Nello Pissed at Model for Taking His Umbrella; Winner of ‘Next IronOh, Nello! Fiesty Mr. Balan is in his latest rage because he lent a model his $1,000 leather umbrella “because it was raining because I am a gentleman … Stop behaving like a boulevardier [street person] and a petite voleuse [petty thief]. You don’t give me the umbrella, I sue you,” which he is now doing because she returned it broken in two. [NYP]
Related: A Model Breaks Nello’s Heart, Umbrella
The newest Iron Chef is … Cleveland’s Michael Symon. [Serious Eats]
Laurent Tourondel tells Bruni he enjoys dining most in Vietnam, but the influence in the recipes for his Thanksgiving spread is all French. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]
Mediavore
A Happy New York Ending for Gordo; Bruni Thinks Michelin Ratings ‘JustGordon Ramsay at the London is the only new restaurant in town to earn two stars in the Michelin Guide, a conquest that’s especially sweet here where the chef is often maligned and/or mocked — by us, for example. [NYP]
Related: Gordon Ramsay, Gay Icon
Two of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s “lesser lights,” Vong and JoJo, have received the same Michelin rating as Café Boulud, and according to Bruni, “that’s just nutty.” [Diner’s Journal/NYT]
Jean-Georges has promoted a 24-year-old star sous-chef to be chef de cuisine at Perry St. [Eater]
Neighborhood Watch
Hot Diabetic Is Hiring on the Lower East SideEast Hampton: A new French cabaret and bistro will be open by Memorial Day in the former Resort space. [NYP]
Flushing: Duck butt may or may not be on the menu at this new spot, but the owners have gone to great lengths announce their affection for the tufted badonkadonk. [Off the Broiler]
Fort Greene: Eco-eatery Habana Outpost will reopen May 12 thanks to the dedication of Sean Meenan. [The Brooklyn Paper]
Lower East Side: Any orders with cheese on them are good bets at Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop, but bonus points for the one with wheaty pores soaked in butter. [Gothamist] While you’re down there, you can drop off an application at Sam “Hot Diabetic” Talbot’s Spitzer’s Corner. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Rockaway Beach: Working at a chocolate factory is not just for grateful oompa-loompas, according to workers who find themselves locked out of their jobs. [NYD]
Soho: The 60 Thompson roof deck reopens May 15. [Eater]
Williamsburg: The addition of fried chicken to its morning menu earns Dressler real brunch status. [Brooklyn Record]
Back of the House
Most Influential Young Chefs Named, Presented With Tchotchkes
Move over, Bouley! Step aside, Jojo! You’re so over. There’s a new generation of “emerging tastemakers,” at least according to Food Arts magazine and their friends at Sterling Meats. Sunday night, meat purveyor and magazine jointly fêted ten young chefs who, they predict, “will be influencing what, where and how we dine out on a national level.” The chefs were presented with framed, diploma-like certificates and envy-inducing Masamoto cobalt-steel knifes.