snack

partysnack: gala paparazzi

Paparazzi from the Food Bank for NYC Can-Do Awards Gala on April 23, 2007. Attended by Adam Roth, April Bloomfield, Bart Freundlich, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Christy Turlington, David Bowie, Denis Leary, Diana Krall, The Edge, Edward Burns, Elvis Costello, Emeril Lagasse, Felicia Taylor, Francesco Clemente, Helena Christensen, Iman, James Rousseau, Jeff Koons, Jim Courier, Jimmy Fallon, John Sykes, John Ventimiglia, Josh Harnett, Judy McGrath, Julianne Moore, Kate Bosworth, Ken Friedman, Lou Reed, Mario Batali, Michael Stipe, Mike D, Mike Mills, Morleigh Steinberg, Patti Smith, Rachael Ray, Stanley Tucci, Steve Bing, Steve Schirripa, Susan Cahn. The evening raised more than 1.3 million dollars to fight hunger in New York City.

Photos © Patrick McMullan, All Rights Reserved

 

partysnack: can-do awards 2007

Last night was the Food Bank for NYC  Gala. Capital G. 

By the time Stanley Tucci introduced Mario Batali, we'd been well served and fed and serenaded by honoree Jimmy Fallon (his inspirational and original tune was called "Let's Have a Car Wash for Peace"). Mario took the podium and said, "Good evening ladies, gentlemen, esteemed members of the rock and roll hall of fame, and Mr. President." He gave a nod to table #32, where President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, David Bowie and Iman, Elvis Costello and The Edge were seated.

I recalled five years ago at the first gala, when Ruth Reichl presented Mario with an orange (the Food Bank’s color of fighting hunger) plate as the first ever Food Bank honoree and we all thought - what a brilliant moment. This year President Clinton presented the orange plate to The Edge. It was simply spectacular. Mr. President said, "I hope the fact of all of us being here tonight helps elevate the cause of the Food Bank." Indeed. The Edge spoke of his love for New York City, the energy, the welcome to immigrants and the realization of the American dream. I was impressed with the words of all these worldly, famous men – in that they seemed genuinely touched by the cause and the recognition.

The last lot of the live auction was 'drinkin' wine spo-de-od-ee'. Joe Bastianich offered up a full barrel of his Calabrone Rosso wine from Italy, spectacularly packaged into eight mega-magnum 27-litre bottles, each labeled with an original work of art, painted on canvas by Bono. Emeril Lagasse and Dave Lieberman entered into a bidding war, and after 10 minutes, Emeril took the lot for $200,000. Seems the grass is quite green at the Food Network.

The gala raised funds for the Food Bank's mission to feed 250,000 hungry New Yorkers daily. The evening's take was more than 1.2 million dollars. It's corny and a cliché, but The President, The Edge, Michael Stipe and Stanley Tucci were all correct when they said, "One person can make a difference."

Denis Leary announced the final surprise of the evening: a performance by Elvis Costello. He took the stage with acoustic guitar in hand and sang "Where the Streets Have No Name", with a bit of "Blowin' in the Wind" mashed-up in the middle. Standing ovation.   

Go to the snackshot for all the photos.

snackwire: rocco rides again

What's Rocco DiSpirito up to these days? Ironman triathlons. Yes. All the press release details after the jump.

snackspot: the monday room

I was quite surprised when I walked into The Monday Room  last week. I knew it was an annex to Public , but somehow, incorrectly, I imagined it was a subterranean space underneath Public. It is not. It is behind the host stand next-door. I also thought it was a wine bar. It is not. While they do have wines, culled and proffered by wine steward Rubén Sanz Ramiro, it is much more restaurant than bar.

Most chefs have ideas, things they want to try, or things they love - sometimes contrary to popular taste. In a fancy spot, these culinary musings could be expressed as an amuse bouche, at the chef's table, or perhaps on a tasting menu. Public though, is not that fancy, hence The Monday Room, basically one big chef's table. Brad Farmerie  now has cause to gleefully spend his day doing mise-en-place for a pork check terrine with guindilla gribiche. If you eat here, he will be cooking for you.

