Gourmet Gossip: June 2014

In this great dining city of ours, barely a day passes without news of an exciting 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 an exciting, new project from talented Neta alums, Nick Kim and Jimmy Lao, to Shake Shack’s celebrity chef-studded 10th anniversary celebration.

New Neta: Awesome news for sushi enthusiasts.  Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau — the raw fish phenoms who worked at Masa and opened the omakase favorite, Neta (which they left last October) — will undoubtedly wow New York diners once more with Shuko, slated to debut in the fall.  They’ve taken over the former Mexicana Mama space in Greenwich Village, and according to what Kim told Eater back in 2013, likely have plans for a sophisticated and refined Izakaya, what they dub “a 1950’s Mad Men-style place, but Tokyo.”

Shack Attack: As if the lines at the Madison Square Park location needed to get any longer, Shake Shack is running an exciting promotion to celebrate their 10th anniversary.  Throughout the week, big-name chefs will contribute their own, elevated take on a Shack Burger, with a different toque, debuting their $8.50 creation each day.  Daniel Boulud and David Chang have already stepped up to the plate with a pulled pork-topped “Piggie Shack” and shrimp patty-crowned “Shrimp Stack,” respectively, and Andrew Zimmern, April Bloomfield and Daniel Humm are all on deck with plans to dish out goat burgers (Andrew), English cheddar burgers (April), and burgers topped with fresh, shaved black truffle (how could that be anyone but Humm?).

Dreamy Primi: Andrew Carmellini’s hotly anticipated Bar Primi may only have launched two weeks ago, but it’s already leapt into lunch service.  And the mid-day meal at the coolly casual pasta spot sounds especially homey, with sandwiches, like a Portobello Melt, Grilled Fish Muffaletta, and a provolone and pepper-topped Italian Roast Beef, served alongside their regular stable of noodles, such as the traditional Spaghetti Pomodoro and seasonal Ricotta Ravioli with Asparagus and Lemon.

Burke Branches Out: David Burke may have recently broken ties with his eponymous restaurant group, but that doesn’t mean that his served his last Cheesecake Lollipop.  He’s joined forces with real estate developer, Musa Tadros, on a new hospitality venture, “Chew on This Enterprises,” with plans to open eateries in multiple cities like Chicago and New York.  We just don’t know what he plans to call them; David Burke (as in Townhouse, Kitchen, Fishtail and the just opened Fabrick) is already taken!

The Right Stuff: It can get awfully expensive to finance a frozen cocktail habit come summer, which is why we’re especially thankful to the Brooklyn bar, Baby’s All Right, which is running a $1 happy hour throughout June.  That’s right, a single smacker will buy you a “Pink Baby” from 5-8pm all week long; a blush-colored, slushy concoction made with grapefruit vodka, yerba mate and lemon juice.  We’ll raise our glass to that!

SushiSamba Shutter: Not to worry, you’ll still be able to fulfill a jones for Japanese, Peruvian, Brazilian fusion at the West Village outpost, but the original SushiSamba in Gramercy is set to close at the end of the month.  Until then, the 15-year-old restaurant will be offering a 25% discount on bottles of wine and sake to go along with their  “Throwback Menu,” because haven’t you missed their Seared Beef Maki with Grilled Pineapple, Chicken Teriyaki with Aji Amarillo, and Big Eye Tuna Roll with Sturgeon Caviar and Foie Gras, crowned with 24 karat gold leaf?