CAROLJOYNT.COM

"This Is Spinal Tap" Interview on YouTube

 This is one of my favorites from The Q&A Cafe archives - the men of "Spinal Tap," Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. I know Harry very well, and Chris and Michael sorta well. Thanks to Harry, we all cross paths from time to time. This interview had been a long-time coming. The guys were game, I just needed them to all be in Washington at the same time, which a "Spinal Tap Unplugged" concert made possible.

Enjoy the conversation. Also, it's a glimpse into the old location, Nathans. For long-timers of The Q&A Cafe, that will be sentimental. 

Howard's Egg Nog

"HOWARD'S EGG NOG" ON THE WEEKEND BEFORE CHRISTMAS

It's always at this time of year when I'm asked to recall "Howard's Egg Nog." Back in the day my adored husband, Howard Joynt, would whip up big batches of very potent home made egg nog. In the few days running up to Christmas he offered it free of charge at his saloon, Nathans. For a few select friends he would bottle it, a tradition I continued after his death.

But now Nathans is closed and I don't have the means to pull the required many bottles of premium rum, bourbon and cognac off the shelf to make the famed home brew. Hell, like so many this year, I'm house rich and cash poor and can barely afford the eggs. Nonetheless, I love the tradition.

So, while I may not be able to offer free glasses of potent egg nog at Wisconsin and M, I am able to offer up the recipe. Worth noting: Howard composed this recipe after we attended a White House Christmas party in 1985, where we enjoyed especially the White House egg nog, and he asked one of the veteran waiters for the ingredients. It is based on that recipe plus his professional embellistments.

HOWARD'S EGG NOG

5 Egg Yolks

5 Egg Whites

1 1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup bourbon

3/4 cup cognac

3/4 cup dark rum

1 quart milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 pint heavy cream

Nutmeg

Vanilla extract

The Preparation

-Combine yolks and sugar in and bowl and beat to ribbon stage

-Add bourbon, rum, cognac to yolk mix 

-Let  those ingredients rest, and while they rest

-Whip egg whites to stiff peak

-Whip the cream to medium thickness

-Fold whites and cream together, and then add yolks and alchohol, and stir for at least 1 minute

-Add spices (nutmeg and vanilla)

Chill in the refrigerator overnight. 

Serve in a punch bowl with a big chunk of premium vanilla ice cream in the punch bowl

Stir regularly when serving

Simply transcribing the recipe brings back so many memories. For example, the usual: in the kitchen at our home on the Chesapeake Bay, which was a large and terrfic "cook's kitchen," with half stone walls and a big fireplace and views of the water in three directions. Since I didn't yet own a restaurant back then (that was his business) I was seriously into cooking, (later squelched when I idid own a restaurant). I made all our meals in that kitchen, kept it tidy and pristine in an anal way. The Annual Night of the Egg Nog, however, was just the opposite. Howard was the mad scientist, whisks and blenders whirring, eggs and their shells flying. When he was done it was such a mess. However, the result, the egg nog, was glorious. He was so damned proud of that egg nog, and deservedly so.

Funny that I didn't begin drinking egg nog until after his death. But drinking his egg nog each Christmas became a loving token of remembrance - for me, for friends, and for the staff. I don't miss anything about the corner of Wisconsin and M (well, my husband) but I do miss the ritual of the egg nog. Maybe, if you were a Nathans fan, you will recreate it at home. I promise reward.

"Reliable Source" Does "Innocent Spouse" & Spawns Nathans Memories

 NATHANS ON A SUMMER NIGHT

I know, I know. This happened yesterday. But sometimes it takes 24 hours for a pop to produce its ripple. The Washington Post's "Reliable Source" column yesterday gave my memoir, "Innocent Spouse," a mention called "Carol Joynt...and... her surprising new memoir." It was nice. Maybe not universally popular, but as I say to anyone who comments after reading a shard of my book, "please, read the whole book." Note to haters: why?

But back to the ripple. I got an email from RS writer Amy Argetsinger today that said, "I'm beginning to get a feeling of what your daily life must be like: Ever since the story came out I've been besieged by people wanting to share their Nathans nostalgia stories with me!"

Isn't that wonderful? The best of Nathans were the patrons. I know full well their memories run the gamut from sweet falling in love stories to happy waffle brunches to Dom Perignon dance parties to raucous coke-infused all nighters. It was a saloon, after all, and its heyday was the heyday of Washington saloons! It was the best. I know that, too. Almost all the good times happened on Howard's watch because he created a great bar. My task was to try to keep that illusion alive even though I was left with basically the Titanic (and I was no Howard, I was not the fun one). 

But Amy's email got me thinking: it's too bad no one is writing the Nathans story. Amy even wondered "if there's a market for a photo-heavy book about the Georgetown nightlife scene of the 70s and 80s." It certainly had it all, quite white hot and diverse, (Nathans, Clyde's, Apple Pie, Cellar Door, Whiskey A Go Go, etc), which is difficult to believe by the crop of bars we have now. Those that make any money are too often pandering to sports nuts and teens with fake ID's. Howard didn't allow blenders or blender drinks or Red Bull. He was the last adapter to TV's and the two he put in were tiny. Yay. I was the one who put in the flat panel monsters that made bar patrons into morons. 

I'd love to collect Nathans memories here on the site. They would be a tasty adjunct to my book. Gotta figure out how to do it. Suggestions welcomed. But I don't how much flexibility Typepad provides. 

 

NATHANS Returns...In "Broadcast News" DVD

 WILLIAM HURT IN A SCENE FROM "BROADCAST NEWS," SHOT AT NATHANS

Director James L. Brooks has re-issued his film "Broadcast News" and the new DVD includes previously deleted scenes that were shot at Nathans. Its a little bit of sentimental time-travel for those who love the film and Nathans fans who remember the bar's hey day, circa 1987. Read about it in my column on New York Social Diary, here. 

Some more of the Nathans shots:

 HURT WALKS OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR, AT THAT TIME PAINTED WHITE

 ALONG WISCONSIN AVENUE, SHOWING THE BUILDING'S BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS