What better time to be a celebrity in New York than Fashion Week? The HMFIC himself, James Cameron, enjoyed a toast in his honor at Michael’s, though he was momentarily flustered when Dr. Ruth Westheimer presented him with some Sex for Dummies key chains to promote her new book. Designers Zac Posen and Victoria Beckham narrowly avoided a huge faux pas by booking their after-parties at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Luckily Posen picked the Rose Bar downstairs with Russel Simmons and J. Alexander, and Posh received the royal treatment upstairs at the Roof Club & Garden where she and her design team feasted on a meal which included steak, sea bass, and mini red velvet cupcakes, prepared especially for them by Danny Meyer. Read our complete roundup of boldface dining, below.

Wine and Roses: Supermodel Brooke Shields showed off her superb pout as she indulged in a glass of white wine at the UWS bar. [Page Six/NYP]

Café Boulud : Rocker Mick Jagger enjoyed the french fare with two dinner companions who bore a suspicious resemblance to his baby-mama Luciana Morad and their son, Lucas. [Page Six/NYP]

Roof Club & Garden at the Gramercy Park Hotel: After working the full frenzy of Fashion Week, Victoria Beckham treated her design team to a decadent meal topped off by a variety of rich desserts, all chosen for them by Danny Meyer. [People]

Strip House: R&B star John Legend ate at this saucily named New York steakhouse.[Page Six/NYP]

Elio’s: Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. got cozy with their wives over some warm Italian fare at the Second Avenue eatery. [Page Six/NYP]

Michael’s: Avatar director James Cameron was toasted at a lunch held in his honor by Les Moonves, Ken Burns, Ellen Burstyn, Parker Posey, Jane Rosenthal, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer. [Page Six/NYP]

Serendipity 3: Professional gossip and pot-stirrer Wendy Williams ate lunch with her son at the perennially packed dessert destination. [Page Six/NYP]

Rose Bar: Zac Posen ate Kobe-beef burgers and steamed edamame as he celebrated his Fashion Week success with Russell Simmons, Maggie Rizer, America’s Next Top Model’s J. Alexander, and a whole lot of Champagne. [People]

Read more posts by Sally Holmes

Filed Under: celebrity settings, bar boulud, danny meyer, elios, james cameron, michaels, rose bar, serendipity 3, strip house, victoria beckham, wine and roses, zac posen

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East Village: Chef-owner Didier Pawlicki will open Taureau across town from his first venue La Sirène, a tiny BYOB French bistro hidden near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel. [Feed/TONY]
Gramercy: Vino hosts an encounter on February 23 at 6:30 p.m. with esteemed Italian winemaker Mario Andrion, who will “share his secrets behind producing some of the world’s best wine, pouring some of his most prized vintages for attendees.” [Grub Street]
Greenpoint: Hit up Brouwerij Lane for a barley-beer tasting festival. Friday 6–8 p.m., Saturday 3–5 p.m. or 6–8 p.m., or Sunday 3–5 p.m. [Feed/TONY]
Prospect Heights: Da Cake Spott, a tantalizing but empty Flatbush storefront for more than two years, will open soon as a physical-therapy spot. [Brownstoner]
Williamsburg: Enjoy Afro-Latin beats and $5 drinks at Boogaloo brunch this Sunday afternoon at Barberry. [Grub Street]

Read more posts by Evan Mulvihill

Filed Under: brouwerij lane, east village, fort greene, gramercy, greene hill co-op, greenpoint, la sirene, lower east side, lucky strikes, midtown west, Neighborhood Watch, taureau, vino, williamsburg

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Michael Huynh opened another Baoguette today, this one a nineteen-seater in the Murray Hill space that formerly housed Burger Joint (good-bye, Bosco soda!). They’re calling this one Baoguette & Thao Noodle — maybe Bao’s wife and chef-partner Thao Nguyen wanted some of that sweet, sweet daily media exposure? Hours are from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m. daily. See the menu below — it’ll eventually expand to include more dishes inspired by Thao’s hometown of Hue, Vietnam.

