Funny recap man Max Silvestri had a fun chat with Tom Colicchio about the state of Top Chef and Tom's relationship with the show, blogs, and critics. Tom explains his moment of "self-examination" (not so deep!) and some riveting dental what-ifs. [Food Republic]
Constitutional (?) in the kitchen.
It didn't take long for the restaurant industry to express "deep disappointment" after the Supreme Court announced its decision today to uphold Obama’s future health-care plans. That's because, according to the law, food and drink establishments with 50 or more full-time employees must now offer health insurance to all of their workers. Depending on which side of the weeds you're standing on, this a major turn of events (come 2014). [NRN]
We've told you about the Korean taco and, recently, the breakfast taco, and now, along comes Social Eatz, launching a Korean breakfast taco with eggs and charred beef as part of a new Asian brunch rolling out this weekend. If that's not your bag, maybe you'd prefer the bibimbap omelette or Korean chicken and waffles? Full menu here.
Ever wanted to have your own beat-up restaurant chair complete with dated upholstery and the ghosts of several wealthy ass-cheeks? If so, eBay has everything you've dreamed of owning from the famed Bouley, plus a "Madame Poulette Stain kit." One resto's trash is another's treasure! [eBay]
Gone.
A tipster told us Jane's Sweet Buns had been gutted, and Ravi DeRossi confirms that the boozy-bun shop is no more and the space will become part of beer speakeasy Proletariat, which has been operating in back. Proletariat will open in the expanded space tomorrow (it's still open in back now). We're sorry to see such a cute concept go splat, but it is great news that the larger bar will add a food menu from chef Sother Teague (Booker & Dax, Prime Meats) in a few weeks. The seafood-focused lineup includes beer-steamed mussel buckets, baked clams, house-made pâtés, pretzel-bread sandwiches, and more beer-friendly fare.
"I popped into the Palm Restaurant to use the bathroom. Suddenly I felt weird, as if I were having an allergic reaction to the crab cakes. I went up to his room. I remember munching on Tums, which made me feel better." — One of Rielle Hunter's many food-related moments in What Really Happened. [DI]
West Broadway bound.
This week, Maison Ladurée announced that its next location, following the major success on Madison Avenue, will be in Soho. Specifically, in the Barolo space on West Broadway. "This will be the biggest Ladurée in the world," a rep tells Grub, confirming that the macaron empire will indeed "take over" the Barolo space, with a pastry lab, two chefs from France, a spacious tea salon, and comprehensive catering services. Très bien. Just one problem: When we called Barolo to see what this means for them, being an important Soho al fresco institution by anyone's definition, one staffer was quick to say, "The news in the Times was wrong," and that they are definitively not closing shop. Another manager said, "No comment." A third source says that Barolo is moving. Whatever happens, Ladurée is on the way.
Pool table? Check. Fireplaces? Check.Photo: Courtesy Kingston Hall
The other day, we broke the news that Kingston Hall, the sixties-Jamaica-themed bar from the Shoolbred's team, is opening tomorrow. Now, here are a couple of photos of the space, done up like a groovy hipster clubhouse. You can also scope the food and drinks menus: Bar eats include beef patties, jerk chicken wings, and a blackened snapper sandwich. Drinks-wise, there's the promised Drunken Coconut, served in a coco shell, and the Bond-tribute Pussy Galore: muddled pineapple, papaya, lemon, and simple syrup with Maker's Mark. See those and another pic below.
You don't get the red apron until you've achieved a master rank.Photo: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Usually, when I recap a show, I take copious notes on my laptop computer. But this week’s episode happened to coincide with me stuffing my face with multiple slices of extremely greasy pizza, so what follows is based entirely on my rickety memory. Any mistakes are due to my advanced age, not my lack of enthusiasm for AtWi80P. ALSO: Curtis Stone, my inner goddess is still in love with you.
Chef-owner Alex Garcia (Calle Ocho) rolls out his new concept today on the Upper West Side: a laid-back restaurant serving American and Latin comfort food. The sprawling menu covers hits from both north and south of the border: grilled cheese, burgers, tacos, paella, and what Garcia claims is "NYC's best Cubano," served for lunch, dinner, and brunch. There are cocktails and boozy shakes to drink in the 120-seat dining room or 30-seat lounge dubbed the Cabanas. The restaurant opens today; see the menu below and scope photos in our slideshow.
Eater notices that a City Grit dinner announcement contains some vague details about a new project former Ai Fiori chef Chris Jaeckle is planning for fall, "a more refined approach to traditional Italian dishes incorporating globally influenced, and often unexpected, flavors," the invite reads. Onetime Má Pêche macher Tien Ho is also planning a dinner at City Grit, dubbed Farmers & Vintners, and he's "about to make a big leap into a new project" too. This is not surprising at all, since these guys are some of the most talented kitchenless chefs in town; we'll keep our ears out for more details. [Eater NY, City Grit]
Hot or not?Photo: People, GQ
As you probably already know, GQ and Kate Upton are doing their part to make Rocket Pops the official phallic frozen food of summer 2012. But she isn't the only hot dish gracing a glossy cover these days: People responds with a newly svelte Paula Deen and the bold coverline "How I Lost 30 Lbs!" How did she do it?! Well, you'll have to buy the issue for that bit of info. [People]
The internet is full of tabloid-worthy crime stories that take place in and around restaurants these days. Take last week's tale of the London chef who dosed a bunch of kids with Ecstasy. Or the Del Taco employee near L.A. who stabbed a customer in the gut because he complained about his order. The thing is, this is nothing new. Here now, a brief tour through restaurant-crime history, including chefs both murdered and murderous, and the scandals and tragedies that have rocked the food world over time.
Spam, bam, no thank you, m'am.
Over at Serious Eats, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt tries to persuade his colleagues to give Spam — which he unregrettably grew up with and has a strong emotional connection to — a shot. No luck. "It tastes like assholes and lips," peers cried out (less original haters called it "cat food"). Thus, Lopez-Alt proposes a new "Spam Cognition Theory" that goes like this: "Unless a child has been exposed to and indoctrinated into the world of Spam before the age of 6 by an adult member of the Spam-loving community, he or she will never love Spam for the remainder of their life." Sounds about right. [Serious Eats]
Colorful!
The Local East Village hears that Iconic Hand Rolls, the fast-food conical sushi concept opening in the old Cotan space at 135 First Avenue, is almost ready to go. The owner is 29-year-old Stern School of Business graduate David Ravvin, and given his background and his professed admiration of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki, it's not surprising that this one looks ready to replicate. Of course, all sushi hand rolls are cone-shaped, the difference here is the creative fillings, including several variations on everyone's-favorite salmon and tuna, coconut shrimp, and skirt steak with pickled garlic chips and scallion. See the full menu over on the Local EV; hours are 6 p.m. to midnight, and there's beer and wine. [Local EV/NYT]
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