FINE DINING :

To Dance on a Dugout, a Guy's Gotta Eat (ALEX WITCHEL, July 17, 2002, NY Times)

As Mr. Haber led the way into Adelman's last Wednesday, he said, "Me and my mother and father used to eat here all the time." He seated himself at a front table next to framed sheets of uncut Topps baseball cards hanging on the wall. "On the back of each one are the stats my father used to write," he said proudly. "Baseball was basically tattooed on my life by him. He was an incredible master of human knowledge."

"I also have a phenomenal memory," he went on, reminiscing about James Madison High School, where he pitched for the baseball team, and Hofstra University, where he did the same. "But I never took my studies seriously, which was a shame," he said. "My fondest memory was the camaraderie with the guys." Then, with a logic Yogi Berra could love, he added, "When you're in college, you just don't think."

Mr. Haber ordered matzo ball soup, pastrami on rye and Dr. Brown's black cherry soda. "You want the sandwich juicy or lean?" the waiter asked. "A little flavor?" Mr. Haber opted for flavor. He shunned mustard for his sandwich, which was indeed flavorful, moist and not at all fatty. Instead, he dunked it in the soup. Amazingly, it was terrific. A French dip, only Jewish.

This guy has Red State written all over him. He eats stuff 'cause it tastes good not to display good taste. Of course, he'd have to drive to a Blue State to find the food... Posted by Orrin Judd at July 17, 2002 8:08 AM