Live Blog: 30 Under 30 San Francisco Launch Party! 0 comments

Today, we launched our first-ever 30 Under 30 list in San Francisco, and you know what that means - it's time for a par-tay. We've set up shop at the Wo Hing General Store, and many of the honorees will be in the house, along with Tim and Nina Zagat to have a few drinks and bask in the glory of being one of the city's young up-and-comers. Stay tuned here for live updates for as long as the shin-dig lasts (or as long as we can still type before all that Champagne sets in).

6:30 PM: The doors are about to open, the calm before the storm. We aren't a certified meteorologist - can you call a room full of tipsy people a storm? It's a metaphor, people!

6:43 PM: Those of you following at home can also take a look at some chefs in action live on our Google Plus page. Freak. Out.

Haven Pizzeria Hits Bethesda 0 comments

By Olga Boikess

Haven, Bethesda's latest pizza parlor, dishes up New Haven-style crisp-crusted pies, with options including 'white clam,''tomato pie' and fennel sausage, plus housemade gelato for dessert. The stylish brick-trimmed setting is family-friendly and casual with roomy booths and a granite bar dispensing wine and beer and roomy booths (7137 Wisconsin Ave.; 301-664-9412)

Quote of the Day: Michael Pollan On Dining at French Laundry 0 comments

Michael Pollan; Photo by Ken Light

"I don’t know, it felt like work. But that’s not what food is for me, that idea of food as theater or entertainment. I just think keeping the conversation in the foreground and letting the food and drink serve that, rather than the other way around, is the way to go."

-Journalist, author and natural foods guru Michael Pollan on dining at French Laundry for his 50th birthday. [Denver Post]

Woman Sues Taco Bell Over Salmonella Poisoning; New York May Ban Sale of Shark Fin 0 comments

Image via Flickr/Civilian Scrabble

By Kelly Dobkin

An Oklahoma woman is suing Taco Bell claiming food she ate there gave her Salmonella poisoning. [FSN via HuffPo]

New York may be the next state to ban the sale of shark fin, a traditional ingredient in Chinese cuisine. [NYT]

And that pesky tainted cantaloupe has caused another death due to listeria. Yikes. [DP]

Check Out San Francisco's Rising Culinary Stars 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

Want to meet the culinary stars of the future? Today, we launched a roundup of 30 members of San Francisco's food industry. These folks are all under 30 years old - don't be surprised if you start seeing them pop up on television and in national news more and more, cause they are on the top of the Bay Area's restaurant scene. Click through to our San Francisco page here to see the slideshow and stay tuned for more roundups of the top culinary talent in the coming months.

If you're a fan of San Franciso's restaurant scene, our SF Survey is now live, so be sure to log on and vote for your favorites.

Beacon Hill Bistro Kicks Off Its Wine Series 0 comments

By Naomi Kooker

On Monday, February 27, Beacon Hill Bistro will kick off its Monday night wine dinner series, featuring four wines from different wine regions around the world or a specific varietal paired with four courses. The first of five dinners takes you to one of the largest wine production areas in the world, the Languedoc/Roussillon region, which stretches from the Rhone River to the Spanish border.  Other dates include March 12, “The many faces of Pinot Noir”; April 2, “Mountain Wines” - wines made from grapes grown at high altitudes, April 23: Chilean wines and May 7: Blind Tasting (7 PM; $60 per person, excluding tax and gratuity; 617-723-7575).

Ryan Skeen Out At Pera Restaurants 0 comments

Ryan Skeen in the kitchen of Pera SoHo

By James Mulcahy

Ryan Skeen was recently hired by the folks at Pera SoHo to launch the menu the new eatery, as well as make changes to the restaurant's sister location, Pera Mediterranean Brasserie in Midtown. Well, the chef, who has had a stream of short-lived jobs at New York restaurants, has parted ways with the eatery after a couple months at the helm.

Owner Burak Karacam released the following statement about the shake up: "The Pera organization and Ryan Skeen have chosen to pat ways as the result of disparate operational and culinary styles that made a continued association untenable to both parties. We wish Ryan well with his future endeavors." Guests should not notice any hiccups while dining at either establishment - the crew in the kitchen (a mixed bunch of American / Turkish chefs) has taken over, and will continue to churn out the restaurant's quality fare. If you hadn't had a chance to stop by, check out our video tour of Pera SoHo here.

