MARIANI’S
Virtual
Gourmet
JANUARY 31
Founded in 1996 Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean filming "Giant" (1956) ARCHIVE
❖❖❖
IN THIS ISSUE WHY ALL THE FUSS? DOES ANYONE CARE
RIGHT NEW YORK CORNER LOVE AND PIZZA CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE By John Mariani NOTES FROM THE WINE CELLAR HAMILTON RUSSELL WINES By GEOFF KALISH ❖❖❖ Why All The
Fuss? Does Anyone By John Mariani "Vatel" (2000)
Le Gavroche, London
❖❖❖ NEW YORK
CORNER
By
John Mariani By John Mariani Since, for the time being, I am unable to write about or review New York City restaurants, I have decided instead to print a serialized version of my (unpublished) novel Love and Pizza, which takes place in New York and Italy and involves a young, beautiful Bronx woman named Nicola Santini from an Italian family impassioned about food. As the story goes on, Nicola, who is a student at Columbia University, struggles to maintain her roots while seeing a future that could lead her far from them—a future that involves a career and a love affair that would change her life forever. So, while New York’s restaurants remain closed, I will run a chapter of the Love and Pizza each week until the crisis is over. Afterwards I shall be offering the entire book digitally. I hope you like the idea and even more that you will love Nicola, her family and her friends. I’d love to know what you think. Contact me at loveandpizza123@gmail.com —John Mariani To read previous chapters go to archive (beginning with March 29, 2020, issue. LOVE AND PIZZA Cover Art By Galina Dargery
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
And Nicola did arrange it, although it took some lying to her parents. “I’m twenty-one years old and I have to lie to get out of the house!” she said to herself, coming around to thinking that if she threw herself into modeling from then until she went to graduate school in the fall, she might be able to rent her own apartment, outside the neighborhood. She thereupon called her agency and told the booker she was wide open for work, which came as great news to Steven Holtz, who told her, “I think you could be one of the star models around, Nikki. So does Elena and a lot of people who’ve seen your work. I want to build a campaign to put you into the top ranks. You’ve got the experience and the credits from Milan, and your monthly appearances in Willi have people talking. So let’s build your career into something much bigger.” “Okay, Steven, but just so long as you know I’m going to grad school next fall.” “Believe it or not, Nikki, there are a lot of models out there who are doing the same thing. It’s not so easy to do both and expect major success, because of the traveling, but it can be done. I think you’ll do just fine and by the end of the year, everybody will know the name Nikki Santini. The time is just right for your look. “In the last few years the look has been that squeaky clean American girl—Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Patti Hanson (below), you know the names. The girls who do the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. But now they’re looking for a little bit more of a crossover, half-American, half-European, even some more exotic types like this African girl Iman (below). You being Italian-American is a real boon for you at the moment, your coloring, your swagger, and you have a chameleon-like quality that allows you to do many stylizations. I think you can be one of the super models.” The term “super model” had been bandied about since the Sixties, when the British model Twiggy (left) first burst on the scene, and since then a few individuals had been so crowned by the fashion media—Margaux Hemingway, Beverly Johnson, Janice Dickinson, Marisa Berenson, Lauren Hutton (below) and a few others. By 1986, however, the term had not yet been used in the aggregate—that would come in the next decade—to describe a passel of models whose “super” status everyone recognized. The prospect of such hype quite literally scared Nicola, because she did not know if she could resist the money and blandishments that went with such stardom. For, however committed she was to following her own star to graduate school and the arts, she had no idea how strong the temptations might become to set her goals aside or fail to pursue them at all. Nicola knew very well her upbringing would preclude her ever trafficking with the drug-fueled elements of the fashion industry—and she was counting on Steven to be her Jiminy Cricket in that regard. She told herself that modeling is not a career that lasts forever, or even for very long. So, even if she did pursue it full-time, she could always go back into the art world before she even turned thirty. The money would certainly help, though. So, for the time being at least, she gave herself over to Steven Holtz to get her some good jobs and make her some good money. Maybe she could move out of Belmont and still pay for grad school. In fact, those prospects were increased when Columbia offered her nearly a full scholarship for the PhD program, which basically meant any money she made that spring and summer could be put away for an apartment while she was studying. In the first year, the Master’s year, she would be mainly attending classes and seminars, then in the PhD years she could take her time before finally taking her oral exams and writing her thesis. Indeed, she was well aware of many students who took a decade or more to finish, and almost as many never finished at all. That was not going to happen with Nicola, whose resolve was clear and abiding that spring. So, when the phone rang the next day and the SNAP booker had six casting calls for her, Nicola was more than content with the prospects. She then became delightfully stunned when she got two jobs that first day, one with Mademoiselle, another with Ralph Lauren. And, of course, she had her monthly “gig” with Willi. When she told Marco the good news, he was very happy for her, especially when she said she’d probably be moving out of her parents’ house. “All I need is a studio like yours,” she said. “I’ll be going on calls all day or traveling to shoots, probably some will be out of the country—the spring Milan Fashion Week is coming up in March—so I don’t need anything else.” “I don't suppose you could move in with me then?” asked Marco. “That would be highly improbable. First, because my parents would find out and, second, because I doubt your employers are going to let you have me live with you and cook for the family.” Marco admitted she was right but didn’t mind if in the meantime she lied about occasionally staying at his apartment by telling her parents she was staying with Catherine or one of her friends on the Columbia campus. It was a tightrope Nicola was very anxious about walking. By the beginning of February, Nicola was getting bookings several times a week, mostly in New York, but increasingly outside of the country. Her fee was going up, too, and when it did it seemed the fashion industry wanted her even more. Willi had been very good to her and gave her constant, monthly exposure, but the designers paid better than magazines, so that Nicola making a thousand dollars or more each week had become almost routine. Most of that Nicola socked away, but, ever appreciative of what her family had done for her, she bought them gifts, which her sisters happily accepted but her parents insisted they didn’t need. What Nicola wanted most of all was to have Marco cook for her family, but, given the size of his apartment, that was impossible. Instead, she asked him if he’d like to cook at Alla Teresa one night—just for the family, not the clientele—and Marco accepted readily. “Give me some time, though,” he said. “I need to search for the right ingredients,” suggesting that Tony was not getting the quality Marco insisted upon. “Well, don’t take too long, Marco,” said Nicola, “as soon as I get back from a shoot in Martinique this week, the Milan shows begin in ten days.” Marco understood, though he was seeing much less of Nicola than he wanted, and, owing to the little time she had to herself, she had not found enough to search for an apartment of her own. © John Mariani, 2020
❖❖❖
NOTES FROM THE WINE CELLAR
❖❖❖HAMILTON RUSSELL WINES
By GEOFF KALISH As previously discussed, it seems
to me that for many years South African wine
was off on the wrong track—promoting
primarily two varietals (acetone-scented
Pinotage and flabby, pale Chenin Blanc) that
poorly matched food. And with very little
well-organized group marketing or
educational effort in the U.S., it’s not
surprising that many shops provide so little
shelf space for South African wines.
