Wednesday, August 27

NEW YORK -- Bernie Williams had a knack for making it look easy on the baseball field, patrolling center field and drilling line drives with grace. His second career has seen him strike all the right chords on stage as a jazz guitarist.

In the kitchen? That’s a step outside of the four-time World Series champion’s comfort zone. Williams is always up for a challenge, though, which he proved by recently joining Chef Adam Sobel at Bourbon Steak at Essex House in New York for a feature with MLB’s “Off the Plate.”

“I remember being a young Minor League player; first, second year in the Minors,” Williams said. “There were four or five people to an apartment. We didn’t have money to go out and eat every night, so we just went to the grocery store to get a whole bunch of stuff. I was appointed the cook for the group. Whether it was good or bad, we would have to eat it, no matter what.”

If only Williams -- and his roommates -- had access to Sobel back then. The chef’s first tip: don’t “Bern, Baby, Bern!” the meal.

“I grew up in Puerto Rico, so I am more partial to Latin American cuisine,” Williams said. “I finally learned how to make rice, baked beans, a little pork shoulder.”

This time, Williams worked as a sous chef, helping prepare a Nova Scotian lobster pasta that Sobel promised would become “your new go-to dish at home when you need to impress.”

Williams had the right coach: Sobel, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, trained under legendary chefs including Gunter Seeger, Charlie Trotter, Daniel Boulud, Guy Savoy and Michael Mina.

Sobel, who appears frequently on television, said Williams is his favorite Yankee. His fondest baseball memory: sitting in the Yankee Stadium bleachers for Williams’ home run in Game 5 of the 2001 American League Championship Series vs. the Mariners.

“If I could do anything,” Sobel said, “there’s two things. One would be to hit a 99 mph fastball and then play guitar like Derek Trucks. That would be my superpower.”

Williams helped Sobel with the latter, jamming on rhythm guitar at the restaurant before serving dinner for Sobel and Yankees radio broadcaster Dave Sims.

“I don’t really get star-struck -- [but] Bernie is my favorite Yankee,” Sobel said. “I get to cook for amazing, incredible people all the time. I cooked for Barack Obama’s 20th [wedding] anniversary. 

"But the only time I was left speechless at a table because I got starstruck was with Derek Jeter. I don’t know what happened to me. He’s amazing.”

Be in the room where it happens Monday evening at Yankee Stadium as the Yanks celebrate “Hamilton Cap Night,” distributed to the first 10,000 guests for Monday’s 7:05 p.m. ET game vs. the Washington Nationals.  

• Aaron Judge is making progress in his return to the outfield, though the captain is leaving his return date in the hands of the Yankees’ training staff. 
  
  
• Anthony Volpe was on the bench for Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox, and the shortstop’s slump could mean more opportunities for José Caballero. 
  
  
• Let’s get nuts! Max Fried had the strangest mound visit of his career during Friday’s Yankees-Red Sox game in the Bronx.

Who was the winning pitcher in the clinching Game 6 of the 2009 World Series?

A. A.J. Burnett 

B. Joba Chamberlain

C. Andy Pettitte

D. CC Sabathia

Aug. 25, 2011: The Yankees became the first team to hit three grand slams in a game (Robinson Canó, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson), defeating the A’s, 22-9.

Jorge Posada made his only career appearance at second base, recording the game’s final out on a groundout.

C. Pettitte

Pettitte held the Phillies to three runs over 5 2/3 innings on Nov. 4, 2009, picking up the win in the Yankees’ 7-3 victory.

Pettitte was also the winning pitcher in the deciding Game 6 of the American League Championship Series vs. the Angels, and in Game 3 of the 2009 AL Division Series vs. the Twins.

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