The Boss
Two years ago, my sons Joe and Gainer hauled me down to Brooklyn to the legendary Peter Luger’s Steakhouse for my birthday. It was a night with the boys I’ll never forget—and a mambo of a Porterhouse steak I’ll never forget, either.
Luger’s is a 133-year-old restaurant now run by the family's fourth generation. Old-time ambience and waiters who are real pros. Waistcoats and bowties. The whole bit. The place is very much a part of the charm and character of NYC. It's really important we don't lose institutions like Luger's and other local, independent favorites. So I was wondering how they were holding up during the pandemic. They’ve gotten pretty resourceful—which you need to be if you’re going to survive this ride. They are doing delivery, accepting credit cards for the first time, shipping mail-order steaks. Their 8 oz. burgers are knocking ‘em dead. And they’re selling their thick-as-a-brick bacon in supermarkets. The best store-bought bacon you can get.
Another good story I’ve been following is Cocktail Kingdom. They manufacture barware for bars and restaurants, We all know how those businesses have been whacked. Cocktail Kingdom was watching how liquor store sales were booming because people were spending so much time at home—and who the hell doesn’t need a drink now. So they shifted gears and started selling to the amateur mixologists shaking up cocktails at home. Sales have held up and they’ve been able to retain their staff of fifty-three in the Bronx.
Greg Boehm, president of Cocktail Kingdom, threw out some good advice: “Let’s move forward instead of treading water. And don’t be too proud to try something you said no to in the past.” That’s exactly what Luger’s did too.
Oh by the way, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band have a new release out today. It’s called Letter To You. And just so you know, Bruce is 71—and he’s still the Boss.
Keep your dukes up.