I’m so old I remember “taco trucks on every corner” was supposed to sound like a threat if a lady Democrat were elected president, so I’ve been watching how Halal Guys dishing up “street meat” have broken down so much Islamophobia in NYC (my own nephew-in-law comes in from Boston to indulge). Food is always a bridge. And that’s why I feel pretty fortunate I got to finally shine some light on a farmer couple who have never tried to hide their faith. I still remember being in their tent right after October 7 and customers coming up and hugging the wife because they worried a Palestinian-American was in for some blowback. But it turns out this is not Rudy’s New York anymore. And food helped. 

This was an only-in-New York experience: We were walking back from the Greenmarket at Fortress Columbia on our way to our “if it’s Thursday, it must be Mama’s Too” experience when we passed a fascinating-looking couple and my former consort said: “Did you see who that was? [Former NYT editor.]” I turned fully around to gawk and a guy on a bicycle rolled up to say, “Hi, remember me?” And it was a restaurateur I have known casually for many years (and via many restaurants). 

We kept walking and he circled around in Straus Park to say “I noticed your Mamdani button and wanted to say that he’s gonna put a lot of small restaurants out of business.” I heard him out, even though that was news to me, and he did toss out a lot of numbers on front-of-house V kitchen pay, but my conclusion, probably not heard clearly, was: “So you’re in a rock-and-hard-place spot — do you vote for crooked Adams or resigned-in-disgrace Son of Mario or Curtis F. Sliwa?” (paraphrasing). 

Oh. Kay. Then when I got to our building a neighbor and the elevator guy were on the sidewalk chatting and she noticed my button and I told her what had just happened. And he jumped right in to articulate Mamdani’s position on raising pay for all workers. Which is proof that a clear message lifts all boats. 

Also, too, what I didn’t say to my restaurateur pal was: A: Wouldn’t better pay for all workers give more workers money to spend in restaurants? B: Remember when congestion pricing was gonna destroy(!) restaurants in the clogged zone? How’s that working out?