Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, Per Se Rate 3 Michelin Stars

IN THE NEWS: The New York Times’s Nick Fox reports, “Michelin has just announced its third annual New York City restaurant ratings. Jean Georges, Le Bernardin and Per Se remained the city’s only restaurants with three Michelin stars. (Alain Ducasse at the Essex House was among them the first year, before it closed.) Gordon Ramsay at the London joined Bouley, Daniel, Del Posto and Masa among the two stars restaurants, along with Picholine, which had previously had one star. The new one-star retaurants are Anthos, Blue Hill, Dressler, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Gilt and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. JoJo retrieved a star it had lost last year. In perhaps the the biggest surprise, Craft lost its one star, along with Fiamma, La Goulue and Lever House. The following also got one star: Annisa, Aureole, A Voce, Babbo, Café Boulud, Café Gray, Country, Cru, Danube, Dévi, Etats-Unis, Fleur de Sel, Gotham Bar & Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Jewel Bako, Kurumazushi, The Modern, Oceana, Perry St., Peter Luger, Saul, Spotted Pig, Sushi of Gari, Veritas, Vong, Wallsé, wd~50. …

Times critic Frank Bruni gives a satisfactory mark to the new Chinese restaurant Wakiya (Gramercy Park Hotel, 2 Lexington Ave., 212-995-1330), while Peter Meehan considers Josh DeChellis’s new BarFry (50 Carmine St, West Village, 212-929-5050). … Noted openings: Allen & Delancey (115 Allen St, 212-253-5400), Belcourt 84 Second Ave, 212-979-2034), Primehouse New York (381 Park Avenue South, 212-824-2600), Visconti (39 East 58th Street, 212-758-8600), Tadka New York (229 East 53rd St., 212-355-9660, and Omido (1695 Broadway, 212-247-8110). … Chef moves: Ed Cotton (Bar Boulud) replaces Scott Bryan at Veritas in the Flatiron District, Benedetto Bartolotta (Felidia) to Osteria del Circo, and Taweewat Hurapan returning to Rain on the Upper West Side, Phillip Kirschen-Clark(wd-50) to Jimmy’s No. 43 in the East Village. … The Times also reports that chef Daniel Boulud will open an as-yet-unnamed, brasserie-style restaurant next summer featuring creative burgers (299 Bowery). nytimes.com …

Andrea Strong’s TheStrongBuzz.com reviews Toloache (251 West 50th Street, 212-581-1818, http://www.toloachenyc.com) and notes the opening of Shorty’s.32 (199 Prince, 212-375-8257), Grayz (13-15 W. 54th Street, 212-262-4600), Primehouse (381 Park Avenue South, 212-824-2600) and Park Avenue Autumn (100 E. 63rd St., 212-644-1900). … Strong also notes that Vincent Charico (formerly of Aquavit, Daniel, and Mercer Kitchen), is the new chef/partner with restaurateur Philippe Kayadjanian of 212 on the Upper East Side (133 East 65th Street, 212-249-6565). … New York magazine’s Adam Platt reviews Centro Vinoteca (74 Seventh Ave. S., 212-367-7470) and Accademia di Vino (1081 Third Ave., 212-888-6333), while Gael Greene considers Toloache. … The mag’s Grub Street blog reports that chef Bertrand Chemel is leaving Café Boulud in mid-December. He’ll be be starting his own restaurant in the Washington D.C. area. Daniel has chosen a new chef but is not prepared to announce it, although the head chef at his soon-to-open Bar Boulud will be Damien Sansonetti, a sous-chef at Daniel for almost five years. nymag.com …

