Sanchez Among ‘Next Iron Chef’ Finalists

The Food Network has announced its eight finalists to compete in The Next Iron Chef, which premieres Oct. 7 (7 pm CT). The eight: John Besh (New Orleans), executive chef, Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Lüke, La Provence; Chris Cosentino (San Francisco), executive chef, Incanto; Jill Davie (Santa Monica, Calif.), executive chef, Josie; Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco), executive chef and co-owner, Jardinière, Mijita, Acme Chophouse; Gavin Kaysen (San Diego), chef de cuisine, El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn; Morou Ouattara (Washington, D.C.), executive chef and owner, Farrah Olivia; Aarón Sánchez (New York City), executive chef and owner, Centrico, Paladar; Michael Symon (Cleveland), executive chef and owner, Lola, Lolita.

IN THE NEWS: The NY Post‘s Farrah Weinstein spotlights the openings Justin Timberlake’s Southern Hospitality, his eatery at 1460 Second Ave., and looks at other celebrity owned restaurants past and present. nypost.com … The Washington Post‘s Tom Sietsema reports, “The Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner is losing a four-star chef — and Washington is losing one of its top talents — with the surprise resignation today (July 20) of Fabio Trabocchi of Maestro, the gilded Italian restaurant that opened in 2001. The 33-year-old chef plans to relocate to New York, where he has accepted an offer to become chef-partner at Fiamma Osteria, the acclaimed SoHo hot spot created by restaurant impresario Stephen Hanson. His last day at the hotel is expected to be Aug. 18, after which the restaurant will close for its annual summer hiatus. washingtonpost.com … Sources close to Michael Symon tell the Cleveland Scene that the Cleveland-based restaurateur (Lola, Lolita) Michael Symon resigned from the trendy Greek restaurant Parea in the Flatiron District about three weeks ago because Symon, who served as Parea’s consulting executive chef, disagreed with his partners over the restaurant’s direction. “It was a struggle for him,” says one insider. “He was in business with four investors who were very difficult for him to work with. He liked the guys, he followed through with his part in the kitchen, but in the end he just thought his time could be used better elsewhere.” The 14-month-old restaurant was shuttered July 10. clevescene.com … New York magazine’s Adam Platt gives one star in his review of the new Texas barbecue joint Hill Country (30 W. 26th St.), while the mag notes the openings of barbecue spots Georgia’s Eastside BBQ (192 Orchard St.), Johnny Utah’s (25 W. 51st St.), and Southern Hospitality, and the closing of the bakery Pasticceria Bruno. nymag.com … Andrea Strong’s TheStrongBuzz.com reviews Five Ninth (5 Ninth Avenue, http://www.5ninth.com), notes the July 9 closing of Parea, the opening of a new branch of Brother Jimmy’s barbecue (416 Eighth Avenue), and the July 18 opening of Johnny Utah’s (25 West 51st Street, http://www.johnnyutahs.com) … San Francisco-based blogger Tablehopper.com visits New York and posts reviews of Otto (1 5th Ave.), Esca (402 W 43rd St.), Bar Jamón (125 E. 17th St.), Casa Mono (52 Irving Place), Boqueria (53 W 19th St.), Mercat (45 Bond St.), Little Branch (20 Seventh Ave. S.), Death and Company (433 East 6th St.) and Monday Room (210 Elizabeth St.). … TheAmericanRoadside.com the July 1 closing of the last free-standing diner in Manhattan. The Moondance Diner in SoHo was in business for 70 years and has been seen in several movies, including Spider-Man, and television shows like Sex and the City and Friends. Next month, the diner will move to a museum in Pennsylvania – where it will be turned into an exhibit. … The New York Times‘ Frank Bruni gives one star to P*ONG (150 West 10th St) and notes Ichimura (1026 Second Ave.), while the paper also takes a first look at China de Puebla (3143 Broadway) and Wild Edibles (535 Third Ave.). … Openings mentioned include Centro Vinoteca (74 Seventh Ave. S.), Purnima (245 West 54th St.), and Chennai (1663 First Ave.). … The paper reports: the return of chef Antoine Bouterin to Le Perigord in Midtown, a post he held 1980-94; the closing of Little Bistro in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; Jean Georges (1 Central Park West) will be closed for renovations Aug. 20-28. … The Times’ Joe Drape reports that Tao Las Vegas now ranks as the highest grossing independent restaurant in the United States, according to Restaurants & Institutions magazine, which for 24 years has been ranking the top 100. In 2006, its first full year open, Tao did $55.2 million in business, or $16 million more than its closest competitor, Tavern on the Green in New York. nytimes.com … The Village Voice’s Robert Seitsema reviews the African eatery Le Conakry (1136 Broadway, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn), Nina Lalli chats with Ouest chef Tom Valenti, and Liquid City visits Hudson River Café (697 West 133rd Street). villagevoice.com … The Observer‘s Moira Hodgson gives three stars to Soto (357 Sixth Ave.). observer.com … New York Press’ Shani R. Friedman reviews Provence (38 MacDougal St.), while Joshua Bernstein considers B Flat (277 Church St.) and Cheap Eats visits Dojo (14 W. 4th St.). nypress.com … The New Yorker‘s Andrea Thompson reviews Casellula (401 W. 52nd St.). newyorker.com … The New York Sun‘s Paul Adams visits FR.OG (71 Spring St.), while Worth the Drive plugs Blue Hill at Stone Barns (630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, bluehillstonebarns.com). nysun.com … TimeOut New York rounds up cheap eats, Coney Island dining options, and reviews Hill Country, La Sirene (558 Broome St), and Sandro’s (306 E 81st St). timeoutny.com … Eater.com notes the openings of Georgia’s Eastside BBQ and Socialista (505 West St, West Village) and the axing of chef Lynn McNeely at Provence. … Gothamist.com notes the openings of Côte d’Or (225 Varick Street), The Grey Dog’s Coffee (90 University Place), and Sim Sim (2334 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn). … Blog.JoonBug.com rounds up its top 10 NYC restaurants for the first half of 2007, topped by Public House. … RestaurantGirl.com stops by Solace (406 E. 64th Street), and interviews chef Pichet Ong of the new dessert bar P*ONG. … OfftheBroiler.wordpress.com visits H & H Midtown Bagels East (1551 2nd Ave), and Rectangles Cafe & Bar (1431 1st Ave). … EatinginTranslation.com stops by Momofuku Ssäm Bar (207 Second Ave.), Memo Shish Kebab (1821 Kings Highway, Midwood, Brooklyn), Porges Canadian Style Bakery (1441 Coney Island Ave., Midwood, Brooklyn), Oztrowizky Bakery (1124 Ave. J, Midwood, Brooklyn), DiFara Pizza (1424 Ave. J., Midwood, Brooklyn), and Striped Bass (236 West Main St., Tarrytown, New York).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com