5 Napkin Opens, Launches New Burgers, Near Union Square 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

5 Napkin Burger fans no longer have to travel uptown for their fix! The fourth New York City location of the upscale burger restaurant has just opened near Union Square. The 120-seat eatery will offer all of the favorites that carnivores have come to love at the other outposts, along with a few new meaty options for good measure. The three new burgers on this menu include an avocado ranch option that's topped with pepper-jack cheese and ranch dressing, a barbecue burger that's topped with 'cue sauce, green tomato pickles and cheddar and a mushroom blue burger topped with shiitake, blue cheese dressing and onions. The decor is reminiscent of the other locations (which, incidentally, are always packed) - while reps for the restaurant describe it as "butcher-shop chic" we'd call it a bistro for burgers, but hey - whatever works.

A few more new things are in store for this locale - there will be a large outdoor patio when the weather gets warm, accommodating an additional 64 seats. In a few weeks, the eatery will also get up and running with breakfast service, which will be a first for the chain. If you want to stop by for some burger action, the new 5 Napkin is now open at 150 East 14th Street (212-228-5500).

Exclusive or Not? Testing 7 New York Hot-Spots 1 comments

Is Crown all it's cracked up to be? 

By James Mulcahy

Getting the seats filled in a restaurant (especially a spankin' new one) is all about building the buzz, and the busier the joint seems, the more people are jonesing to go. Last year, we took a look at some hot spots around town to see if they were actually exclusive or if it was all just hype. Well, it's time to run the test on a new crop of openings (and an old favorite or two). Click through the slideshow below to see if the buzzy eateries are tough to get into or just faking it.

30 Under 30: San Francisco's Hottest Up-and-Comers 0 comments

By Meesha Halm

Aside from our venerable culinary forefathers and mothers such as Alice Waters and Thomas Keller, the celebrity chefs dominating the current Greater Bay Area dining scene are a pretty young bunch. But last year’s millennial chefs better watch their backs: there’s a whole new crop of upstarts to watch. Click through the slideshow to read about our 30 most promising young restaurant industry folks under 30, and if you're familiar with their work, be sure to go vote in the SF Bay Area Restaurants survey!

Open Call: Should Restaurants Be Allowed To Ban Crying Children? 3 comments

Image via Flickr/Upsilon Andromedae

By Kelly Dobkin

We're taken a look at the issue of banning children from restaurants before, but very recently, a casual Atlanta-based restaurant called Grant Central Pizza decided that they've had enough of crying children disturbing their customers, so they decided to post a sign outside that reads:

Dear all present and future patrons: GCP is proud of its reputation as a family restaurant, a title that we will work to keep. Unfortunately a number of our diners have posted unpleasant experiences because of crying and unsupervised children. To ensure that all diners have an enjoyable lunch or dinner with us we respectfully ask that parents tend to their crying tots outside.

Controversial Restaurant Policies: When Should The Table Be Cleared? 2 comments

By James Mulcahy and Kelly Dobkin

Many times, the difference between an excellent dining experience and a certified disaster comes down to the small stuff. And a lot of those little details are left up to the server. How to approach the table? What's the line between being too aggressive and not paying enough attention? This week, our two editors sweat the small stuff, sussing out the best way for restaurant staff to clear tables. Is it more annoying to have them constantly swiping plates, or to have dirty flatware piling up while the staff waits for everyone to finish. Check out the debate below:

James: When I was out the other night - I noticed a problem that reminded me of your complaint about the overzealous wine pours trend. Overzealous table clearing.

Kelly: Lol. What do you mean?

Guest Chef Collaborate With Atul Kochhar at Benares 0 comments

Benares Bar

By Claire Coleman

As if one brilliant chef in a restaurant at one time wasn't enough, Atul Kochhar has decided to join forces with some of his fellow brilliant chefs to create a series of fusion menus that will be served at the bar at his Mayfair spot Benares. First up is Anna Hansen of The Modern Pantry from February 21-March 5, and then from March 20-April 2, he will be joined by Richard Corrigan of Corrigan’s.