The New Yorker’s Andrea Thompson reviews Gemma (335 Bowery, 212-505-7300). newyorker.com … The New York Sun’s Paul Adams reviews chef (and former Mario Batali assistant) Anne Burrell’s Centro Vinoteca … Bret Thorn notes the opening of Bistro Desaret (227 E. 56th St., between Second and Third avenues, 212-207-8777), the reopening of Café Gray (Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, Broadway at 60th Street, 3rd floor, 212-823-6338), and reports that John Fraser, the former chef of Compass, is hoping to open a new 70-seat restaurant named Dovetail (103 W. 77th St. at Columbus Avenue) next month. nysun.com … The Village Voice’s Robert Sietsema reviews Greek restaurant Plaka Taverna (406 86th Street, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, 718-680-3056). villagevoice.com … The New York Post’s Steve Cuozzo reports, “After a year of grim uncertainty and dire predictions, San Domenico and its landlord at 240 Central Park South are working toward a lease renewal.”. nypost.com …

The Daily News’s Rosemary Black asks celebrities for their favorite NYC pizza, among them Martha Stewart’s pick: Luzzo’s (211-213 First Ave. near 13th St., Manhattan), while Irene Sax reviews International Food House Restaurant and Buffet (240 W. 35th St., at Seventh Ave., 212-564-7444) and Danyelle Freeman gives one star to Accademia di Vino. … Patrick Huguenin looks at secret dining spots, including Crif Dogs (113 St. Marks Place, between Avenue A and First Ave., 212-614-2728). nydailynews.com … The Chicago Sun-Times’s Janet Rausa Fuller interviews Dale Levitski, a runner-up to winner Hung Huynh (a sous chef at Guy Savoy in New York) in the season-closing episode of Bravo’s Top Chef. Levitski has been waiting tables at this first jog, Chicago’s Sola, while preparing to open his first restaurant early next year in Chicago. suntimes.com … NYCNosh.com visits Ba Xuyen (4222 Eighth Avenue, between 42nd and 43rd Streets, 718-633-6601) and Oms/b (156 East 45th Street, near Third Avenue, 212-922-9788). … Eater.com stops by the new tapas spot El Quinto Pino (401 West 24th St., Chelsea; 212-206-6900) and Shorty’s.32.

Compiled by Pat Embry, LocalEats

Mag Lauds Queen’s Hideaway, Telepan, Savoy’s Hoffman

Gourmet magazine’s October 2007 issue features a guide to “America’s Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants.” gourmet.com:

