Posts for December 30, 2008 -- Grub Street: New York Magazine's Food and Restaurant Blog

Posts for December 30, 2008

12/30/08 at 5:45 PM
Lawsuits
Comment

Former Haru Waiter Sues

By Aileen Gallagher

Maimon Kirschenbaum, attorney to disgruntled waiters, filed what could become a class-action suit against the Benihana-owned sushi chain Haru. A former employee claims he was paid less than minimum wage, was compelled to pool tips, didn't get paid for overtime, and made other complaints similar to those made against Bouley, BondSt, the BLT empire, and several other restaurants in 2008. Coincidentally enough, Maimon Kirschenbaum was the attorney who filed all of those suits.

Haru Hit With Suit [Cityfile]
Earlier: Lawsuits Brought Against Bouley, BondSt, and BLT Empire

12/30/08 at 5:27 PM
Food Politics
Comment

Green Coke

In the New Year, Coca-Cola's Times Square billboard will be powered by wind, a move equivalent to taking 75 cars off the road for a year. At least 29 companies with nearby signs have followed sustainable suit. [NYP]

12/30/08 at 5:07 PM
Openings
Comment

Table 8 So Late

Last we heard, Table 8 was on track for a December opening. On an Early Show cooking demo this morning, L.A. and Sobe chef Govind Armstrong said his restaurant would open "this winter." So anytime between now and March 19. [CBS News]

12/30/08 at 4:43 PM
Videofeed
Comment

Iuzzini Sexes Up Today, Disses Cantone

By Aileen Gallagher

A camera operator at the Today show is obsessed with pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini, according to a lingering close-up of a tight black T-shirt, tattooed biceps, and slicked-back fifties hair. Iuzzini stopped by Today this morning to shill his new book, Dessert Fourplay. The camera begrudgingly pulled out to allow Mario Cantone and Hoda Kotb into the frame, but we could have done without Cantone's frantic slobbering. Iuzzini shares our sentiments. Mid-demo, as Cantone imitates Julia Child, Iuzzini turns to Hoda and says, "Is he always like this?"

12/30/08 at 4:30 PM
Two for Eight
Comment

Tables Available at 15 East and Sakagura; Soto Fully Booked

It's time to play Two for Eight. We just asked ten restaurants the best time they can squeeze a couple in for dinner; you need only make your chosen reservation. (As always, we make the calls but don't guarantee the results.) Today: Haute Asian.

12/30/08 at 3:43 PM
Openings
Comment

A First Look at Co., Jim Lahey’s Crusty New Pizzeria

By Aileen Gallagher

In this week's openings, Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld ruin our New Year's diet resolution with news of Co. The dough-centric pizza parlor is owned by Jim Lahey of Sullivan St. Bakery, who "changed the face of artisanal bread-baking." Now see what he can do with pizza! Click through the slideshow for more tantalizing shots.

Co., 230 Ninth Ave., at 24th St.; 212-243-1105

12/30/08 at 2:04 PM
Videofeed
Comment

Why New Yorkers Are Fat

By Aileen Gallagher

To support Governor David Paterson's proposed 18 percent tax on sugar-sweetened drinks like soda, state health commissioner Dr. Richard F. Deines made a YouTube video explaining why kids are such little fatties these days. Turns out we each drink about eleven cans of soda a week, six more than we drank in 1975. About three of those sodas are sugar-sweetened, adding an extra thirteen pounds of sugar or 21,000 calories to our diet each year. And since most of us sit around all day, now everyone's fat. (Note: Upstate New York is late to the whole Diet Coke thing.) If we have to pay more for it, maybe we'll drink less soda. High point: when Dr. Daines reaches below the counter to pull out a six-pound piece of fat. He totally stole that bit from Susan Powter.

12/30/08 at 1:19 PM
Denied!
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Chick-fil-A Denies New Yorkers a Free Sandwich

By Aileen Gallagher

Photo-illustration: Jed Egan

It's bad enough that the only Chick-fil-A in New York State is in an NYU dorm. But must we also be denied free sandwiches? The formerly praiseworthy chain is giving away coupons for complimentary chicken biscuits with every purchase made on New Year's Day between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. We parsed the details to make sure that we would not be denied. Turns out the offer is no good in New York State! Thanks for nothing, Chick-fil-A. If that's what you think of New Yorkers, no wonder you only have one location in the entire freaking state. Now cluck off. If you need us, we'll be looking forlornly at our McDonald's "Southern-style Chicken Biscuit." [Chick-fil-A via Orlando Business Journal]

12/30/08 at 12:23 PM
Closings
Comment

Baker Blames Court Street for Closure

By Aileen Gallagher

Margaret Palaca of Margaret Palaca Bakes is closing her Cobble Hill bakery and blames her location at Court and Warren Streets. “I had such a wrong impression [about Court Street],” Palaca told the Brooklyn Paper. “It’s just such a ‘has-been’ kind of street." Oof! The bitter baker still has a shop on Columbia Street, which is presumably a more "now" kind of street.

Dough Isn't Rising on Court Street [Brooklyn Paper]

12/30/08 at 11:00 AM
Green Grocer
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Bed-Stuy Gets New Produce Market

By Aileen Gallagher

The Fig Tree Fruit Market, a kosher produce store, will soon open on the corner of Myrtle and Walworth. "There really aren’t any decent produce markets in the area, so I believe that this place should do some decent business," writes the Bed-Stuy Blog. An eagle-eyed commenter points out that Fig Tree misspelled its own address on the awning — it should be Myrtle Ave., not Mytle. Whoops. Let's hope the fruits and vegetables are in better shape. [Bed-Stuy Blog via Brownstoner]

12/30/08 at 10:04 AM
Oenofile
Comment

Sip for Less

City Winery will have a soft opening tonight, Eater reports. From 6 p.m. to midnight, look for special pricing on the 2001 Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d'Abruzzo $10 and the 1993 Julius Echter Berg Riesling Spat Trocken $10, among many others. City Winery,143 Varick St., at Vandam St.; 212-608-0555 [Eater]
Related: The New DIY Wineries [NYM]

12/30/08 at 09:06 AM
Mediavore
Comment

The Cutting Room Gets Cut; Market Diner Is Resurrected

By Leila Cohan-Miccio

• The Cutting Room, the Flatiron lounge co-owned by Chris Noth, will close its doors on January 13 with a performance by club regular Joan Rivers. [NYP]

• Market Diner in Hell's Kitchen, which closed in 2006, has finally reopened with a Jetsons-esque interior. [Urbanite/amNY]

• Suba beat out Craft LA to win the annual Copa Jerez contest for the best sherry pairing in the United States. [Feedbag]

• Some helpful tips for those venturing to Park Slope baby hot spot Tea Lounge sans children: Avoid the front half and avoid eye contact with the little ones. [Fucked in Park Slope]

• No fewer than five restaurants — including Nero and Cafe Noir — were product-placed on last night's episode of Hills spinoff The City. [Metromix Twitter]
Related: Run for the Hills [NYM]