After that its David Thompson of Nahm from April 16-29 and Nigel Haworth of Lancashire's Northcote from May 3-16. Each chef will work closely with Atul to prepare a menu of small plates that cleverly blends the flavours and styles of Benares with their own. The complete menu will comprise 12 dishes designed to share (with a suggested three dishes priced at £21 per person).

With such disparate styles on offer, this could be an interesting experiment...

The Gold Coast's 5 Best Restaurants 1 comments

Café Spiaggia

With the opening of Allium, the Gold Coast gets one more serious dining destination. But who is its biggest competition in the neighborhood ratings-wise? Click through the slideshow to see the top scorers for Food, as voted on by you, and be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.

The Best Thing We Ate Last Night: Park Tavern's Lobster Bisque 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

This week, we're in San Francisco for the launch of that city's 30-Under-30 list. Of course, we had to use the shindig as an excuse to try all the dining that the town has to offer. In a city known for its seafood (so far, we've seen oysters pretty much, um, everywhere), it's hard to pick favorites, especially with a dish so standard as lobster bisque. When we stopped into Park Tavern on a blustery evening, we were just looking for a little comfort and warmth in a bowl of their bisque. Instead, we quickly understood why the eatery was shortlisted by the James Beard Foudation in the "Best New Restaurants" category.

Which U.S. City Has the Hottest Food-Truck Scene? 14 comments

Portland; Image via Flickr/star5112

By Lauren Bloomberg

It’s become a phenomenon - food served from roving street vendors whose every stop and turn are tracked by websites and promoted through Twitter. Their lines can run city blocks and turn an average gourmand into an obsessed bite-searcher. The food-truck scene is different in every city. In Chicago, trucks are illegal, and prospective vendors have to find loopholes to run the town. However, in Boston, they’re welcomed with open arms. New York City’s cops spend taxpayers' bucks chasing around illegally parked outposts.

With low overhead and higher margins than traditional restaurants, it seems these mobiles are here to stay. Whether it’s Chicago’s rogue meatloaf truck or Cali’s fish tacos, there’s a little sumthin’ sumthin’ for everyone. Which is the best food truck city, however? That’s for y’all to decide. Leave ‘em in the comments.

NY Times Gives Shake Shack One Star 1 comments

By James Mulcahy

Whether you agree or disagree with the fact that newly minted NY Times restaurant critic Pete Wells chose to devote a full review to Shake Shack was at least pretty entertaining. The burger is the only food to make both our "Most Overrated New York Dishes" and our "Iconic New York Dishes" lists, so it of course provokes its share of controversy. Wells likes the burger on occasion, but slams the fast-food joint for it's inconsistency. The choice quote of the piece: "How the burger could change lives I never divined, but on occasion it was magnificent, as beefy and flavorful as the outer quarter-inch of a Peter Luger porterhouse. More often, though, the meat was cooked to the color of wet newsprint, inside and out, and salted so meekly that eating it was as satisfying as hearing a friend talk about a burger his cousin ate."

And the fries? Well, he's not too nice to them, saying you can get better golden brown spuds "pretty much anywhere." Read the full review here.

British Woman Eats Only Cheese Pizza For 31 Years; White Castle Wine Pairings 0 comments

Image via Flickr/chapstickaddict

By Kelly Dobkin

• Australian Man Breaks the Record For World's Largest Stack of Pancakes [ABC Aus]
• Atlanta Restaurant Enacts Ban On Crying Children [AJC via HuffPo]
• White Castle Wine Pairings [WSJ]
• Repulsive-Sounding Foods (That Are Delicious) [HuffPo]
• How Waiters Read Your Table [WSJ]
• Woman Eats Only Plain Cheese Pizza For 31 Years [HuffPo]

5 Best Italian Restaurants in London 0 comments

Pasta at Zafferano

Italian-loving Londoners will soon have a new pasta place in the cards from March in the form of Mayfair's Cotidie. That said, it's going to have to go some to beat London's current top Italian eateries. Whether you're after country-style rustic fare or a sleek and stylish modern take on the Boot, there are options aplenty. Below are London's top five Italian restaurants according to the surveyors who contributed to our 2012 guide, but do you agree? Whatever your top spots, the only way to give them the kudos they deserve is by voting in this year's survey. Capisce? Click here to find out more about the survey and to vote!