RESTAURANTS WITH FARM CONNECTIONS: 2nd Street Bistro, Livingston, MT; Amherst Chinese Food, Amherst, MA; Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN; Crook’s Corner, Chapel Hill, NC; Eve, Alexandria, VA; La Provence, Lacombe, LA; Lantern, Chapel Hill, NC; Pacific’O and I’o, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii; Tree House Pastry Shop and Cafe, Santa Fe, NM
MENU CHANGES DAILY/OFTEN: Aqua Santa, Santa Fe, NM; Bix, San Francisco; Boulettes Larder, San Francisco; Floataway Cafe, Atlanta; Francine, Camden, ME; Harvest, Madison, WI; Literati II, Brentwood, CA; Queen’s Hideaway, Brooklyn, NY
CASUAL: Bay Ave. Trattoria, Highlands, NJ; Blue Bird Bistro, Kansas City, MO; Bona Terra, Sharpsburg, PA; Burgerville, locations throughout Oregon and Washington; Canele, Atwater Village, CA; Duo Restaurant, Denver; The Farmhouse, Emmaus, PA; Fife Restaurant, Portland, OR; The Flying Fig, Cleveland; The Flying Pig on Lexington, Mount Kisco, NY; Local Burger, Lawrence, KS; Market, Del Mar, CA; Prairie Grass Cafe, Northbrook, IL; Sage, Des Moines, IA; Spoonriver, Minneapolis; Steelhead Diner, Seattle; Vindalho, Portland, OR
SEASONAL (CLOSED PART OF THE YEAR): The Back Eddy, Westport, MA; Christina’s (open from February to October), Eastsound, Orcas Island, WA; Clam Box of Ipswich (open from February to December), Ipswich, MA; Five Islands Lobster Co., Georgetown, ME; Hawk’s (open from December to May), Rayne, LA; Hell’s Backbone Grill (open from March to November), Boulder, UT
URBAN: Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, Chicago; Grace, Los Angeles; Josie, Santa Monica, CA; Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Miami; Reef, Houston; Rendezvous in Central Square, Cambridge, MA; T’Afia, Houston; Telepan, New York, NY; White Dog Cafe, Philadelphia; Wilshire, Santa Monica, CA
WORTH THE TRIP: The Farmhouse Restaurant, The Inn at Serenbe, Palmetto, GA; Five & Ten, Athens, GA; Guadalupe Cafe, Sylva, NC; Harvest Moon Cafe, Sonoma, CA; Kai, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, Chandler, AZ; Journeyman Cafe, Fennville, MI; Restaurant Tallent, Bloomington, IN: The Turquoise Room, Winslow, AZ.
ROMANTIC/SPECIAL OCCASIONS: 610 Magnolia, Louisville; Brigtsen’s, New Orleans; The Fearrington House Restaurant, Pittsboro, NC; The General’s Daughter, Sonoma, CA; Hen of the Wood, Waterbury, VT; Joseph’s Table, Taos, NM; Le Gourmand, Seattle; Manresa, Los Gatos, CA; The Painted Lady, Newberg, OR; Paley’s Place, Portland, OR.
MEAT RULES: Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Fort Worth; The Corn Exchange, Rapid City, SD; L&M’s Kitchen and Salumeria, Oxford, MS; The Linkery, San Diego; Pirogue Grille, Bismarck, ND; Route 7 Grill, Great Barrington, MA; Watermark Restaurant, Nashville.
HOTELS + INNS: Cielo at Ventana Inn & Spa, Big Sur, CA; CityZen, Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.; The Inn at Dos Brisas, Brenham, TX; The Inn at Shelburne Farms (open from May to October), Shelburne, VT; North Fork Table and Inn, Southold, NY; Rustic Canyon, Santa Monica, CA.
BAR FOCUS: Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA; FIG, Charleston, SC.
LOCAL PIONEERS: Alice Waters, Chez Panisse, Berkeley, CA; Carrie Van Dyck, Ron Zimmerman, and Jerry Traunfeld, The Herbfarm, Woodinville, WA; Peter Merriman and Neil Murphy, Merriman’s, Waimea, Big Island, Hawaii; Peter Hoffman, Savoy, New York, NY; Greg Higgins, Higgins Restaurant & Bar, Portland, OR; Peter Davis, Henrietta’s Table, The Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA; Dan Barber, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY; Lucia Watson, Lucia’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, Minneapolis; Alan Wong, Alan Wong’s Restaurant, Honolulu, Hawaii; Annie Somerville, Greens, San Francisco; Patrick O’Connell, The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA; Alex Young, Zingerman’s Roadhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

IN THE NEWS: GQ magazine’s October 2007 issue features Alan Richman’s “Seven Greatest Dining Destinations
on Earth”, among them Le Bernardin (155 West 51st Street, The Equitable Building, New York, New York 212-554-1515, le-bernardin.com). gq.com … Gourmet magazine’s October restaurant issue features David Chang and his restaurants, Momofuku Noodle Bar and Momofuku Ssam Bar. gourmet.com … New York magazine reviews Hecho en Dumbo (at the Dumbo General Store, 111 Front St., Brooklyn; 718-855-5288). Featured openings: Belcourt (84 E. 4th St., at Second Ave.; 212-979-2034), Shorty’s.32 (199 Prince St., 212-375-8275), Los Dados (expands with a takeout-only taquería, 73 Gansevoort St., 646-810-7290); and also the Latin cooking of celebrated Miami chef Carmen Gonzalez at the Lucy of Gramercy space at the ABC Home store (35 E. 18th St., 212-475-5829). … Gael Greene considers Fiamma (206 Spring St., New York, NY 212-653-0100). newyorkmagazine.com … Andrea Strong’s TheStrongBuzz.com reviews Accademia di Vino (1081 Third Avenue, 212-888-6333, http://www.accademiadivino.com) and reports: the openings of El Quinto Pino (401 West 24th Street), Omido (1695 Broadway, 212-247-8110), Bobo (181 West 10th Street, 212-488-2626) and Belcourt. … Phillip Kirschen-Clark is the new executive chef at Jimmy’s (43 East 7th St., 212-982-3006). …

