Gourmet Gossip – August 2013

In this great dining city of ours, barely a day passes without news of a new restaurant opening, a devastating closing, a shocking chef shuffle, or a groundbreaking, must-try dish.

That’s why we’re keeping you apprised of the industry’s most noteworthy bits and bites, from Shaun Hergatt’s return to the scene with Juni, Gabriel Kreuther’s impending departure from The Modern, and Eddie Huang’s spectacular stab at the small screen!

Juni’s Debut: Shaun Hergatt has kept quiet since unexpectedly departing from his eponymous, Michelin-starred restaurant, SHO Shaun Hergatt last year.  But that’s because he was busy making way for Juni in the Hotel Chandler, which will have a 4 to 10-course tasting menu format with a heavy focus on vegetables.  Look for dishes like Artichoke Ravioli, Foie Gras with Peaches, Striped Bass with Nasturtium and Carrots, and Duck with Hyssop and Beets, plus a surprisingly affordable, $35 prix fixe lunch, and a wine list dominated by artisanal producers.

Sushi Star Takes on the West Village: It’s no small feat to become a respected sushi master — chefs spend over a decade studying as apprentices first.  And very few are selected to train under the incomparable Jiro Ono, the subject of the documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi.  So we have high hopes for the upcoming Sushi Nakazawa in the West Village, from Ono’s apprentice of 11 years, Daisuke Nakazawa. Because if Nakazawa can spend three months learning how to make a perfect omelet (as was memorably chronicled in the movie), we can’t wait to try his elaborate Omakase.

Rucola’s Second Act: It can take years for restaurants to tempt breakfast or lunch service, but Boerum Hill favorite, Rucola, has been offering three meals a day right out of the gate.  And they’re looking to build on their successful formula with Fitzcarraldo, which recently opened in the 3rd Ward workspace and education center in Williamsburg.  Expect Stumptown Coffee and Pastries in the morning, market-inspired Salads and Sandwiches in the afternoon, and seafood dishes, like Squid stuffed with Scallops, Mussels and Fennel at night, inspired by the coastal region of Liguria.

Kreuther Out At The Modern: After helping Danny Meyer open his fine dining museum restaurant, The Modern, in 2005 (and wowing diners with his elegant Alsatian fare ever since), chef Gabriel Kreuther has announced that he’s leaving at the end of the year.  It turns out Kreuther already has investors for his own French American restaurant, slated to open sometime in 2014.  Meyer has begun actively searching for his replacement, but insists that he has “no interest in changing how the restaurant feels.”

Eddie Huang Strikes TV Deal: If you obsessively follow Eddie Huang’s Twitter feed, you’re bound to go crazy for his upcoming TV show.  The Bad Boy of Bao has inked a deal with ABC to make a pilot of his audacious memoir, Fresh Off the Boat.  Huang will help produce the single camera comedy, which will be set in the 90’s and follow a Chinese family’s move from Taiwan to Orlando.  We’re pretty sure Marcus Samuelsson and Hugh Acheson won’t be watching.

Market Table Tipples: It’s hard to believe, but after seven years, West Village favorite Market Table just got its liquor license.   And it comes as no surprise that this local and seasonal restaurant is currently serving cocktails, inspired by the Greenmarket, including a Peach Manhattan, a Fizz made with muddled Cherries, Fennel Bitters and Mint, and a refreshing Summer Sipper with Watermelon Juice, Stoli and Lime.  We can’t wait to see what apple and pumpkin-inspired libations they have planned for the fall.  Time for a visit!

Blue Skies: The skies just got a whole lot friendlier… at least if you’re flying on Delta, that is.  The airline has tapped restaurateur Danny Meyer to elevate their onboard meals, and he’s focusing on dishes from his barbecue joint, Blue Smoke. Makes sense… Pulled Pork and Beef Ribs can be prepared, stored and reheated a lot more effectively than, say, the Bucatini from Maialino or the Brie Souffle from The Modern.