Quote of the Day: LA Chef Reflects On Wanting To Punch Rocco DiSpirito In the Face 0 comments

Chef Eric Greenspan of The Foundry on Melrose, LA

"Even Rocco DiSpirito - who I hate to death, I hate him - he knows that I hate him, and he hates me. When he was chef at Union Pacific...it was the hardest place I worked in my life, and I hated working for the guy. I wanted to punch him in the face every day...I wound up walking out, but the flair that he had in his food really taught me a lot at a young age...As much as I hate the guy, that was a great mentor."

-Chef Eric Greenspan of The Foundry on Melrose in LA shares his memories of working with celeb chef Rocco DiSpirito. [Food GPS]

Masten Lake Bites the Dust, Drama at MPD 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

Masten Lake in Williamsburg has closed after about seven months in business today, according to Eater. The Bedford Avenue eatery gained some good buzz in foodie circles, but apparently that was not enough to save it in this restaurant-stacked hood. The management still has control of the space, but there's no word on if they will make another go with a new eatery at the space.

LA Dining Deals and Events for February 21-26 0 comments

Walter Manzke will be at Short Order this week.

By Merrill Shindler

Tuesday
It's Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras - and they're celebrating at Wood & Vine in Hollywood with an à la carte menu of crawfish boil, gumbo, jambalaya and lobster étouffée, with sazeracs and hurricanes to quench your thirst and Abita beer on tap. And they're throwing their 23rd annual Mardi Gras party at the Original Farmer’s Market (6333 W. Third St.; 323-933-9211), where the Gumbo Pot restaurant is where you go for jambalaya and gumbo, the Market is festooned in green, purple and gold, and filled with Cajun and Zydeco bands.

Wednesday
Starting tonight the Next Door Lounge in Hollywood is kicking off a series of Whiskey Wednesdays, with whiskey and small dish pairings served from 8:30 to 10 PM, built around a weekly selection of four libations. It kicks off  with "Whiskeys of the World"  and continues in future weeks with "North American Whiskeys," "Blended Scotches" and "Single Malt Scotches." The cost is $30 per person, which includes a commentary by a Master of Whiskey. And for those not ready to go home, the outdoor cigar patio opens at 10 PM. Over at Mezze, chef Micah Wexler is paired with Ben Weiss of The Bruery to create a four-courser with limited edition beers to match dishes like baby yellowtail crudo, duck galantine and veal dumplings in beer broth (begins at 7:30 PM, $85 per person; 323-465-5505).

Last Minute Plans for Mardi Gras! 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

It's. Almost. Time. Today is Fat Tuesday, in case no one at your office broke out the beads. Well, that should change come 5 PM, when bars and restaurants around town break out the booze for a pre-lent bacchanal. Here are a few spots to hit up if you are fixin' to get your drink on after work.

Delta Grill: In Hell's Kitchen, this cajun joint is pulling out all the stops. A $25 entry fee gets you a free hurricane, all you can eat from a New Orlean's inspired buffet and entertainment from a live blue grass band (212-956-0934).

Chicago Restaurant Week Is Happening Now 0 comments

Tavernita's Ryan Poli

By Jennifer Olvera

Have you jumped on the Chicago Restaurant Week bandwagon? It’s not too late! Running through February 26, the event features over 200 participating restaurants, with $22 lunch deals and $33 or $44 set-price dinner menus - in both cases, plus beverages, taxes and gratuities. It’s as good a time as any to try out some of the city’s most touted tables, like Tavernita in River North, where the dinner menu includes to en pan choices (the escalivada rocks!), two small plates (yum, to the artichoke salad) and one large plate (Wagyu-pork meatballs bathed in hazelnut romesco are definitely the way to go; 312-274-1111). At Tony Mantuano’s Bar Toma in the Gold Coast, a lunch menu includes memorable charred carrots, a pizza and made-in-house gelato or sorbet (312-266-3110). Making the choice even harder is the fact that GT Fish & Oyster in River North is in on the game - but during lunch only as well (312-929-3501).