The New York Times’s Frank Bruni gives one star to the trattoria Gemma (in the Bowery Hotel, 335 Bowery, 212-505-9100) and visits the new Sea Salt (99 Second Ave., 212-979-5400), while Oliver Schwaner-Albright considers Dominican spot Mamajuana Cafe (247 Dykeman St, Inwood, 212-304-0140) and Eric Asimov stops by Noble Food & Wine (7 Spring St., 212-777-0877). … Noted openings: Lucy of Gramercy (35 East 18th St, 212-475-5829), El Quinto Pino, Grayz (13-15 West 54th St, 212-262-4600), Cafe Gray (Time Warner Center, third floor, 212-823-6338), T-Bar Steak and Lounge (in the former Lenox space, 1278 Third Avenue, 212-772-0404), Shorty’s.32, Cipriani at 55 Wall St. (55 Wall St., 212–699-4096), Ayza Cafe and Wine Bar (11 West 31st St, 212-714-2992), Black Mountain Wine House (415 Union St, Carroll Gardens, 718-395-2614)), and The Kingswood (121 West 10th St, 212-645-0018). … Chef moves: Eric Basulto to Havana Central, from Asia de Cuba; and Vincent Chirico, to chef/partner at 212 Restaurant, from Frederick’s Madison and Frederick’s Downtown. … Florence Fabricant features chef Fabio Trabocchi at Fiamma in SoHo. nytimes.com … The New York Post’s Steve Cuozzo reports on Stephen Hanson’s gigantic new Primehouse, opening Oct. 1 at Park Avenue South and 27th Street, with Smith & Wollensky veteran Jason Miller as the chef. nypost.com …

The New Yorker’s Nick Paumgarten reviews Borough Food & Drink (12 E. 22nd St., 212-260-0103). newyorker.com … The Village Voice’s Robert Sietsema reviews Deshi (75-18 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Queens, 718-803-6232), while Kosiya Shalata visits the new Black Mountain Wine House, and Nina Lalli stops by Rickshaw Dumpling Bar (53 East 8th Street, (212) 461-1750) and Tkettle Drinks/BBQ Chicken (26 St. Marks Place). villagevoice.com … The New York Sun’s Paul Lukas reviews BarFry (50 Carmine St., 212-929-5050). nysun.com … The Observer’s Doree Shafrir samples the foie gras “sandwich” at Upper East Side restaurant David Burke & Donatella. observer.com … The Daily News’ Danielle “Restaurant Girl” Freeman awards three stars to Crave Ceviche Bar (946 Second Ave., 212-355-6565). nydailynews.com … New York Press’s Jaime Jordan reviews Grape and Grain Against the Grain (620 E. 6th St., 212-420-0002 or 212-358-7064). nypress.com … TimeOut New York’s Randall Lane awards five stars (out of six) to chef Thomas Keller’s vegetarian spot Per Se (Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle at Broadway, fourth floor, 212-823-9335), while the magazine also reviews Caravan of Dreams (405 E 6th St, 212-254-1613). timeoutny.com … AM New York’s Linda Perney reviews Johnny Utah (25 W. 51st St., Manhattan; 212-262-1600). amny.com …

