Savory Tidbits: Restaurant News and Views for NYC, San Francisco, Chicago and LA

Savory One-sheet: June 14-27

We're just back from two weeks in SF and Napa Valley where we visited over 30 new restaurants and will soon be posting videos for many of our recommended top choices for eating in the Bay Area.

// This Week on Savory New York //

Elliot Ryan files an update on great wines for the season with a look at the sparkling Italian wine Lambrusco. Ryan makes the case that this fun, refreshing wine makes a great alternative to the more common wines you're likely to see at the beach and in the park this summer. Read the article to find out where to try Lambrusco in NYC.

// Recently Opened //

• Forge - Marc Forgione, the son of celebrated American chef Larry Forgione, strikes out on his own in TriBeCa with his "laid-back     yet high-style approach to New American cuisine."
• Matsugen - Jean-Georges Vongerichten teams up with the Matsushita family of Japan to present authentic Tokyo cuisine in the old 66 space. 
• James - Dining in Prospect Heights just keeps getting better and better. Husband and wife team Bryan Calvert (formerly of Bouley and Union Pacific) and Deborah Williamson are serving European-influenced seasonal New American cuisine.
• Parlor Steakhouse - A new steakhouse and raw bar on the Upper East Side from the owners of the BB&R bar around the corner.
• Alloro - a new traditional Italian restaurant with "a modern flair" on East 77th Street from the chef/owner of Cacio e Pepe, Spiga and Bocca.

//This Week's Restaurant Reviews //

• The New York Times: Frank Bruni heads to the popular new wine bars, Gottino and Terroir, and finds "carefully sourced and thoughtfully prepared" food that warrants 1 star for each. 
• New York Magazine: Gael Greene calls Hundred Acres a "worthy work-in-progress."
• The New York Sun: Paul Adams has high expectations for Bar Milano and ends up being disappointed. "Either it will shape up in forthcoming months, or it can be taken as a sign that loud, clumsy, and crowded is just what its creators want Bar Milano to be."
• New York Daily News: RG can hardly contain herself so likes Scarpetta so much."So many chefs in New York are busy serving arguments. Conant serves conclusions."

// Blogs and Newsletters //

• Snack reports that season five of Top Chef will be shot in NYC.
• Kathy Chan over at Serious Eats files a report on NYC's top ice cream sandwiches.
• Sometimes meals at restaurants with big names don't go as swimmingly as one would hope. Augieland documents a Father's Day travesty at Fromagerie in New Jersey.

// Upcoming Events //

What do Alice Waters, Mario Batali and Dan Barber have in common? They're all supporting the creation of the New Amsterdam Market at South Street Seaport. The third meeting of the market convenes tomorrow and brings together dozens of supporting producers, distributors, chefs and other advocates. Find more information here.

Terroir Wine Bar is celebrating its first annual Summer of Riesling Festival. The summer long celebration will explore "all that is great about this grape and its wines." Paul Greico and company will explore the entire world of Riesling, from its German roots to its manifestations in Austria, Alsace, Australia and Canada.

Live blogging the James Beard Awards

Wow, what a night. Last night we had the honor of helping the James Beard Foundation live blog this years awards at Lincoln Center. We were joined by a group of extremely talented bloggers who shared a wide range of fascinating perspectives on the night. Visit the James Beard Foundation web site to read behind the scenes reports from Snack, Julie Powell, The Paupered Chef and Dr. Vino.

You can also catch our short videos from the red carpet with Snack interviewing the likes of Tom Colicchio (Craft), Jose Andres (Cafe Atlantico), Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern), Wylie Dufresne (wd-50), David Chang (Momofuku Ssam Bar), Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill & Topolobampo), Yosuke Suga (L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon) and Bruce Sherman (North Pond).

Update: Check out our awards ticket giveaway winner Grace hobnobbing with Tom Colicchio on her blog, Gracenotes.

Big Apple BBQ Block Party: Get to Know Your Pitmasters

The line up for this year's Big Apple BBQ Block Party was recently announced and it looks like it will be another great year of choice barbecue offered up by some of the barbecue world's finest pitmasters.

The event will be held, as always, in Madison Square Park. It will run from noon to 6pm on Saturday, June 7th and Sunday, June 8. Crowd surfing is free, but sampling the goods will cost $8 a shot.

Hardcore 'cue fans will want to pick up a FastPass soon. They're $100 each and are available to American Express cardholders. FastPass in hand, you'll be able to jump on the express lines and spare yourself the sometimes hour long waits to get fed. Get full details at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party web site.

Watch our short video interviews from the 2007 BABBP to get a flavor of what will be served up this year.

Mike Mills of 17th St Bar & Grill from Murphysboro, Illinois

Ed Mitchell of Mitchell's BBQ from Wilson, North Carolina

Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson's from Decatur, Alabama

Garry Roark of Ubon's BBQ from Yazoo City, Mississippi

Michael Rodriguez of Salt Lick from Driftwood, Texas

Jimmy Haygood of Black Jack from Charleston, South Carolina

Kenny Callaghan of Blue Smoke in New York City

Dinosaur BBQ, Hill Country and Rack & Soul of NYC will also be serving great BBQ this year.

Cool USC Beer Event: Beer Lore with Brooklyn Brewery's Garrett Oliver

Photo credit: mtkr on flickr

If you're a big time beer lover and are looking for a good excuse to play hooky on what will likely be a beautiful summer day you won't want to miss this one.

Garrett Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, author of The Brewmaster's Table, and seriously passionate beer advocate, will talk about the history and lore of beer  at this June's Union Square Cafe Morning Market Meeting.

I had the pleasure of hearing to Garrett speak at this year's Good Experience Live conference at the Times Center. He is a thoroughly engaging speaker and all around fun guy.

The event will be held at Union Square Cafe and runs from 8 to 10:15am on Wednesday, June 25th. Tickets are $60pp and will get you a nice sampling of beers, coffee, muffins and some face time with USHG honcho Danny Meyer and NYC's biggest beer advocate. As of this afternoon tickets are still available but they'll go fast so call 646-747-0581 to reserve today.

Top Chefs at Asia Society Tonight to Discuss Challenges, Aspirations and Kitchen / Camera Balance

Tonight the Asia Society in New York will host a panel of rising Asian culinary experts to discuss their recent works, books, and projects. The program, part of Asia Society’s Asian Food Series, will highlight cooking traditions from various parts of Asia, and their influence here in the United States.

Featured on the panel are Hung Huynh, Season 3 “Top Chef” winner; Vikas Khanna, Chef/Owner of Purniman Restaurant and Café at Rubin Museum of Art; Lee Ann Wong, Executive Chef at the French Culinary Institute and Irene Wong, Producer of IW Productions.  Mr. James Oseland, Editor in Chief of Saveur Magazine, will moderate. A food tasting will follow after the discussion.

Details:
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Asia Society
725 Park Avenue @ 70th Street
New York City
Registration: 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Discussion: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Reception: 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: https://tickets.asiasociety.org $15 for students and members; $30 for nonmembers