The Duchess and Son Get Their Fix

Some final memories of our visit to New York. Good deli food and Dr. Brown's cream soda (twice in one week) topped my list. If you haven't had cream soda, you don't know what you're missing. (Although, some people taste it and wish they didn't know what they were missing.) A colleague once introduced me to a great imitation. Simply mix vanilla vodka with ginger ale. If you have more than two of the vodka versions, the tastes are identical. If you don't like "original" cream soda, you might like the adult version.

DR. BROWN'S ORIGINAL CREAM SODA.
BLISS.

My Fix
Cream soda (without vodka) requires some good New York deli to bring out the flavor. We were lucky enough to have lunch twice at a place called The Stage Deli. The original Stage Deli, on 7th Avenue, closed last year; I have no idea what connection this little place has, but it was good. The sandwiches (in traditional delis, there's enough meat for four sandwiches) are usually too much for the Dowager Duchess to consume in one (or even two) sittings. So, she and I shared a sandwich, which meant that I got to supplement my meal with a really good potato knish.

CORNED BEEF, POTATO KNISH, AND A KOSHER DILL.
I'M OK FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

The Duchess's Fix
What visit with The Dowager Duchess would be complete without a visit to at least one garden center? We drove to the nearby Home Depot (our version here in Fuengirola is a store called Akí) and The Duchess swooned over the flora. There was nothing to "weed," but back in her apartment I did find a photo of the Duchess "weeding the garden" in Germany more than 30 years ago (click here to see that story).

A VERY UNFLATTERING PHOTO OF THE DOWAGER DUCHESS ...
AS SHE TRIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY CAN FIT ON HER BALCONY.

THE DOWAGER DUCHESS — PULLING WEEDS IN THE BACKYARD.
 AUGUSTBURG PALACE, BRÜHL, GERMANY, 1974.

MY FATHER, THE ROYAL CONSORT — ON HIS PEDESTAL.
 AUGUSTBURG PALACE, BRÜHL, GERMANY, 1974.