Chelsea: Friedman’s, formerly open only for lunch, has added a full dinner menu Tuesday through Saturday. [Grub Street]
East Village: 6th Street Kitchen will be previewing their fall menu at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 17. Seven new dishes will be served at the $45 event, including duck raviolo with Swiss chard and raisins, or sweet-and-sour-tongue tea sandwiches. [Grub Street]
Greenpoint: The Diamond hosts the third annual Brew n’ Chew Sunday, September 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. Ten teams will present different pairings of home-brewed beer and snacks to attendees. Tickets, $30, are available online, with 90 percent of the proceeds going to the Greenpoint YMCA. [Greenpointers]

Midtown: Tri-Tip Grill offers free chicken on their signature salads to any customer who says the password “National Chicken Month” at the register, through September. [Grub Street]
Mai Sushi is now open at 16 E. 41st St. [Midtown Lunch]
Woodside: Spicy Mina appears to have closed. [Fork in the Road/VV]

Filed Under: neighborhood watch, friedman’s, tri-tip grill

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My mind was preoccupied with a sense of guilt as I walked into the restaurant, the name of the restaurant certainly…

Gilt

455 Madison Ave, New York

(212) 891-8100

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Seminal cocktail lounge Pegu Club just turned five, and to mark the occasion, owner Audrey Saunders has launched an “All-Star” menu running through September. The chronological compendium showcases original concoctions of past and present Pegu bar-men and -women, a trove of mixology talent that includes Fort Defiance’s St. John Frizell and PDT’s Jim Meehan. Pictured above: the Lil Jig from Phil (Death & Co.) Ward, who was there in the beginning, and two contributions from current Pegu Club cocktailians — Del Pedro’s Scotch-centric Highland Harvest (above) and Kenta Goto’s gin-based Cucumber-Apple Fizz. Check out the complete menu below.

Pegu Club’s 5th Anniversary Menu [PDF]

Read more posts by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Filed Under: booze news, agenda, drinking, nightlife, pegu club

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Don’t be jealous because the cast of Top Chef is being flown to Singapore. This month, you’ll get no less than three opportunities to go on Asian eating tours without having to travel — well, in one case, you’ll have to get out to Queens. But you might just want to hail a rickshaw for these festivals.

Asian Feastival
What: Dishes from an array of Queens restaurants (from Sietsema favorite M&T to Flushing’s Sri Lankan, Bownie), panel discussions, and a walking-and-eating tour with the king of Queens, Joe DiStefano.
When and Where: September 6, noon till 5 p.m. at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel (135-20 39th Ave.) in Flushing, Queens.
Tickets: $55 in advance or $60 day of. Buy here.

Malaysian Night Market
What: LUCKYRICE again helps re-create the hawker stands of Malaysia, this time enlisting Todd English, Fatty Crab, Laut, Betel, Café Asean, and others to serve up $4 to $8 street eats like roti canai and nasi lemak.
When and Where: September 14, 6:30 p.m. till 10 p.m., 14th St. and Ninth Ave.
Tickets: Free. More info here.

2nd Annual NYC Dumpling Festival
What: While competitive eaters try to break the record of 66 dumplings in two minutes, the slightly less gluttonous can sample Philippine palitaw, Malaysian kuih koci, Chinese bao, and non-Asian dumplings, too.
When and Where: September 25, 12 p.m. till 5 p.m. at Sara D. Roosevelt Park (at E.Houston St & Chrystie St in Lower East Side Manhattan)
Tickets: Free. See Facebook for more information.

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: foodievents, 2nd Annual nyc dumpling festival, asian, asian feastival, malaysian night market, odyssey

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Yesterday, it was the James New York hotel and its restaurant, and today, here’s your first look at the NY Charles Hotel’s new Restaurant i, the virtually Google-proof creation of Charles Chong. When it opens next Tuesday (ahead of the 21-room hotel’s opening in winter), chef Andy Seidel (a native of Germany who was previously chef tournant at Spice Market and executive chef for the group that owns Coffee Shop and Live Bait) will turn out what’s described as “modern American cuisine with Asian influences.” Check out the menu below, and click through the slideshow to see the color-changing ceiling designed by the Studio Salt (also responsible for the funky new Kyochon).

