Lights, Cameras, Action and Hot Fudge Sundaes at Norma and Johnnie’s
I lived in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey for some of the best years of my adult life. I shopped in a neighboring town, Westwood, New Jersey, and always managed to make my way into a little sweet shop called Conrad’s. Their homemade candy rivals Stefanelli’s in Erie. They have an ice cream soda shop that takes you back years in time. It still looks like 1959. Westwood has the charm of suburban New York, offering a variety of venues for the shopper and palate. Conrad’s still holds old charm.
Over twenty five years ago, while shopping, I was craving a hot fudge sundae. I went to Conrad’s. I took one taste and went back in time. Could this actually be happening? The time was the late 50’s and early 60’s, at Norma and Johnnie’s house.
After putting on our Sunday finest, Mike, Ann and I, in my parent’s Ford, were excited to be on Greengarden Blvd, knowing ‘the turn’ was coming. We walked into Norma and Johnnie’s greeted by Norma. She always had perfectly coiffured auburn hair, with a “Gibson Girl” twist in the front. She wore a crisp apron and always, red nails with an understated yet beaming smile. Johnnie was always gentle and warm.
We kids (Patty, Mike, Ann, Mike and I) could care less what the adults were going to do for the afternoon. We went downstairs to the basement stage and had a ball creating an original play. How I loved that time in their great basement! After much planning and practice, we put on our original play. Our audience of parents gave rounds of applause. We had succeeded. Look out Broadway.
Before dinner, I’d admire Norma’s original art work. I thought it was so cool. She had oil paintings, some by numbers, beautifully framed throughout the house. Then, time for a great dinner. Yes, a great dinner, but I couldn’t wait for the dessert, a hot fudge sundae. You could smell the sauce cooking. God, nothing could compare, except tasting it! It had a rich chocolate flavor and a moderate creamy consistency dripping over pure vanilla ice cream. I’ve tried many times to recreate the sauce with the Hershey’s cocoa hot fudge recipe, and maybe I’ve come close. Then I went into Conrad’s in Westwood, New Jersey. No matter what diet I tried to be on over the past 25 years, I’d give myself a reprieve and have that hot fudge sundae. I am amazed. How can I be so lucky? It’s just like Norma’s! I enjoy my sundae. I go back in time. I relive my childhood memories. I reconnect with what’s good and important. Conrad’s, please never go out of business.
Lucy Cappello
March 2, 2010
CROTTY 15 - Click below for slide show
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3 comments:
mmm..yummy!! Remember 'Mexican Sundaes'?? you would get strung up a tree down here for saying that!!
Talk to Nancy about hot fudge...Jack had a recipe that he made and was to die for!
Isn't it funny how taste and smell can take us back in time? Fond memories.
Sometimes mom would go 'up town' to shop for the afternoon. Of course Tommy and I had to go along. I think as a reward for being good sports, we would end up in the Boston Store cafeteria. We would always get Mexican Sundaes. They were so good, especially at the end at the bottom. I remember that Tommy and I liked to go over to the water machine after we finshed, and get a glass of water. It seemed so novel.
Ahh....Boston Store cafeteria!! that was my only experience at that age with a cafeteria...it was neat.
One very vivid memory I had was my 3rd grade teacher at Edison, Miss Liljenberg, took our whole class on a field trip to vist her brother, Judge Liljenberg, in his courtroom, and then we all went to the Boston Store Dining room (6th floor?) for lunch. We all got to order from the kids menu, and go pay for our lunch ourselves. I remember it was $.65. And we had to bring extra money for a tip. She explained all that to us. One other fond memory is that we ran a fake 'grocery store' in our class. She priced items and then we were given shopping lists and told to choose our purchases to buy for a meal. We had to explain why we were buying the items (had to be nutrionally sound) and add up the items in our head whil we shopped so we knew approximately how much it would cost when we got to check out. We also had a Jewish girl in our class and as Hannukah drew near, she had Marsha explain the significance. She was the best teacher I ever had.
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