THE PERIPATETIC NERO WOLFE –– INCLUDING HIS LOST SPANISH YEARS
The Wolfe Pack Celebrates with a Spanish Dinner at Cafe Salamanca
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2018

Archie Goodwin says that Nero Wolfe rarely leaves his house, but anyone who has studied the Corpus knows this is more hyperbole than reality.  Not only does Mr. Wolfe leave the Brownstone more often than he would care to admit, but several times he leaves New York City altogether, traveling to far-flung places such as upstate New York, Long Island, Texas, California, West Virginia, Montana, and even Montenegro.  And in an earlier life he traveled all over Europe – including a mysterious stay in Spain during which he had the great culinary experience of discovering saucisse minuit.  

This fall, the Wolfe Pack will hold a special event in homage to the wanderlust that beats, however well-concealed, inside Mr. Wolfe’s heart.

Monday, October 29, 2018, 7:00 p.m., Venue: Café Salamanca, 79-05 Northern Boulevard, Jackson Heights, Queens

This restaurant is easy for Manhattanites to reach via public transportation.  Those interested can meet at the clock in Grand Central Terminal at 6:15 p.m. and take the 7 train together.  Car and/or public transportation directions will be e-mailed to anyone requesting them.  

This excellent Spanish restaurant will allow us to feast on the cuisine that Mr. Wolfe enjoyed while visiting the Iberian peninsula.  The three-course dinner will include a choice from three types of soup or a salad; a choice of one of four entrées (including paella valencia); and dessert and coffee.  A vegetarian option will also be available.  A well-stocked cash bar will available throughout the night.  As a bonus addition to the menu, we will enjoy that most classic of Spanish pork products – Chorizo.  It is rumored that the chef’s grandfather, who was also a noted chef, was given the recipe for chorizos by Jerome Berin.       

The evening will include a quiz on Travel in the Corpus with prizes for the winners.  In addition, since the theme is Mr. Wolfe’s travels, each attendee will be asked to comment on his or her favorite or least favorite book or story in which Mr. Wolfe leaves the safe confines of the Big Apple.  A lengthy discourse is not expected but a few comments on why you like or dislike that adventure will be welcome.  Highlights will appear in a future issue of The Gazette.

This event continues the Pack’s tradition of culinary inclusiveness.  Last year we dined on French, German, and Italian comestibles in tribute to the three cuisines of Fritz Brenner’s native Switzerland.  Previously we have also enjoyed such other cuisines as Tibetan, Montenegrin, and Turkish.  If Mr. Wolfe can travel to Montana and Montenegro, we hope you will travel to Queens (no passport required) and join us for a fun evening of good company, frivolity, and fine food.

The cost for this event is just $32.00 (including food, tip, and coffee but not other beverages).  Please register and pay in advance using the form at the end of this newsletter.  Reservations should be received by October 20, 2018 so we can give a count to the restaurant.  For further information call or e-mail Jonathan Levine: 718-397-0223 or jrlevine1@aol.com.

The 41st Black Orchid Weekend will be held in New York from Friday evening, November 30 to Sunday, December 2, 2018.  The events will include:

• a Friday night (11/30) book discussion of "Help Wanted, Male" & "Instead of Evidence" (with a video presentation of the A&E TV Series Episode of "Help Wanted, Male")
• the Saturday afternoon Assembly featuring presentations of varied topics relating to the Wolfe World
• the Black Orchid Banquet at Arno Ristorante
• a Sunday brunch

Further details and registration information will be circulated in the fall.