nyfood

Some questions and observations about the new James Beard Exec Director. She lives in Orlando and intends to stay there but she will be spending a significant amount of time here. Her background is Red Lobster. Can she know the white tablecloth constituency of James Beard? (She does serve on the Board of CIA). In an interview she told me that her primary concern is to restore fiscal responsibility and institute a ethics policy. Also, she wants to broaden the impact of the organization and increase educational outreach. Danny Meyer thinks she's the bees knees and he is "especially heartened that the Foundation selected someone from outside the fine dining community." Is her appointment an "enlightened move" that brings "instant credibility, competence and presence to an institution that needs and deserves healing and superior leadership," as Meyer says.

OK, this is for real: What’s in a name? Depends if you’re a viral infection or a new lower east side restaurant. EMedicine lists Epstein-Barr as acute infectious mononucleosis. However, Epstein's Bar on Stanton and Allen is a new burger joint/bar opened by Eric McMannes . Could this be the beginning of disease named restaurants? Lupus Lounge? That's why I always avoid Italian restaurants that begin with Il this or that.

The NY Times also added its comment on the closing of Le Cirque. Eric Asimov was impressed by the food but felt the restaurant peaked in the '80s and since then "... the central importance of Le Cirque has diminished, gracefully but inexorably. " The New York Times Diner's Journal 12/31/04 Eric Asimov I interviewed Sirio Maccioni 10 days before closing and he was "sad and mad" that he once again couldn't settle differences with hotel management and has to pack up all those monkey sculptures and pictures and memorabilia (not to mention the quarter million dollar stoves) and start over again. He is an innovator and a survivor. The new Le Cirque should resemble the original Mayfair Hotel Le Cirque. They hope to open by Labor Day of this year.