East Village: If you’ve ever wondered, Where can I find Mario Batali at 3 a.m.? here’s your answer. In response to a tweet from Spin Toronto’s exec chef Jon Lovett (“What’s your fave late night dive bar in NYC?…One chef to another”), Batali posted, “Blue and gold. East village!!” [EV Grieve]
Flatiron: Gravy is celebrating Halloween weekend with a dinner straight from executive chef Michael Vignola’s winning menu on the Chopped Halloween battle. The festive dishes include a pumpkin-and-lambs’-heart tart, “black chicken,” and cinnamon-Cheddar pain perdu topped with “grasshopper sprinkles.” The dinner is $75 per person; call 212-600-2105 for reservations. [Grub Street]
Lower East Side: Foundation has a second notice from the Department of Health posted on its doors. The nightclub has been “closed” since August, but it has continued to illicitly operate on the weekends. [Bowery Boogie]
Soho: Cheeseheads, prepare yourselves! This Saturday, the Cheeses of France Marketing Council is hosting a pop-up café with “Frenchified” American cheese-based classics prepared by Ash Fulk, of Top Chef and Hill Country Chicken. You can find them at the Openhouse Gallery at 201 Mulberry Street from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. [Grub Street]
Tribeca: Bon Chicken — the same joint that was disowned by parent group Bon Chon after they were found to be using “unapproved sauces” — has closed. [Midtown Lunch]
Upper West Side: Starting today, Ditch Plains is offering a suckling-pig dinner option for the duration of the cold-weather months. Parties of ten to twelve can get a whole roasted pig with sides such as collard greens and cornbread-and-andouille-sausage stuffing, for $75 per person with reservation. [Grub Street]
