I am almost a little ashamed of myself, because I actually made a run to Citarella--an expensive, chi-chi grocery store in NYC--for most of my provisions. In fairness, the precious organic grocery store near me has fewer cheese offerings and, if you can imagine, higher prices. Plus I had a gift card (thanks, Helene!). Still, it was like a scene out of "Seinfeld" or "Curb Your Enthusiasm," with a long line of people clutching a few items--proscuitto, truffle oil, rosemary crackers, baby wild arugula (really exists), other must haves--in preparation for the hurricane.
You know how the typical local tv news reports will send a reporter to a supermarket to show people panicking in advance of a snowstorm or hurricane, and the scene almost always is of long lines of shoppers pushing carts filled with bread, milk, and eggs, on top, hiding a buttload of crap underneath? If they did that at the Citarella this morning where, among other things, I saw a 5-year old boy pulling a small cart up to the sushi display so he could grab a container of California rolls, well, the people who already hate us would hate us a little bit more.
And I understood why. It reminded me of when I went to see the store that sells only salt that opened in the West Village, just to see if it actually exists. It did. And after a young woman came in and breathlessly asked about Himalyan pink salt, I looked around nervously to see if there was someone poised to spray the store with bullets, because it almost seemed deserved.
That said, in my defense I purchased one emergency item at a normal bodega in Greenpoint on Friday:
Color me prepared.
Finally, cool celebrity spotting: As I trudged on home with my essentials, I passed David Cross carrying his bags of essentials. Now I'm off to hide under the covers. See you Wednesday (god willing)!
Hang tough GMB, it may only seem that the world is ending.
Posted by: Reamus | October 28, 2012 at 05:25 PM
Reamus: I have my almond biscotti and 2 1/2 bottles on lovely Italian reds. I'll be fine. Thanks for the encouragement. GMB
Posted by: gmb | October 28, 2012 at 07:58 PM
Good luck - we are stocked up on wine, beer, steaks, salad and potatoes!
Posted by: Mauigirl | October 28, 2012 at 09:56 PM
Mauigirl: I assume you have access to a grill? I do have a gas stove, so worse comes to worse, I will always have my coffee and biscotti. As I recall, you live in suburban NJ--my family lives in Cherry Hill and it looks like the storm goes right over them. Keep safe. And enjoy those steaks! GMB
Posted by: gmb | October 29, 2012 at 12:32 AM
You crack me up. Those are very practical items when you think about it. No need to refrigerate, no cooking. And who doesn't need a good excuse to nosh on olives, cheese and crackers? Okay me. I need no excuse.
All this AND David Cross? Your wine glass runneth over.
Posted by: Lisa Golden | October 29, 2012 at 08:11 PM
Lisa: Well, the olives and cheese benefit from some refrigeration. Still, some cheese and olives are still left over, but I'm down to one apple that I bought at the farmer's market on Saturday. And as for the David Cross siting, I'm not into that star fucker stuff and I probably could walk by most celebrities and not know who the hell they are, but David Cross is funny and I saw him immediately. Have you seen "The Increasingly Bad Decisions of Todd Margaret?" It's brilliant. GMB
Posted by: gmb | October 31, 2012 at 07:15 PM