New BYO Russet Brings Farm-to-Table to Spruce Street 0 comments

Kristin and Andrew Wood

Story and Photos by Danya Henninger

The location of Russet - the debut restaurant from Andrew and Kristin Wood - was no accident. A two-year search for the perfect spot was rewarded when Ernesto Salandria decided to shutter 19-year-old BYO Ernesto’s 1521 Cafe, and instead find the right kind of restaurateur to take it over. With their true farm-to-table philosophy and down-to-earth integrity, the Woods fit the bill, and last week they opened Russet in the Spruce Street brick and sandstone townhome, a block west of Broad.

Prior to his most recent stint at Old City’s Fork, Andrew refined his culinary talents in acclaimed kitchens across the country, such as Napa Valley’s Terra and San Francisco’s Quince. Russet’s food will combine the California aesthetic of natural flavors and seasonal ingredients with house-cured meats that rely on Wood’s charcuterie skills. “The menu will change absolutely every week, depending on what’s fresh,” Wood says, excited for the challenge. “You’d be surprised how much is available, even during harsh Pennsylvania winters. During the bountiful seasons, we’ll be making our own preserves to extend those flavors throughout the year.”

Eric Ziebold Talks Zagat Scores, Stellar Gin and Tonics 0 comments

By Olga Boikess

The DC Restaurants survey is underway, and for some voting inspiration, we’ve been asking top chefs to share their thoughts on the local dining scene. Next up is Eric Ziebold, whose cosmopolitan CityZen in the posh Hotel Mandarin Oriental rated a trifecta of near perfection in our last survey, while its more casual and affordable sibling, Sou’Wester, was cited for its refined, regionally accented American cooking.

Zagat: What was the most exciting DC-area restaurant opening in the past year?

Eric Ziebold: Fiola

Z: When was the last time you ate out at a restaurant that wasn't one of yours - and what did you think of it? Can you give it a Zagat score (Food/Decor/Service)?

EZ: New Heights - fantastic honest cooking by Ron Tanaka. Don’t skip having the gin and tonic of your life - pair one of the housemade tonics with one of the gins from the 40-strong selection. I also ate the best duck confit I’ll have this year. Score: 25/22/25.

C-CAP Honors Chef Michael McCarty At Annual Benefit 0 comments

Left to right: Bette Midler, C-CAP President Susan Robbins, Michael McCarty, C-CAP Founder and Chairman Richard Grausman, Susan Grausman

By James Mulcahy

Last week, the biggest names in the food world converged on Chelsea Piers for the annual C-CAP benefit, which raises money so the organization can continue its mission of placing under-served youths in culinary and restaurant careers. This year, the event raised a whopping $800K - which is the most in the history of the benefit. It's no wonder they were so successful, as chefs like Tom Colicchio and Daniel Boulud hosted tables, while others like Michael Lomonaco and John Fraser were in the house cooking up bites for guests participating in the walk-around tasting (and Marcus Samuelsson was on hand doing a little blogging himself).

Morimoto Considering Reviving LA Eatery; Jonathan Gold Makes a Move 0 comments

Photo by Hopper Stone

By Kelly Dobkin

Long-time food critic Jonathan Gold has left LA Weekly for the LA Times. [LAW]

Many hospitals are experimenting with gourmet, made-to-order food options for its patients. [WSJ]

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto is considering stepping in to revive the RH at The Hyatt Andaz in LA. [Eater LA]

Gail Simmons and Frank Bruni Host Foodie Talk At Google HQ 0 comments

By Emily Rothschild

Google HQ just played host to a conversation between New York Times columnist and past restaurant critic Frank Bruni (asking the questions) and Top Chef judge and author Gail Simmons (answering). The occasion was the release of Simmons’ book, Talking with My Mouth Full, which drops today.

