George & Georgie

No one enjoyed a good party more than my dad George Fontanals. I don’t know what is going on in Saltaire these days but from the mid-60’s on into the early 80’s, Saltaire seemed like one big cocktail party which might or might not move on into dinner. One of George’s dinner party staples was his famed Paella.

Georgiana M Hull (Georgie) managed to get George’s recipe down on paper in her wonderful Fire Island Cookbook. The book, a collection of seafood recipes from the town’s locals, is a veritable who’s who from the Saltaire Happy Hour Set in around 1972.

click images to enlarge

I have used this recipe with pretty good results, but I would suggest a few things:
· Give yourself plenty of time. (like the entire day)
· You must track down a paella pan to accommodate the # you are feeding.
· Don’t forget the Saffron!!

---DERF

JOH adds: I can't believe George Fontanals Sr. looks so young and happy in that picture.

...Emily’s mother calls the children to breakfast. Emily is surprised at how young her mother looks. Emily cries out:

"I can’t bear it. They’re so young and beautiful. Why did they ever have to get old? I can’t look at everything hard enough. ”

Emily comes downstairs; her mother says:

“Birthday or no birthday, I want you to eat your breakfast good and slow. ”

Emily: “Oh, Mama, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me .”

Emily turns to the Stage Manager:

“I can’t go on. It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at
one another ”

-Our Town

Ed Note: this post originally appeared Jan 2, 2008

CALLING ON ALL SALTAIRIANS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEW FIRE ISLAND COOK BOOK

Saltaire, N.Y.-- November 10, 2008

Thirty six years after the launch of the culinary classic Fire Island Cook Book by Georgiana Hull, the torch has been passed to a new generation of Saltairians, born in the Baby Boom, raised on Fire Island, disciplined by hard and bitter mid life crises, still proud of their ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness the slow undoing of those Saltaire culinary delights to which their generation has become accustomed, both on the Island and to wherever they have migrated.

The new Fire Island Cookbook has been announced, and the call goes out for all to contribute.

Herewith is the Inaugural Invitation from Carol Scott Cappilletti; Janet Standard, and Kathryn Corrigan Woods:

Calling all Saltairians who love to cook and entertain as much as we do! A new Fire Island cookbook is in the works and we want your recipes. Primary ingredients should be indigenous to the island or nearby Long Island. Your family as well as guests who've contributed to memorable Saltaire meals - breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner - are all encouraged to submit recipes.

We are looking for appetizers, entrees, side dishes, desserts, as well as beverages. Think fish, shellfish, summer vegetables, berries, duck or even venison and send them this way. Don't forget about pasta and delicious and easy summer dishes. We encourage you to include any story you wish to share regarding the creator of the recipe or its genesis - the funnier the better! Recipes will be selected and tested in the “Test Kitchen” (chez Weinlandt) in summer, 2009.

Please let us know if you have ANY questions,

Carol Scott Cappelletti, Janet Standard and Kathryn Corrigan Woods
cappelletti@nc.rr.com, jms397@nyu.edu, kcwoods2@aol.com

(Ed. Note: You've all read about the respect the editors of Saltaire38.blogspot.com have for Georgiana's classic (we go back a long way together. Click this link: http://saltaire38.blogspot.com/search?q=George+%26+Georgie ), so we Boomers have a tough act to follow, but we stand proudly behind this dynamic new endeavor.

George Fontanals, Jim O'Hare

Editors, Saltaire 38.blogspot.com