Baoguette & Thao Noodle menu [PDF]

Baoguette & Thao Noodle, 241 Third Ave., nr. E 20th St.; 212-228-5500

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: openings, baoguette & thao Noodle, michael huynh, murray hill, thao nyugen, vietnamese

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The New Amsterdam Market.

The ever-budding New Amsterdam Market sends word that Sara Jenkins of Porchetta and farm-to-table trailblazer Odessa Piper will use ingredients from Dickson’s Farmstand Meats, Saxelby Cheesemongers, and Red Hook Winery (among others) to prepare a “Winter Night Banquet” on February 27. A minimum donation of $300 lets you help out in the historic Henry Street Settlement’s kitchen if you’re so qualified. And there’s more news in the world of progressive grocery shopping today.

The Local reports that the organizers of Greene Hill have approved the fledgling food co-op’s bylaws, which means they can now recruit members. They still don’t have a location, though, so it’s uncertain whether they’ll succeed in opening this spring or summer.

According to the Bay Ridge Co-Op’s newsletter, it now has over 300 members: “We began the discussion of an administration fee to be implemented after we have signed 500 members. This will cover the costs of creating member IDs materials, etc. The conversation will continue at the next general meeting. If you haven’t yet joined, remember that doing so now will save you some $$.”

And while we’re at it, the Wave reports that a new CSA based in Edgemere will bring farm-fresh food on a weekly basis (contact Culinary Kids at 327-321-0423 for more information).

Greene Hill Food Co-op Closer to Opening after Bylaws Vote [Local]
A Winter Night Banquet [New Amsterdam Market]
Bay Ridge Food Co-Op Issue 23 [Newsletter]
Organic Food Program Coming to Rockaway [Wave]

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: home cookin’, co-ops, csa, edgemere, fort greene, greene hill, new amsterdam market

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from Grub Street San Francisco

This image was altered for your SFW consumption.

In a new book due out in March, erotic photographer Tony Stamolis does the food porn concept one better, placing pictures of naked women alongside carne asada tacos fresh from a truck. The first “T” in the book’s title, T & T & A, we believe stands for tacos, and as the book’s promo copy reads, “There are connoisseurs of French Bordeaux. And connoisseurs of Tang Dynasty woodcuts. And there are connoisseurs of topless women and cheap-ass Mexican food.” T & T & A is squarely aimed at those in the latter category.

Stamolis hails from Fresno, CA, he’s shot for Flaunt and Nerve, and his work appears in Taschen’s New Erotic Photography. His last book, Frezno, is a pictorial atlas of the aforementioned drunkest city in America, and most of the taco and titty photos in his latest were shot there as well.

For those buying the book, good luck reconciling your twin cravings for food and sex without getting a confused headache.

T & T & A – Official Site [Very NSFW, via Eater]
T & T & A [Sump Books]

Read more posts by Jay Barmann

Filed Under: bookshelf, books, tony stamolis, truckin

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It’s 4 p.m., and that means it’s time to play Two for Eight. We just asked ten restaurants the best time they could squeeze in a couple for dinner; you need only make your chosen reservation. (As always, we make the calls but don’t guarantee the results.) Today: Certified Geniuses.

Adour Alain Ducasse (Menu)
212-710-2277
Two for eight? No
Best available: 9:30 p.m.

Anthos (Menu)
212-582-6900
Two for eight? Yes

Benoit (Menu)
646-943-7373
Two for eight? Yes

Bouley (Menu)
212-964-2525
Two for eight? Yes

DBGB Kitchen & Bar (Menu)
212-933-5300
Two for eight? No
Best available: 11:30 p.m.

Eleven Madison Park (Menu)
212-889-0905
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:00 p.m.

Esca (Menu)
212-564-7272, ext. 2
Two for eight? Yes

Falai (Menu)
212-253-1960
Two for eight? No
Best available: 9:30 p.m.

Jean Georges (Menu)
212-299-3900
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:00 p.m.

Nobu (Menu)
212-219-0500
Two for eight? No
Best available: 6:15 p.m.

