Gael Greene was New York Magazine’s restaurant critic for more than 30 years, starting in 1968 – and remains on staff. She was the best in the business in a city of great restaurants. She’s still my favorite critic.
Her new autobiography, “Insatiable,” covers her awakening as a diner and appetite as a lover. And she’s coming to Colorado to discuss both.
On June 10, she’ll be on the “Gabby Gourmet Show” on KHOW. The following weekend she’ll be at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic as a VIP guest. Then on June 19 she’ll be the guest of honor at a special Gael Greene Dinner at Mel’s Bar & Grill. Seems she’s an old pal of owner Mel Master, and he’s putting together a meal that’ll reflect her revelations in “Insatiable.”
And they are some randy revelations. Seems she liked to dive into an interview when she worked for various publications. As a young woman at UPI in Detroit, she went back to the hotel with Elvis for a quickie. Then he turned over and asked her to call room service and order him a fried-egg sandwich. Other conquests include Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood and some top chefs.
Master says the dinner will include a signed copy of “Insatiable,” the company of Greene, and the food courses will pay homage to the men Greene bagged. So get ready for the meal to start with a fried-egg sandwich. Or maybe a peanut butter and banana panini.
Going to the dogs
A few seats remain for Tuesday’s Give Paws benefit dinner at Strings. The six-course meal won’t be Alpo, but the $$ all goes to the dogs – at the Dumb Friends League. Silent auction items include a whopper of a Wolf stove, a stay at the Teatro, a necklace from Lisa Olsen, ribs at Bennett’s, dinner at Dixon’s. Tix are $100 at 303-831-7310.
Ciao bello!
Barolo Grill closes today for 11 days – as the staff takes off for its annual trip to Italy.
Nothing unusual about that – except for the dates. Owner Blair Taylor used to shut down in July and take the staff to the old country. But after 10 years, he realized it was too hot and crowded in Italy in July. What a thunderbolt!
“Last year I almost fainted at a vineyard in 98-degree heat,” Taylor told me via cellphone, standing by the Arno River, across the street from Harry’s Bar in Florence. That’s livin’.
He explained the it makes more sense to do business in Italy in the spring, that the big wine fair comes down in Verona on April 6, and that the weeks before tax day are bad in the restaurant anyway. And this year 15 people from Barolo are joining Blair and his wife Suzanne on the tour.
City spirit
Sign at Shotgun Willie’s: “HOME OPENER PARTY APRIL 3RD” … B.B. King is down to play Botanic Gardens on Aug. 13, BeauSoleil and Buckwheat Zydeco hit it on July 6 with a portion of the proceeds going to New Orleans Botanical Gardens. More to come … Stay in bed – it’s daylight savings time today and you’re already an hour late … Pam Houston is the winner of this year’s Evil Companions Literary Award – celebration is Thursday night at the Oxford (See story 11F) … Sez who: “Middle age begins with the first mortgage and ends when you drop dead.” Herb Caen
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
