Words are weapons, Rayner.

“You start your Sunday morning reading a terrible review of somebody’s restaurant and as long as you’re not the chef’s mother, you’re probably going to feel slightly better for the rest of the day,” —Identity-theft victim Jay Rayner on the subject of being a restaurant critic, 50 years after the New York Times published its first restaurant review. [CNN]

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He says hi to Josh Capon.

Serious Eats goes on a Soho eating binge with Andrew Carmellini, where they start at Dominique Ansel and end at Milady’s, with a lot of food and scoop in between. Over at Melvin’s Juice Bar, Carmellini says he was was iffy about the au courant juice obsession, “until John Cusack was staying at The Greenwich Hotel where he brought his juicer and started juicing for me. He made this pear-kale juice and it was then, then I started to understand.” Yup, Carm can say anything and we’ll listen. [Serious Eats]

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Filed Under: name-dropping, carmellini, juicing, miss lily’s

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He still doesn’t like ‘em.

After roasting Richman and talking Angry Bobby Flay to Grub, Anthony Bourdain just couldn’t bite his tongue when “Page Six” asked him about his famous feuds with Sandra Lee — “I don’t think much of her cooking, but a tough lady … impressive, and I think, scary woman … I don’t want to get audited.” And of course, Paula Deen, and the only thing worse than Paula Deen, her hate-mailing fans: “Most of them couldn’t spell her last name. It’s only four letters in it. It’s scary. I’ve saved some of the mail in case I go missing.” [Page Six/NYP]

Related: Alan Richman Defends James Beard Win, Slams ‘Third-Rate Critic’ Ryan Sutton

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Filed Under: same old, bourdain, paula deen

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Safeway is in the process of cleaning up two aisles of shit-storm after a butcher was fired, rather than admired, for saving a pregnant woman from being kicked in the stomach — a backwards move that customers across the country are vociferously outraged by. Then, at Safeway’s annual shareholder meeting, senior vice-president and general counsel Robert Gordon made a stupid and offensive joke that equated Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi to “hogs,” and now he’s on the express line to demotion. [Slate]

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Filed Under: check-out line, grocery store, safeway

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The end of Benson’s.

Ben Benson teared up yesterday as he told the staff that the 30-year-old restaurant Ben Benson’s would be closing on June 17, Father’s Day. Benson, who is blind, and who also opened Grand Café and Smith & Wollensky, said that the Paramount Group, which owns the building, would not renew his lease. This is especially sad for one regular who got engaged there and has plaques with his children’s names along the bar. [WSJ]

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Filed Under: closings, ben benson’s, steakhouses

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Eat it and enjoy it.

Of the Frenchies: “I frequently get asked about how they miraculously manage to keep the weight off while seemingly enjoying all the rich food in France,” says food writer David Lebovitz in his introduction to staying slim while living a life of petit fours and Peppermint Patties. Thus, Lebovitz illustrates his French–influenced eating habits, flavor-to-calorie counts, and sneaking ice cubes into expensive wine à la Jacques Pépin. [David Lebovitz]

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Filed Under: fit foodies, david lebowitz, french

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I do.

“Sushi is the gay marriage of food.” —psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt on flavors and taste buds. [Awl]

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The promoter they love to hate.

Justin Ross Lee is the latest nightlife dilettante to wreak some hella-havoc on the meatpacking district and other glossy clubs and restaurants of the like. From STK Midtown to the Soho House, to even Pastis, where Lee’s been banned, the young, debatably industrious schmuck has become infamous for “harassing doormen, teasing guests and acting out.” And don’t forget … cashing in. [NYT]

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Filed Under: non gratis, dream hotel, justin ross lee, pastis, soho house

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He’s doing great.

“There was very little time to spend with my wife, no chance to see my children and no second option. Strange how a lifetime is ultimately translated into only minutes — clarified, distilled, precise and yet unfair.” —Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern on his sudden open-heart surgery. [CNN]

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Do it!

Rumor has it that Tetsu, the latest restaurant from Masa’s Masa Takayama could be teppanyaki style “à la Benihana” and like his latest in Vegas. Another rumor is that the restaurant could be in the World Financial Center. [Tribeca Citizen]

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Filed Under: tribeca, masa, teppenyaki

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Help find her him!

There’s a million of these things out there, but this missed connection seemed extra, um, special: “Met outside Crif Dogs and walked from St Marks to 20th Street really late at night/early morning. Had a photo session w/ a homeless man. I bought cup noodles from him. I was wearing a black and yellow leopard print dress and ketchup on my face … ” [EV Grieve]

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Filed Under: oddballs, crif dogs, love connection

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Nice job, slugger.

Mickey Mantle’s can strike out all it wants, because the restaurant’s customers and investors just won’t let it it close. What was meant to be a farewell party — which is usually what happens when restaurants get evicted for not paying rent and filing for bankruptcy — turned into a revival party Monday night as friends of the restaurant raised enough money to keep business in play. [NY1]

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Filed Under: nice save, mickey mantle’s

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