Filed Under: two for eight, adour alain ducasse, anthos, benoit, bouley, dbgb kitchen & bar, eleven madison park, esca, falai, jean georges, nobu

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Philippe Chow stayed mum throughout the Philippe–Mr. Chow debacle, and doesn’t tell the Miami New Times much about it. He does reveal that he enjoys cooking to “YMCA,” once referred to Bill Gates as Mr. Yates, likes fried Oreos, has a thing for Martha Stewart, and counts Eric Ripert as a fan. [Miami New Times]

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: personalities, eric ripert, martha stewart, mr. chow, philippe chow

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Last month, we revealed the menu for No. 7, the year-in-the-works sub shop that Matthew Maddy and Tyler Kord plan to open in the Ace Hotel. Obviously it hasn’t made its hoped-for February 15 opening date, but Flo Fab reports they’re now looking to launch between February 27 and March 1. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: openings, ace hotel, matthew maddy, no. 7, sandwiches, tyler kord

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The Double Filet-O-Fish

We recently visited Eastside Fish in Nashville and had to agree that its fried-whiting sandwich with mustard, pickles, onions, and hot sauce was, as advertised, “the Crunkest Fish in Town.” Today, in honor of Lent, Midtown Lunch tries a fried-whiting sandwich right here in NYC at the Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart, and decides it “easily bested all of the chains in terms of size, value, and taste.” Well, duh — but what about its crunkness? Meanwhile, here’s an interesting fact about the Filet-O-Fish, care of McDonald’s.

As part of the Lent season, McDonald’s is offering a 2 for $3 deal on its famous Filet-O-Fish. The company sells about 300 million Filet of Fishes sandwiches annually, with 25% of those sales attributed to the 40-day Lenten period before Easter Sunday (4/12). Interestingly, the notion of giving up meat on Fridays is actually what produced the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich!

Friday During Lent? It’s Time For Cheap Fried Fish Sandwiches! [Midtown Lunch]

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: what to eat, eastside fish, filet-of-fish, kim’s aunt, mcdonald’s, nashville, seafood

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The Double Filet-O-Fish

We recently visited Eastside Fish in Nashville and had to agree that its fried-whiting sandwich with mustard, pickles, onions, and hot sauce was, as advertised, “the Crunkest Fish in Town.” Today, in honor of Lent, Midtown Lunch tries a fried-whiting sandwich right here in NYC at the Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart, and decides it “easily bested all of the chains in terms of size, value, and taste.” Well, duh — but what about its crunkness? Meanwhile, here’s an interesting fact about the Filet-O-Fish, care of McDonald’s.

As part of the Lent season, McDonald’s is offering a 2 for $3 deal on its famous Filet-O-Fish. The company sells about 300 million Filet of Fishes sandwiches annually, with 25% of those sales attributed to the 40-day Lenten period before Easter Sunday (4/12). Interestingly, the notion of giving up meat on Fridays is actually what produced the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich!

Friday During Lent? It’s Time For Cheap Fried Fish Sandwiches! [Midtown Lunch]

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: what to eat, eastside fish, filet-of-fish, kim’s aunt, mcdonald’s, nashville, seafood

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Now’s your chance to ask Thomas Keller all about, well, whatever it is you’ve always been dreaming to ask Thomas Keller about, as he makes an appearance at Brooklyn’s Bookcourt tomorrow at 1 p.m to flog the now back-in-print Ad Hoc at Home. He’ll be interviewed by fellow cookbook author Peter Kaminsky, with audience questions encouraged.

Read more posts by Helen Rosner

Filed Under: foodievents, ad hoc at home, peter kaminsky, thomas keller

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Now’s your chance to ask Thomas Keller all about, well, whatever it is you’ve always been dreaming to ask Thomas Keller about, as he makes an appearance at Brooklyn’s Bookcourt tomorrow at 1 p.m to flog the now back-in-print Ad Hoc at Home. He’ll be interviewed by fellow cookbook author Peter Kaminsky, with audience questions encouraged.

Read more posts by Helen Rosner

Filed Under: foodievents, ad hoc at home, peter kaminsky, thomas keller

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