Menu
Raw
Half Dozen Oysters 18
ginger-scallion relish, wasabi infused cocktail sauce
Hamachi “Brulee” 14
scallions, citrus dressing, spicy aioli
Salmon Tartare 12
black tobiko caviar, cucumber, chives, potato chips, lemon oil

Starters
Butternut Squash and Coconut Milk Soup 7
Blue Cornmeal Dusted Squid 12
tomato confit, shishito pepper, saffron-yuzo aioli
Pulled Beef Short Ribs 5
kimchi, steamed soft bun
Chicken Liver Pate 11
red onion marmalade, red radish, cornichons, peasant bread
Roasted Cauliflower 7
capers, fried artichokes, yuzo brown butter
Lump Crab Cake 13
sticky rice, red curry-coconut broth

Salads
Seared Tuna and Salmon 15
mesclun greens, olives, haricot verts, fingerling potatoes, quail eggs, white sesame seeds, chive dressing
Golden and Red Beets 13
farm goat cheese, baby frisee, spiced macadamia nuts, caraway vinaigrette,
Chilled Iceberg Wedge 11
saffron poached pear, blue cheese dressing
Warm White and Green Asparagus 12
white truffle oil, parmesan, fire roasted tomato vinaigrette
Chopped Cesar 9
romaine hearts, croutons, parmesan, Cesar dressing
Grilled Shrimp and Chicken 14
mesclun greens, cucumber, tomato, hearts of palm, white balsamic dressing

Main
Miso Cod 23
bok choy, carrot-ginger emulsion, steamed rice
Grilled Angus Strip Steak 28
Pea shoot tops, herbed French fries, ginger soy
Organic Chicken Breast 19
corn puree, cranberry-bread “torchon”, beer jus
Crispy Red Snapper 20
potato artichoke asparagus hash, bacon sherry vinaigrette
Bays Scallops and Rock Shrimp 16
egg noodles, snow peas, peanuts, chili infused soy, Thai basil
Herb Crusted Salmon 21
baby spinach, wild mushrooms, caper-yuzo beurre blanc
Aromatic Beef Short Ribs 16
market vegetables, beef short ribs, fried eggs, steamed rice, red chili sauce

Burgers and Sandwiches
Char Grilled Cheese Burger 14
bibb-lettuce, tomato, house pickles, gorgonzola, sesame bun
Lamb Burger 13
bibb-lettuce, house pickle, yogurt, feta cheese, pretzel bun
BBQ Chicken Breast 12
Caramelized red onions, smoked gouda, spicy aioli, peasant bread
Lump Crab Cake 15
baby arugula, tomato, saffron-yuzo mayo, brioche roll
• choice of herbed fries or mesclun salad

Sides
herbed French fries 5
sautéed baby spinach 6
grilled asparagus, parmesan, e.v.o.o. 7

Desserts
7.
Banana Brown Betty
crème anglaise, ginger snap cookies
Flourless Chocolate Cake
vanilla ice cream, whipped cream
Key Lime Pie
whipped cream
Apple Fritters
cinnamon dust, vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce
Assorted Gelatos and Sorbets

Restaurant i, 893 Broadway, nr. 19th St.; 646-398-9663

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Filed Under: slideshow, charles chong, flatiron, hotels, james new york, kyochon, ny charles, the studio salt

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When the latest New York City rom com, Going the Distance, hits theaters tomorrow, you’ll have a chance to step inside Relish once again. The Williamsburg diner, which closed in late July, pops up in the movie’s trailer, and a scene featuring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long was apparently filmed inside. Except this alternate version of Relish is graced by a giant Pulino’s-esque DINER sign. According to IMDB, other scenes where filmed at Antartica, Docks Oyster Bar, and Rasputin — the most fun a Brighton Beach restaurant has had since Jason Schwartzman supped at Tatiana.

Read more posts by Daniel Maurer

Filed Under: at the movies, antarctica, docks oyster bar, going the distance, rasputin, relish

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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 can 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: Notable Italian.

A Voce Columbus (Menu)
212-823-2523
Two for eight? No
Best available: 8:15 p.m.

Babbo (Menu)
212-777-0303
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:15 p.m.

Convivio (Menu)
212-599-5045
Two for eight? No
Best available: 7:45 p.m.

Del Posto (Menu)
212-497-8090
Two for eight? No
Best available: 9:45 p.m.

L’Artusi (Menu)
212-255-5757
Two for eight? No
Best available: 9 p.m.

Locanda Verde (Menu)
212-925-3797
Two for eight? No
Best available: Fully Booked

Maialino (Menu)
212-777-2410
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:30 p.m.

Scarpetta (Menu)
212-691-0555
Two for eight? No
Best available: 10:30 p.m.

SD26 (Menu)
212-265-5959
Two for eight? Yes

Sfoglia (Menu)
212-831-1402
Two for eight? No
Best available: 8:45 p.m.

