26 NOVEMBER 10, 2016 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM Savoring the little things in life vschneps@ gmail.com The world is upside down and passions are running high in every home, but something sweet and innocent goes on at the same time: Kids playing ball. My “big” grandchildren, all over 6 feet tall – Sam, Zac and now Ben –play football, lacrosse and basketball. My “little” grandchildren, all under 10 years old, play soccer, tag football, basketball and lacrosse, so I get vicarious pain and pleasure watching their joy, their victories, even their losses. Last weekend, 5-year-old Addy and 7-year-old Jonah joined me as we bundled up, with layers of clothes, hats and gloves, to watch their cousin “Big” Ben play in his high school’s football championship game at Randall’s Island. Ben, lucky number 2, was on the fi eld for defense and off ense because he’s so good! Ben, the last Broner to play for his beloved Dalton – he’s the “baby” – was to make history for the school, as a member of the fi rst Dalton team to win every game in the season and then win its division championship too. We got to see him play his last two winning games thankfully, in still relatively warm weather. What angst, what pain, as I watched his mom’s face as the game proceeded. I always believe that it’s harder on the “viewer” than the participant. That was true as his parents watched with clenched teeth as the championship was won aft er ties and touchdowns. His mom had tears as she saw her son lead his team to victory. As one of the mothers said, “This was a team with a big heart and caring about each other.” It’s talent and teamwork that make a victory, and Ben’s Dalton team had both. They will cherish their victory for their school and themselves for the rest of their lives! With big, prideful eyes and joy, the “little ones” ran onto the fi eld and hugged Ben as they congratulated him. They, too, learned a lesson about teamwork and they excitedly delighted in Ben’s victory. It was a great time on many levels – and, of course, I was a proud grandma! Victoria’s Secrets Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS tweet me @vschneps Ben with the Dalton team that won every game Maiella, LIC Italian dining on the water, is better than ever LIC has become my home away from home because my children Josh and Elizabeth have run the LIC Flea and Food market eight months a year for the past four years. So I have seen many changes over the years as the community, particularly along the waterfront on Center Boulevard, has grown dramatically, bringing several four-star dining places serving superb food and spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. I had the pleasure of visiting Maiella, which sits just next to the Pepsi sign on the waterfront. One of the owners is Bobby Briskin, whose proud parents own Alicia’s Jewelers in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center in Bayside. The restaurant has evolved under the leadership of Executive Chef Raff aele Solinas. It is a casual yet elegant restaurant and I came hungry after seeing Josh Groban in in his new play “The Great Comet” at the reconfi gured Imperial Theater-turned-Russian nightclub. More on that later. I began my meal, seated at a window table in the open, elegant space, with the creamy burrata appetizer wrapped in prosciutto melting in my mouth. I then sampled an assortment from the Salumeria menu with three diff erent meats – bresaola, air-dried beef top round, sliced thin; sopresatta picante, a spicy sliced cured pork sausage; and fi nocchiona, a sweet cured pork and fennel sausage – all served on a wooden board, perfect with our martinis! There are many choices of pastas and my favorite meatball and spaghetti is served w i t h three meatballs in a tasty rich San Marzano tomato sauce. It’s great to share. For the entrée, my friend and I ordered the special sea bass presented in a hot clay pot smothered in shrimp, langoustine, mussels and clams, all in a light tomato sauce. Each fi sh is perfectly cooked and is a plentiful portion for sharing. The menu also off ers nine diff erent pizzas. Daniel Steinberger, the manager, prepared the pasta infused with homemade Sangiovese wine, tossed in a parmigiana wheel with truffl e cream sauce. Outrageous! Since no perfect meal is complete without dessert, we indulged in Maiella’s famous bread pudding with vanilla gelato surrounded by a dripping of chocolate caramel. Don’t leave without it! It’s delicious. There is valet parking and also a few blocks from the subway so it’s easy to reach. Try it. You too will love it! Maiella is located at 4610 Center Blvd. in LIC; 718-606-1770. It’s open for dinner Monday through Friday, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, 4-11 p.m.; and Sunday, 5-11 p.m. There’s also brunch on weekends, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. in the season, and its division championship, too! Ben with Jonah and Addy
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