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

Peter Luger Wins ‘Bon Appetit’ Top Steak

Brooklyn’s Peter Luger Steak House and New Orleans’ Willie Mae’s Scotch House were among the winners in Bon Appetit magazine’s recent Food Network special. Winning restaurants were selected from each of three semifinalists for the best versions of six quintessential American classics: pizza, steak, tacos, hamburgers, fried chicken, and ribs. The winners were announced on the Good Eats with Alton Brown show on the Food Network.

Here are the winners and runners-up:
PIZZA: Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix (WINNER); DiFara Pizza, Brooklyn, NY; Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
STEAK: Peter Luger Steak House, Brooklyn (WINNER); Cut, Los Angeles; Doe’s Eat Place, Greenville, Miss.
TACOS: Taco Taco Cafe, San Antonio (WINNER); Taqueria del Sol, Atlanta; South Beach Bar & Grill, Ocean Beach, Calif.
Hamburgers: Bobcate Bite, Santa Fe, NM (WINNER); Taylor’s Automatic Refresher, St. Helena, Calif; The Meers Store and Restaurant, Lawton, Okla.
FRIED CHICKEN: Willie Mae’s Scotch House, New Orleans (WINNER); Price’s Chicken Coop, Charlotte, NC; Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tenn.
RIBS: 17th Street Bar & Grill, Murphysboro, Ill (WINNER); Charles Vergos Rendezvous, Memphis; Jaspers, Plano, Texas.

IN THE NEWS: The New York Times‘ Frank Bruni gives one star in reviewing the new Latin eatery Rayuela — pronounced rye-u-WELL-a — (165 Allen St., 212-253-8840), visits Johnny Utah’s, and interviews Amalia executive chef Ivy Stark, while Peter Meehan considers Ramen Setagaya (141 First Ave. N., 212-529-2740). … Noted openings: Barfry (50 Carmine St., 212-929-5050), Fiorini (209 E. 56th St., 212-308-0830), Sanctuary T (337B W. Broadway, 212-941-7832), and Toloache (250 W. 50th St., 212-581-1818). nytimes.com … Andrea Strong’s The Strong Buzz reviews Zoë Townhouse (135 E. 62nd St.; 212-752-6000) and reports: John Fraser has left Compass to open a new restaurant on West 77th Street this November. He has been replaced by previous Compass chef Neil Annis. … Chef Josie Smith-Malave of Top Chef, Season 2, has parted ways with Island Restaurant and Lounge (35-15 36th Street, 718-433-0690). She is opening her own project, The Speakeasy, in Fort Greene, set to open this fall. Stepping up as Island’s executive chef is Dan Morales (Mesa Grill, The River Café), who was the restaurant’s sous chef. thestrongbuzz.com … New York magazine’s Adam Platt gives one star in reviewing Suba (109 Ludlow St., 212-982-5714) and Rayuela, while Gael Greene considers Justin Timberlake’s Southern Hospitality (1460 Second Ave.; 212-249-1001). … Noted openings: Barfry, Margaret Palca Bakes (210 Court St., Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-858-2429), nymag.com … The New Yorker‘s Leo Carey reviews Café St. Bart’s (109 E. 50th St., 212-593-3333. newyorker.com … The Voice‘s Robert Sietsema orders from Fresh Direct. villagevoice.com … The New York Post‘s Steve Cuozzo reviews Wakiya. nypost.com … The New York Press‘ David Bardeen reviews Luna Park, while Ernest Barteldes has small plates at Bar Carrera, and Cheap Eats visits Maoz Vegetarian. nypress.com … The Sun‘s Paul Adams reviews Rayuela. nysun.com … TimeOut New York reviews L’Impero (45 Tudor City Pl, 212-599-5045), Alto (11 E 53rd St, 212-308-1099), Soto (357 Sixth Ave, 212-414-3088) and Spirito (287 9th St, Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718-832-0085). timeoutny.com … Eater.com visits Forlini’s (93 Baxter St, Little Italy; 212-349-6779) and reports the closings of Monster Sushi on 23rd Street, Paper Moon on 58th street, Taste of Tokyo on West 13th Street, and Mickey’s Sushi in Forest Hills. … Gothamist.com visits Carrot Top Bakery (5023 Broadway, Inwood, 212-569-1532) and La Estufa (5035 Broadway, Inwood, 212-567-6640).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

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