Filed Under: Two for Eight

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A little over a month after Scott Conant penned an “Open Letter to Toronto” that struck certain Canadians as condescending, the Toronto Star’s critic Amy Pataki has done the inevitable and penned a 1.5-star review in the style of the letter. She says she experienced more than one “WTF moment” at the hands of the service, and is amazed by the “undercurrent of pretentiousness” running through certain dishes (though she finds the spaghetti “irreproachable”). The baby goat “looked like airplane food, with its beige potato garnish and over-reduced sauce as sticky as pancake topping.” Other dishes are described as “soupy” and “flabby.” And: “I don’t think I need to tell you how bad the drinks are, either.” Ouch. To be fair, Scarpetta has received more favorable reviews (a halibut dish that Pataki says has “no spark” was described as “brilliant” in the National Post and “beyond impressive” by Eye Weekly) but this critic, at least, probably won’t be pen pals with Scott Conant.

Scarpetta: Dear Scott: It’s not me, it’s you [Toronto Star]

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Filed Under: the other critics, scarpetta, scott conant, thompson hotel, toronto

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Where’s Kevin?

Now that the cat’s out of the bag that the next season of Top Chef will be an all-star round, sightings are starting to flood in to Grub Street HQ. Yesterday, we rounded up your tips of episodes shot at Marea and the Bowery Whole Foods, but there’s much more where that came from. In fact, this very morning one of you saw the whole team shooting at the Red Hook Fairway:

I just came back from Fairway in Red Hook, Brooklyn and I just saw many contestants shooting a episode there (11 a.m.) I can confirm that these people were there:
Marcel Vigneron
Richard Blais
Fabio Viviani
Angelo Sosa
Tiffany Derry
Michael Isabella
Dale Talde
Carla Hall
and Tre Wilcox (season 3?)
There was also 2 other girl that I recognize but don’t remember their name, I will have to do research on that and will let you know who … I did not see Spike!

And then there’s the matter of Kevin Gillespie. The dude is definitely in town — “My wife and I were having a casual lunch outside at Sea in the Meatpacking District on Monday when Kevin (MIT, tattooed arms) from last season walked by us,” writes one tipster. “Definitely saw Kevin Gillespie on Monday in the lobby of 150 E. 42nd Street,” adds another — but so far, he hasn’t shown up in conjunction with any shoots, nor has he been seen surrounded by TV cameras. But odds are good that he’s not part of the show. As Eater National notes, he’s been shilling for dog food lately — he’s the official chef (?) of bacon-style product Beggin’ Strips — so he might just be in town for duties related to his position as Lord of the Dog Treat.

Any more Top Chef sightings? Leave ‘em in the comments or drop us a line.

Read more posts by Helen Rosner

Filed Under: top chef, kevin gillespie, top chef all stars

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Shaken, stirred, fried, or simply puréed to a pulp, vegetables are cropping up in cocktails across our fair city. Forget measly sprigs that are little more than window dressings — the new drinks put stalks, tubers, and other surprising ingredients at center stage, no matter that vegetables are less predictable and more high-maintenance than almost any other ingredient that might go into a highball. The appeal: bright hues, bold flavors, bursts of refreshment without sno-cone sweetness, and bragging rights among bartenders and mixologists. The challenges: shorter growing seasons, broader ranges in flavor, a steep learning curve, and little room for error. Besides, even the most open-minded barfly might think twice before downing anything that’s spiked with celery syrup. Check out our slideshow for a few boozy veggie tales worth telling.

Read more posts by Elisa Mala

Filed Under: trends, a voce, almond, bar pleaides, cocktails, delmonico’s, drinks, nuela, palace gate, poco, rouge tomate, sd26, slideshow, summit bar, the bedford, the mark

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Chefs, it’s time to swap out the photo of Steve Cuozzo that you keep on the kitchen wall — the Post critic reveals that after cutting down on sweets and junk food due to a Type 2–diabetes scare, he has lost twenty pounds in the past year (after losing fifteen pounds to the condition), and there’s a photo of him at 160 pounds (down from 195) to prove it. Cuozzo follows Bruni, Sifton, Ed Levine, and other fellow critics in shedding light on his dieting habits, saying that he stifled his lifelong sweet tooth (and beat chronic heartburn) by cutting down on “sugar bombs” and sugary drinks, as well as switching to a diet with more whole-grain breads, seafood, fruits and vegetables, cheese, peanut butter, and Sprite Zero. Congratulations are in order, and chefs might want to think twice about delivering complimentary desserts.

Defeating diabetes — now that’s sweet! [NYP]

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Filed Under: the other critics, diabetes, diets, steve cuozzo, weight loss

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The Mermaid Inn should’ve been a date-night home run. It’s got a nice outdoor patio, a cool & casual downtown vibe…

Mermaid Inn

96 2nd Ave, New York

(212) 674-5870

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