This is the final segment of the very small Bart family edition of the “Your Life in Food” series. Since there are just four of us, I thought it would be interesting to include Adam’s family as well. The Holzband/Oberstein chapters will begin following this post so stay tuned!

Without further ado, last, but certainly not least, my brother, or as some know him, “The Shoe King of New York.”

Eating a croissant in France - late 1980's

Jeffrey B. – Born in 1981 (brother of Jodi, son of Andy and Linda)

If you were given a dollar to buy treats when you were a kid, what would you buy?

I’d have to say that the Good Humor Man was the beneficiary of my hard earned allowance. I used to love push pops or strawberry shortcake ice cream. Sometimes I’d splurge and buy a pack of Garbage Pail Kids which were like baseball cards but instead of ball players there were there were pics of these pretty disgusting characters.

Was dessert a special treat or a nightly ritual?

Our family used to eat dessert nightly but as a child I didn’t really agree with what my family classified as dessert. I was not a big pie guy nor did I like canned fruit (the consistency of the fruit in both of these really turned me off) so sometimes I skipped out or just ate ice cream.

Jeff Makes Pancakes for the Siegel Family

What food do you throw out? Do you eat leftovers?

I do eat leftovers but anything over 2 days is probably going to be thrown away. Also anything past the expiration date is considered bad. I grew up in a house that believed the total opposite with the smell test ruling all. My mom to this day still has things from Canada in her cupboard at home….she moved from Canada in 1985.

What kind of cooking did your father do when you were growing up?

He did the barbecuing and once every 2-4 years would make chicken paprikash which is a traditional Hungarian dish

Who did the grocery shopping?

My Mom. Jodi and I would go along with her which was the only way we could get things in the pantry that we liked.

Jeff Posing at Chelsea Market NYC 2008

Where did your family get meat from when you were a kid? If you don’t eat meat, why and what prompted that decision?

Either the Cabin John Giant or Price Club

What was your first candy bar?

I think Smarties. Not the sour American version but the Canadian variety which were like M & M’s but in my opinion better. Canadian Smarties are larger and have a crunchier outer shell with a tastier chocolate center.

Did you ever steal a pack of gum?

Never gum but I did steal a Doughnut in high school and got caught. The worst part about it was that I tried to pay but none of the registers had change for a $20 so I just finished it behind the counter and walked off. During my next class I got called down to the principal’s office who threatened to call the cops.

Mom, Jeff, and Dad in Greece - 2008

Did you make your own beer or wine?

No but I’ve thought about it numerous times.

Do you share food with your neighbors? Could you borrow a cup of sugar from them?

I think you have to know your neighbors to do either of these things.

What did your mom make you when you were sick?

She made me frustrated…Just Kidding. She took great care of me when I was sick. She did like to make Jello and chicken soup.

Additional posts on “Your Life in Food” can be found here.