing is genius.

The concept of investing in a vineyard as an alternate investment strategy is often touted. For me, I will stick to investing an afternoon with friends on the North Fork. Friends, plus a little wine and a picnic lunch, that is a good investment.

Building Memories

“You Have Taken Something Beautiful and Rebuilt It For The Future”

That is what my 101-year-old mother said when she saw the rebuild of our home in Westhampton NY. She is kind of amazing. When mom moved into assisted living 4 years ago, we thought about selling her house in Westhampton. The decision to keep the house was driven by our kids and their children. They had so many important memories spending summers in the  Hamptons. The old house had issues. For one, it was old. It was small. It was so small that Susan and I would have to stay at the motel down the street when we had visitors. But then again, what is the key thing about real estate: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

Mom enjoying the new house

Location is one consideration, economics is another. Picking an area that is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive in the country to live, is never a good idea. With ravages of Wall Street nearby, there is an abundance of “stupid money” in the hood.  There is also the adage of buy low, sell high that factored into our decision. Picking the peak of the market to buy and build can certainly be called stupid. Then again, I have never claimed to be the brains of the family. With both of my parents being college professors, one might think that brains ran in the family. When it came to me, it has been said that brains walked.

Susan and Paul enjoying an adult beverage on the back porch

After a two-year process of planning, spending, and spending some more, we moved into the new house in mid-August. It is still a small house, but we have a few more bedrooms and bathrooms. The floor plan is a little different. We live on Sea Breeze Avenue and no matter how hot it gets, you could sit under the arbor in the backyard and there was a delightful breeze to cool you off. No matter what my father tried to do with bay windows and fans you could never cool off the main living areas of the house. We worked with an architect, who lives down the street, and when we talked about the dilemma of the old house, he brought up a very simple solution, shift the living areas of the house to face the ocean and the prevailing breeze. That, and central air conditioning, make a world of difference.

The decision to go right or left is usually a political reference. Where we live in the Hamptons, from a food shopping standpoint, going right or left has an enormous economic impact. Going left (west) from our house I can get amazing seafood and local fresh produce at reasonable prices. Go right (east), and it can be crazy. There is a great wholesale/retail seafood place where I get great swordfish for $16/lb. and lobster for $8.99/lb. We went right (to a local market in Sag Harbor and the price for swordfish was $32/lb. and lobster was $24/lb. There is a farm stand 10 miles west of us where I bought 3 tomatoes at $3 per pound and the farmer threw in an additional 2 for free. That is versus the $7 tomato I bought last year few miles east. Living out east, brings new meaning to the saying “go west young man, go west!”

Mom asking for clippings of sage and lavender from her herb garden to take back to her apartment.

 

There are certainly culinary benefits to summers in the Hamptons. We had two wonderful salads for lunch with Mom:

  • Curry Chicken with Peaches

  • Caprese Salad with Basil Pesto

The salads were perfectly complemented with a loaf of olive bread brought by friends from Brooklyn.

Curry Chicken Salad with Peaches

Caprese Salad with Basil Pesto

At the end of the day, life is about building memories. And, taking something beautiful and rebuilding it for the future is not about location or economics, it is all about building memories

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are