Eater.com notes the closings of Carniceria in Carroll Gardens and rap star Diddy’s eatery Justin’s on West 21st Street, and also visits Mexican joint Toloache (251 West 50th Street, Midtown West; 212-581-1818) and the new Aussie spot The Kingswood … JoonBlog New York visits Huckleberry Bar (718-218-8555, 558 Grand Street, Brooklyn, http://www.huckleberrybar.com) and Bobo (212-488-2626, 181 W. 10th St). blog.joonbug.com … EatingInTranslation.com stops by Ciao Bella Gelato (285 Mott St., one of many locations, 212-431-3591, http://www.ciaobellagelato.com), Australian Homemade (115 St. Mark’s Pl., 212-228-5439, http://www.australianhomemade.com), East Village Ice Cream (218 Ave. B, 212-673-6030), Lu’s Seafood Restaurant (38-18 Prince St., Flushing, Queens, 718-321-0904), Myers of Keswick (634 Hudson St., 212-691-4194), and Sweet Heart (69 Eighth Ave., 212-807-1125). … NYCNosh.com visits The Kingswood.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Morrone & Sons Closes; Luger Loses Star

IN THE NEWS: AM New York reports the recent closing of Morrone & Sons bakery, on East 116th Street in East Harlem since 1956. amny.com … The New York Times’ Frank Bruni knocks off a star, from three stars (excellent) to two (very good), in reviewing the venerable and influential Peter Luger Steak House (178 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-387-7400) and also visits BLT Fish, while Peter Meehan reviews Justin Timberlake’s new rib joint Southern Hospitality (1460 Second Ave., Upper East Side, 212-249-1001). … Featured openings: Fiamma (206 Spring Street, 212-653-0100), Bobo ((181 W. 10th St., 212-488-2626), Graffiti (224 East 10th Street, 212-464-7743), Bull & Bear Steakhouse, and Tokyo Bar (277 Church St., 212-966-2787). nytimes.com … Andrea Strong’s The Strong Buzz reviews BLT Market (1430 Avenue of the Americas, Sixth Avenue at Central Park South, in the Ritz Carton New York, 212-521-6125) and notes the openings of: Graffiti, chef Jehangir Mehta’s (Jean Georges, Union Pacific, Virot, Aix) first solo restaurant; The Randolph at Broome (354 Broome Street, 212.274.0667); Fiamma; and Japanese spot Yushi (4 World Financial Center, 212-945-3096 and at 245 Park Avenue, 212-687-1900, http://www.yushi.com). … Strong also reports that Derrick Styczek (most recently chef de cuisine at Brooklyn’s The River Cafe) is the new chef at Devin Tavern. thestrongbuzz.com …

New York magazine’s Adam Platt gives no stars to Chinese restaurant Wakiya (2 Lexington Ave., 212-995-1330), two stars to Bar Stuzzichini (928 Broadway, 212-780-5100) and one star to Gemma (335 Bowery, 212-505-9100), while Gael Greene visits Accademia di Vino (1081 Third Ave., 212-888-6333). … The magazine also notes the openings of Bobo, Tokyo Bar, and Fiamma and also reports that the lease has finally been signed on the as-yet-unnamed Daniel Boulud burger restaurant at 299 Bowery, which will be opening in the summer of 2008. nymag.com …

In its October 2007 issue, the 10th Annual Bon Appetit Awards include David Chang (New York City’s Momofuku Noodle Bar and Momofuku Ssam Bar) as Chef of the Year, Dan Barber (New York’s Blue Hill) as Chef of Merit, Kamel Guechida (Joel Robuchon’s restaurants at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas) as Pastry Chef, Audrey Saunders (New York’s Pegu Club) as Wine & Spirits Professional, Father Gregory J. Boyle (Los Angeles’ Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Cafe) as Humanitarian, Laurent Tourandel (New York’s BLT Steak, BLT Prime, BLT Burger, and BLT Fish) as Restaurateur, and Ari Weinszweig and Paul Saginaw (Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Mich.) as Lifetime Achievement. bonappetit.com …

