First Course
Apiary in the East Village has announced that they will be getting a new head chef after just five months within opening. Neil Mannacle, who was Bobby Flays right hand man will be replaced by Scott Bryan, former Veritas chef. Chef Bryan has earned three stars from the New York Times at Veritas and has worked at Gotham Bar & Grill, Bouley, Le Bernardin, and Lespinasse. Bryan plans on redesigning the whole kitchen and will be creating a chef’s tasting pre-fixe. [Eater]
A new restaurant is under way in Brooklyn; the owners of Frankies Spuntino are set to unveil Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens. The new restaurant is made up of three rooms; a dinning room, a tap room and retail room. The décor of the hope to be hotspot takes us back to the late 1800’s and features plank solid wood floors and an 1890’s style bar.
Citymeals-on-Wheels have lost over a million donations over the last year, and with no end in sight for the poor economy, 2009 could be even worse. In a relief effort, photographer Jan Bartelsman has created a new book called Dining in New York City. The book will feature pictures of food from restaurants across the city like Per Se and Gramercy Tavern.
Momofuku Ssäm Bar
Cuisine: Korean
Price Range: Moderate
East Village
207 Second Ave
(at 13th Street)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 254-3500
www.momofuku.com
Momofuku Ssam Bar represents the second stage of David Chang’s restaurant evolution. Following the casual Noodle Bar and preceding the ultra exclusive, high-concept Momofuku Ko, Ssam Bar offers Chang’s signature eclectic cuisine at moderate prices. If you think you’ve heard Chang’s name before, you’re probably right. He’s been featured in several magazines over the past year including The New Yorker, and he was named Chef of the Year by Bon Appétit in ’07. All the press means the narrow, wood paneled Ssam Bar (which does not take reservations) is regularly packed with guests clamoring for a taste of Chang’s renowned cooking.
After being shut down two days ago by the Department of Health, Kefi will reopen tonight after getting the necessary paperwork and surviving the grueling inspection this afternoon. Owners Michael Psilakis and Donatella Arpaia did their due diligence to ensure its reopening. It appears to be an all-systems go and their month-old restaurant will once again be delighting their patrons who have moussaka and meatballs on the brain. [NY Mag]
Artichoke
Pricing: $2.50 - $3.50 per slice
East Village
328 E 14th Street
(between 1st Ave and 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-2004
www.artichokepizza.com
Bleecker Street Pizza
Pricing: Nonna Maria slice, $2.75
West Village
69 7th Ave South
(between S 7 Ave & Bleecker St)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 924-4466
bleeckerstreetpizza.com
Just barely through their first week, Co. has been the talk of the blog world. If these opinions are believed then the dining experience at Jim Lahey’s highly-anticipated restaurant has had a polarizing effect on their patrons. From running out of dough to celebrity sightings, one thing has been constant in the blogosphere: the never-ending line of people trying to get a pie from Lahey and Adam Kuban’s new eatery. Several sources have been quoted as saying that the restaurant is constantly out of dough and the service is marginal.
Unfortunately, in less than savory news, one blogger spoke of investor Jean-Georges Vongerichten getting a pie when they were telling every other guest they were fresh out of dough. However, some have chalked it up to under projections and expect a quick resolution to these issues. So if you want to experience Co. in all its glory then wait a week or so and make sure to make a reservation.