How she ended up on Top Chef: The duo discussed Simmons’ early career: she initially wanted to be a food writer and was advised to go to culinary school in order to gain the requisite chops. After graduation, she worked in the kitchen at Le Cirque and the now-defunct Vong before landing an assistant job with noted food writer Jeffrey Steingarten (the interview lasted three hours; she was required to translate recipes from Ferran Adria and taste wines). P.S. (post Steingarten), she worked for Daniel Boulud before finally landing at Food & Wine magazine where she still works today. Top Chef came out of a partnership between the show and Food & Wine and Gail was given less than a day’s notice to prepare for a screen test. The bottom line: she is more than qualified to be in that judging chair.

Michel Richard Closes Michel in Tysons Corner 0 comments

By Olga Boikess

Michel Richard has closed Michel, his French-American restaurant in Tysons Corner. The news, reported by the Washington Post, comes less than a week after Richard announced that he will open three concepts in the Revel Hotel in Atlantic City.

Philadelphia Dining Deals and Events February 20-26 0 comments

Steak at Reserve

By Danya Henninger

Tuesday
It’s Mardi Gras, and the New Orleans spirit runs strong at Center City’s Chris’ Jazz Cafe. Head to Sansom Street to munch on $10 buckets of crawfish, or plunk down $30 for an all-you-can-eat mudbug feast. Slurp satisfying $5 Sazeracs and hurricanes to get in the mood, then stick around for the rockin’ sounds of the Hoppin’ John Orchestra, who will march on stage around 7 PM after a Bourbon Street-style parade down Broad (215-568-3131).

New York's 7 Best Mexican Restaurants 7 comments

By James Mulcahy

This week, we have Mexican cuisine on the brain - holy guacamole! A slew of recent openings offers different takes on the cuisine of the country, from high-end East Villager Empellón Cocina to more casual Tortaria near Union Square. Will either of these Mexican joints rank among the city's best? Take a look at the top seven south-of-the-border joints from our 2012 New York City Restaurants Survey, and let us know what other eateries you think should be ranked in the comments.

James Beard Awards Semifinalists Announced 0 comments

By Kelly Dobkin

The semifinalists for this year's James Beard Awards have been announced today in the Restaurant and Chef categories. Huzzah! The finalists will be revealed on March 19 at the Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas. Best New Restaurant nominees include Tertulia and Tremont in NYC, Park Tavern in San Fran and Picca in LA. Outstanding Chef nominees include Tony Matuano, David Chang and David Kinch. Click here to download the entire list of semifinalists and stay tuned here for more JBA updates.

Big Nick's Selling Burgers For 70 Cents Tomorrow! 0 comments

By James Mulcahy 

A rare sight in the New York City restaurant world? An eatery making it to its 50th birthday. Another thing you're not likely to see very often? A massive burger for $.70. Upper West Side grease shack Big Nick's is celebrating its half-century mark by rolling back the prices to the levels that diners enjoyed in 1962. In addition to the $.70 burgers, West Side Rag reports that there will be $.30 French fries and $.50 slices of pizza. The cheapy fare will be available all day tomorrow (Feb. 22). You might not see deals like this for another 50 years, so head on over (2175 Broadway).

Join Us Tonight for Happy Hour at 15 Romolo 0 comments

They are so ready to make you a drink. 

By James Mulcahy

Who's thirsty?! Hopefully all of you, because we're going to be at 15 Romolo tonight and we're buying. We're inviting blog readers for a little happy hour shindig to celebrate the launch of our San Francisco Survey. To get the first round, all you have to do is show up. If you want a second drink, we'll score you one - as long as vote for some of your favorite city eateries in our survey (computers will be provided on site - just don't spill any booze on them)!

15 Romolo is located at, well, 15 Romolo Pl. and we'll be there from 6-8 PM. Stop by and say hi - happy drinking!

The Best Thing We Ate Last Night: Parsnip Ravioli At Beauty & Essex 0 comments

By Kelly Dobkin

Clubby LES hotspot Beauty & Essex may lure in more partiers than serious foodies, but the plates being created here by chef Chris Santos easily hold their own against any of B&E's more soigne competitors. But even we were a bit surprised to find parsnip ravioli with wood-roasted mushrooms on the menu in a place that bumps Flo Rida and  Lil' Wayne. The combo of creamy, earthy parsnip, smoky mushrooms and pillowy ravioli make the perfect savory bite. Get thee down to Essex street and taste for yourself.