To le vin, Rubén pours exclusively in The Monday Room. I noted that almost every selection was quite unique. I like to be surprised with good things I've never seen before. It's also worth noting he has Badoit, my favorite sparkling water from France. The bubbles are tiny, creating an unusually delicate effervescence, and it's very hard to find.

I asked for a copy of the night's repast and libations (which they say is quite common, and they're happy to oblige). A few days later, an envelope arrived in the mail with the evening's menu and a handwritten note from Ruben, which read,"Thank you very much to come and enjoy our Monday Room." Je vous en prie.

PS: I was on an official press call with the house publicist. 100% comped.

hotsnack: the snackspots, they're all good

You know it's hard out here for a chef. Especially today. Somewhere, the critical hammer is dropping. People always ask me, "What do you think of this place?" "What's your favorite restaurant?" I usually relegate these opinions to live, in-person conversations. Pourquoi? Because I'm not a critic, plain and simple. But I think c'est l'heure to begin recounting (not reviewing) some of those meals and moments. Though with the caveat of only the ones I like, adding a little snack yin, to the populist yang. More snackspots on the way. They're all good.

hotsnack: do you have something good to tell me?

The scoop: a very desirable thing to have if you're a journalist. How does one acquire the breaking news? Well there's good old fashioned research. Which, depending on the depth of one's resources, can yield some hot stories. And then there's the plant. Want to generate big buzz? Plant a story dressed as a 'leak' and watch the snowball. It's an old technique. PR 101. But back in the day, it was used primarily in the gossip/tabloid arenas of print. I've notice more of this m.o. happening online recently. A piece of insider-intel is placed somewhere, just at the right time to generate the most buzz. Of course, if the information is a fresh first-look, it's still hot news, regardless of the provenance. But I think it's worth noting that 'leaking' a story to a blog is now an official and legitimate pr strategy in full swing. Sources say.

snackspot: landmarc time warner center

Surprise! Marc Murphy has done the impossible! He's opened his new restaurant Landmarc a week early. Landmarc's the uptown, Time Warner shopping mall, mega 10,500 square-foot version of his downtown spot. It opened bright and early this morning at 7 am. So early, in fact the breakfast menu is still a work in progress, but it will be something like this. To wit, all I have to offer you right now is the press release, the dinner menu, Marc's bio, and the sound of the starting gun. Diners (and media) take your marks.

Download Landmarc_TWC_Opening_Release.doc

Download Landmarc_TWC_Dinner_Menu.doc

Download Marc_Murphy_Bio.doc

hotsnack: charity is the new black

I think everyone should have a favorite charity, particularly those with a voice and the resources to affect change. I plug the Food Bank for NYC  at every chance, shamelessly evoking the names of celebrities like The Edge and Christy Turlington. Today I lend my pixels to Mademoiselle Strong de la Buzz  and her cause célèbre Dining for Darfur 2007. Download Dining_For_Darfur_2007.doc for all the details on how to participate (as a hosting restaurant or a consumer) in the global event on April 29th.

hotsnack: what's an experimental cuisine collective?

I don't really have time to post today because I'll be spending the afternoon with the Experimental Cuisine Collective. Qu'est-ce que c'est? I'm not really sure either. There will be chefs (Goldfarb & Dufresne) and scientists (This & Margolskee) and a workshop after-party. Beyond that, I've no idea. But I like surprises, and after all, Wednesday is anything can happen day.

hotsnack: popping Balthazar's cork, video edition

As you ease back into your blog browsing after the long weekend, perhaps you've seen all the coverage on Balthazar's 10th Anniversary Champagne giveaway (press release after the jump) on April 23^rd?  And have you noted the recent proliferation of video posts? Snack is but a petit bookmark in the blogosphere, admittedly minimalist in design. But if snack were a big production with tech resources, I would have the video team at Balthazar at 7:30 am when they pop that first bottle and start pouring the Champagne Gardet Premier Cru, Balthazar 10-year Anniversary Cuvée Brut NV to the breakfast crowd. Balthazar + Free Champagne = Bubbly Mayhem. Who among you will be the first to roll video tape?