• Tom Potter, co-founder of the Brooklyn Brewery, wants to open a whiskey and gin distillery in the borough — the city’s first since Prohibition. [Brooklyn Paper]
• A Queens city councilman wants to make the Newtown pippin New York City’s official apple, but apple enthusiasts are unimpressed. [NYP]
• Ouch: Gwyneth Paltrow has given Mario Batali a free membership at her friend’s gym because “Mario is the only fat friend she has, and wants him to change.” [NYP]
• The conventional agribusiness industry is mad about the Obamas’ all-organic garden and sent Michelle a letter asking her to use pesticides. [Telegraph UK]
• Eric Ripert on Gordon Ramsay: “This guy is smart, he’s talented, he’s playing the game of a**hole, and at the end of the day he’s looking at himself and he knows he’s an a**hole.” [Tony and Friends/Travel Channel via Feedbag]
• Old-school private club India House is having a hard time making ends meet. [NYT]
• In an effort to compete with Pizza Hut, Domino’s is now selling bread bowls filled with pasta. [WSJ]
• Because of last year’s salmonella scare and resulting oversupply, fewer peanuts are being planted this year. [WSJ]
• Lou Reed’s favorite New York restaurants include the Little Owl and Una Pizza Napoletana. [Metromix]