Food Network’s new show “The Next Iron Chef” kicks off at 9 pm EST/PDT Sunday, Oct. 7 as eight chefs compete from across the country compete to join the ranks of legendary Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, and Mario Batali. The eight competitors: Aaron Sanchez, chef-owner, Paladar and Centrico, New York; Mourou Outtara, chef/owner, FarrahOlivia by Morou, Alexandria, Va.; John Besh, chef/owner Restaurant August, Luke, The Besh Steakhouse at Harrahs, New Orleans; and La Provence, Lacombe, La.), Traci Des Jardins, chef and co-owner Jardiniere; chef/owner, Mijita; managing chef, ACME Chophouse, San Francisco); Chris Cosentino, chef, Incanto and co-owner, Bocccalone Artisanal Meats, San Francisco); Jill Davie, chef de cuisine, Josie Restaurant, Los Angeles; Michael Symon, chef-owner, Lola and Lolita, Cleveland; and Gavin Kaysen, chef de cuisine, El Bizcocho, San Diego. foodnetwork.com …

The Brooklyn Paper’s Ariella Cohen reports the sale of classic diner The New St. Clair Restaurant on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Smith Street in Brooklyn: “Spiro Katehis, owner of the Carroll Gardens Classic Diner, has bought the 40-year-old hash palace from the Costa family, which owned it since 1967. The diner will close at the end of September for a trendy makeover expected to take several months. Katehis said he plans to keep the family-run diner’s name and its affordable, sausage-and-eggs fare, but lose its décor, which can be safely described as “1970s Queens basement,” thanks to a reliance on crystalline chandeliers and taxidermy fish.” brooklynpaper.com … The Daily News’s Danyelle “Restaurant Girl” Freeman gives two and a half stars to Elio’s (1621 Second Ave., at 84th St., 212-772-2242). nydailynews.com … The Village Voice’s Robert Sietsema reviews BarFry (50 Carmine Street, 212-929-5050). villagevoice.com … New York Press’s Amy Sung reviews Korean spot Moim (206 Garfield Place, Brooklyn, 718-499-8092), while Tom Steele visits Brasserie 8 1/2 (9 W. 57th Street, 212-829-0812) and Cara O’Flynn considers Cafe Zaiya. nypress.com … Bloomberg News’ Alan Richman reviews Il Mulino (86 W. 3rd St., 212-673-3783, http://www.ilmulinonewyork.com). bloomberg.com …

The New Yorker’s Ligaya Mishan reviews P*ong (150 W. 10th St., 212-929-0898). newyorker.com … TimeOut New York magazine offers a fall dining preview, notes the Sept. 24 opening of El Quinto Pino (401 W 24th St, 212-206-6900), and reviews Fat Annie’s Truck Stop (131 W 33rd St, 212-695-1122), Oven (60 Henry St, Brooklyn Heights 718-468-6836) and Saju (120 W 44th St, 212-997-7258). timeoutny.com … The Sun’s Paul Adams reviews new Japanese spot Soto (357 Sixth Ave., 212-414-3088). … Bret Thorn reports: the opening of Fiamma, with chef Fabio Trabocchi heading the kitchen, replacing Michael White. … Phillip Kirschen-Clark is the new executive chef of Jimmy’s No. 43. (43 E. 7th St., 212-982-3006) nysun.com …

Eater.com reports: the Sept. 24 opening of Carlos Suarez’s Bobo (181 W. 10th St., West Village; 212-488-2626) and the opening of Tokyo Bar. … Chelsea’s Tour restaurant has closed, to be replaced by Vynl Diner, an outpost of the Hell’s Kitchen Thai diner. … West Village’s Mama Buddha has reopened, as has Soho’s Restaurant Dani … Gothamist.com visits Paloma (60 Greenpoint Ave, 718.349.2400) and Great Burrito (100 W. 23 St., 212-243-0022). … NYCNosh.com reviews Bread Bar at Tabla (25th Street and Madison Avenue, 212-889-0667) and Geisha (33 East 61st Street, 212-813-1112). … EatingInTranslation.com visits Kunjip (9 West 32nd St., 212-216-9487, http://www.kunjip.net) and Café Katja (79 Orchard St.).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com