However, a growing number of vintners are
following a new path with wines that express
the most flavorful aspects of “old world”
grape varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon,
Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon
Blanc. And, based on a trip to South Africa
some six years ago, and some recent
tastings, I feel that Hamilton Russell
Vintners is at the forefront of this
movement, with its wines (3 of which are
discussed below) available across the
U.S.—albeit some local hunting and special
ordering may be necessary for particular
bottles.
❖❖❖
Sponsored by ❖❖❖
Any of John Mariani's books below may be ordered from amazon.com. The Hound in Heaven (21st Century Lion Books) is a novella, and for anyone who loves dogs, Christmas, romance, inspiration, even the supernatural, I hope you'll find this to be a treasured favorite. The story concerns how, after a New England teacher, his wife and their two daughters adopt a stray puppy found in their barn in northern Maine, their lives seem full of promise. But when tragedy strikes, their wonderful dog Lazarus and the spirit of Christmas are the only things that may bring his master back from the edge of despair. WATCH THE VIDEO! “What a huge surprise turn this story took! I was completely stunned! I truly enjoyed this book and its message.” – Actress Ali MacGraw “He had me at Page One. The amount of heart, human insight, soul searching, and deft literary strength that John Mariani pours into this airtight novella is vertigo-inducing. Perhaps ‘wow’ would be the best comment.” – James Dalessandro, author of Bohemian Heart and 1906. “John Mariani’s Hound in Heaven starts with a well-painted portrayal of an American family, along with the requisite dog. A surprise event flips the action of the novel and captures us for a voyage leading to a hopeful and heart-warming message. A page turning, one sitting read, it’s the perfect antidote for the winter and promotion of holiday celebration.” – Ann Pearlman, author of The Christmas Cookie Club and A Gift for my Sister. “John Mariani’s concise, achingly beautiful novella pulls a literary rabbit out of a hat – a mash-up of the cosmic and the intimate, the tragic and the heart-warming – a Christmas tale for all ages, and all faiths. Read it to your children, read it to yourself… but read it. Early and often. Highly recommended.” – Jay Bonansinga, New York Times bestselling author of Pinkerton’s War, The Sinking of The Eastland, and The Walking Dead: The Road To Woodbury. “Amazing things happen when you open your heart to an animal. The Hound in Heaven delivers a powerful story of healing that is forged in the spiritual relationship between a man and his best friend. The book brings a message of hope that can enrich our images of family, love, and loss.” – Dr. Barbara Royal, author of The Royal Treatment. ❖❖❖
❖❖❖
FEATURED
LINKS: I am happy to report
that the Virtual
Gourmet is linked to four excellent
travel sites: Everett Potter's Travel Report: I consider this the best and
savviest blog of its kind on the web. Potter is a
columnist for USA
Weekend, Diversion, Laptop and Luxury Spa Finder,
a contributing editor for Ski and a frequent contributor
to National
Geographic Traveler, ForbesTraveler.com
and Elle Decor.
"I’ve designed this site is for people who take
their travel seriously," says Potter. "For
travelers who want to learn about special places
but don’t necessarily want to pay through the nose for
the privilege of staying there. Because at the end
of the day, it’s not so much about five-star
places as five-star experiences." THIS WEEK:
Eating Las Vegas
JOHN CURTAS has been covering the Las Vegas
food and restaurant scene since 1995. He is
the co-author of EATING LAS VEGAS – The 50
Essential Restaurants (as well as
the author of the Eating Las Vegas web site: www.eatinglasvegas.
He can also be seen every Friday morning as
the “resident foodie” for Wake Up With the
Wagners on KSNV TV (NBC) Channel 3 in
Las Vegas.
MARIANI'S VIRTUAL GOURMET
NEWSLETTER is published weekly. Publisher: John Mariani. Editor: Walter Bagley. Contributing Writers: Christopher Mariani,
Robert Mariani, Misha Mariani, John A. Curtas, Gerry Dawes, Geoff Kalish,
and Brian Freedman. Contributing
Photographer: Galina Dargery. Technical
Advisor: Gerry
McLoughlin. If you wish to subscribe to this
newsletter, please click here: http://www.johnmariani.com/subscribe/index.html © copyright John Mariani 2021 |