Open Call: Nominate Chicago's Food Industry Up-and-Comers 4 comments

By James Mulcahy 

Last year, we put together a list of New York's hottest food-industry up and comers and dubbed it 30-under-30. This year, we're set to make sure restaurant workers in other cities get their due, and Chicago is next on our list. Know a twenty-something chef that will be the talk of the town a few years down the line? Is there a young bartender who is mixing up the city's beverage scene in new and interesting ways? Well, we want to know about them - be it front or back of house, we're sure the windy city has plenty of folks that should get attention.

If you think you know someone who should be on the roster of honorees, let us know about them in the comments. We'll be putting together the list and launching it soon, so stay tuned.

Heartbreak Replacement Boukies Coming Soon, Dinosaur BBQ Brooklyn Next March 0 comments

Kochilas's Leek Pie 

By James Mulcahy

Some news on two openings that have been on our radar. First up, Boukies is set to take over the East Village space that housed Heartbreak - the new Greek eatery is on track for a March opening, which is a pretty fast turnaround (Heartbreak shuttered in October). A few more details have emerged about the reboot of the space. The menu will be by chef Diane Kochilas (Pylos), who will keep the focus on shareable meze, or traditional small plates. There will actually only be two main courses on the list at any given time, a whole grilled fish and grilled lamb chops. Heartbreak was criticized for it's cold and industrial decor, so this remodel will warm things up with large wooden tables and specks of blue to pay homage to the Greek flag. No word yet on a date certain, but we'll keep you posted.

11 Signature Dishes From Celebrity Chefs 1 comments

Edward Lee's Black BBQ Short Ribs

By Linnea Covington

You know their faces from television, magazines and even food gossip sites, but do you know what these hot chefs consider their most famous dish? From Top Chef contestants to award-nominated culinary masters, we grilled 11 of today’s hippest chefs to see what meal best epitomizes their gastronomic concept. The result: an array of mouthwatering plates that just make us want to love them more.

Video First Look: Alex Stupak's Empellon Cocina 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

For this week's NY1 video, we dropped by chef Alex Stupak's new East Village Mexican eatery Empellon Cocina. The joint has been generating some choice buzz since it opened a couple weeks ago (we were in the house on day one). Check out the segment above to hear Stupak talk about some of the innovative things he's doing in the kitchen. Oh, and if you're expecting tacos, you're out of luck.

The Strangest Packaged Foods of All Time; FDA To Review Aeroshot Caffeine Inhaler 0 comments

Aeroshot Caffeine Inhaler

By Kelly Dobkin

• The Strangest Packaged Foods of All Time [Daily Meal]
• Heston Blumenthal To Cook $330,000 Test-Tube Burger [Guardian]
• McDonald's Brand Perception Not Keeping Pace With Sales [AdAge]
• FDA To Review Caffeine Inhaler, Aeroshot [LAT]
• Is Edible Food Packaging the Future? [FPD]

Dining Deals and Events February 20-26 0 comments

Pasta at Spina

By Leigh Crandall

Monday

Celebrate President’s Day at East Village eatery Spina, which will be offering $5 bottles of La Cacciatorra prosecco along with their Italian brunch specialties like baby calzones filled with Nutella.

Tuesday

From King Cake and zydeco at Bayou to hurricanes and po’boys at Bourbon Street Bar & Grille to a Cajun buffet at Delta Grill, get your NOLA food fix and celebrate Mardi Gras at our top picks for Fat Tuesday feasts.

Blind Tiger Pop-Up Tonight at The Gage 0 comments

By Jennifer Olvera

File this under coolest pop-up ever. The Gage is teaming with Templeton Rye tonight to host an illicit Blind Tiger. Participants who pay a five-cent admission fee will be ferried to the private dining room below its Loop digs, where a 1920s-attired staff will serve Prohibition-era fare - i.e., drunken rabbit baked beans, whiskey barbecue bass - in tin and sardine cans, along with $5 Templeton Rye whiskey and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth cocktails (7 PM-12 AM; 312-372-4243).

This Week's Top Restaurant and Food News 0 comments

Pastitsio at Loi, NYC; Photo by Gabi Porter

By Kelly Dobkin

With the three-day weekend only hours away, we're getting ready to head out. But before we go, let's look back at some of the most popular posts of the week. Coming in at #1 was our round-up of the 10 signs of a bad restaurant, and at #2, our slideshow of 16 NYC neighborhood gems - in which Zagat staff called out their favorite lesser-known eateries. In case you missed any of these, check out the full list below. See you back here on Tuesday!

1. 10 Telltale Signs of a Bad Restaurant
2. New York's Must-Try Neighborhood Gems
3. 12 Must-Try LA Sandwich Spots
4. Foodie Time Warp: Travel Through Time With These 10 Eateries
5. Bay Area's 10 Best Restaurants: Vote For Your Favorites
6. New York's Best Ice Cream Shops
7. Philly's 5 Best Cheesesteaks: Vote For Your Favorite
8. Boston's 5 Best Dessert Spots
9. New York's 8 Cheesiest Dishes
10. DC's 5 Best Japanese Restaurants: Vote for Your Favorites!

Outtake of the Week 0 comments

"While it’s as expensive as a trip to Disney World, at least you don’t have to wait in line at the airport!"

Quote of the Day: Fun in the French Laundry Kitchen 0 comments

The French Laundry

"It could be a moment of somebody holding up a sign saying 'Go San Francisco 49ers.' Yeah, we’re at work, but there is a comaraderie, too, and a friendship, I’ve worked with these guys and they’ve worked with us. .. there’s that kind of joking around, there’s the zooming in on the pass."

-French Laundry chef Timothy Hollingsworth the friendship among chefs in Thomas Keller's high-end kitchen. While it's not as rowdy as some kitchen antics we've witnessed (ahem, tequila shots), it sounds like they do know how to have a bit of fun. [Toqueland]

7 Power-Breakfast Spots in DC 0 comments

Old Ebbitt Grill

By Olga Boikess

It’s no secret that much of the nation’s business gets done over breakfast in Washington, DC. So where do those movers and shakers meet up in the early AM? Click through to see some of the eateries flagged for their powers breakfast scene in our past survey. Where have you spotted power-players having their morning caffeine fix? The DC restaurants survey is underway - we want to hear from you!

Philadelphia's 5 Best BYO Restaurants 0 comments

Bibou

By Danya Henninger

While not many are fans of Pennsylvania’s antiquated and strict liquor laws, diners are happy to take advantage of one side effect of the difficulty involved in getting an alcohol-serving license: our hopping BYO scene. There have been several notable new additions to the bring-your-own crowd in the past 12 months, including Josh Lawler’s New American Farm and Fisherman, Peter McAndrews’ Sicilian Monsu and Joey Baldino’s Collingswood Italian Zeppoli. Click through to see the top-rated BYOs in Philadelphia, according to you. Do you agree with these choices? Think some of the newcomers deserve top-ranking? You’re in luck - head over to vote in the Philly survey to make your voice heard.

The Chew Dresses Up For President's Day 0 comments

Image via The Chew/HuffPo

By Kelly Dobkin

The cast members of The Chew are really getting into the President's Day spirit by dressing up as famous historical figures. Mario Batali as Ben Franklin, Clinton Kelly as George Washington, Michael Symon as...basically, this picture was just too funny not to share with you. Enjoy! [via HuffPo]

What is the Best Bagel in New York? Last Chance to Vote! 0 comments

Are Absolute Bagels the best? 

By James Mulcahy

We've already looked at New York's best ice cream shops and delis, and now it's time for the question that every city dweller has strong feelings about: what is the Big Apple's best bagel? According to our New York City Food Lover's Guide, the offerings at Absolute Bagels are absolutely the best. Disagree? Well, we're winding down our curtrent New York City Food Lover's Survey, and you only have a couple more days to vote and weigh in on your favorite offerings. Want to make sure your bakery gets the credit it's due? Think one coffee shop is totally overrated? Click here and get those votes in before it's too late. Oh, and if you want to see why Absolute is so loved, check out the ratings and review below: