Today: Danny Meyer's Shake Shack re-opens. People are all in a tizzy about this place. We have to admit, we like the burgers at the Burger Joint more, but we haven't tried the famed dogs and custard yet. It's only open from 11-4 through April, but extended hours start May 1st. Madison Square Park, Southeast Corner.
April 5: Take A Bite Out of the Big Apple. This event, featuring Marco Canora of Hearth, Ed Witt of Il Buco, and Galen Zamarra of Mas (farmhouse) among others, is a benefit for Farm to Chef Express, which brings the freshest produce from New York State's farmers directly to the kitchens of New York City chefs. For tickets, which are $100, contact Kerry Strassel at 212-692-1381 or k.strassel@cornellclubnyc.com. Cornell Club, 6 East 44th Street, 6:30-8:30 pm.
April 11: Pinot and Pork. Okay, this is the best-sounding event ever. Not only do you get to taste six of the world's best wines made from the pinot noir grape, but at the same time you can chow down some of the finest swine in town. Eat pork dishes (many featuring Niman Ranch pork) from Brasserio Caviar & Banana, Daisy May's BBQ U.S.A., Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and En Japanese Brasserie, among others. Tickets are $65 ($55 for Slow Food members) and benefit Slow Food USA, a non-profit educational organization celebrating regional food and wine traditions from all over the world. 6:30-8:30pm, Ruby Falls, 609 West 29th Street.
April 14th: The 5th Annual Taste of the Lower East Side. Featuring 36 local restaurants including Gothamist favorites 'Inoteca, Kuma Inn, Prune, Public, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, and WD-50, this event benefits the youth programs of the Grand Street Settlement, which serve 2,400 children between the ages of 8 and 18. Tickets, which start at $100, can be purchased online. For more information visit www.grandstreet.org/taste or call 646-201-4207. Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts, 172 Norfolk Street (between E. Houston and Stanton Streets), 7-11 pm.





Ewwww. Danny Meyer. His food sux. You ever go to blue smoke?!?!? it is terrible. you order ribs and they simply are NOT authentic. BOOOOO to danny. He is crap. Danny is the Gourmet of McDonalds and nothing more. on that note i will go to his crappy french spot for some Foie Gras. ugggg....
duh. obviously you've never been to union square cafe, gramercy tavern or table, all of which are amazing. he got involved with blue smoke b/c of his brother to save the jazz standard, not typical of the quality of his restaurants.
Hmm. I haven't been yet, but I'm apprehensive about them having modeled their frozen custard on one from Saint Louis. Milwaukee has the best custard! Hello ... McFly, it's THE DAIRY STATE.
i have been to blue smoke and the 11 madison. i would be up to try his other "masterpieces" if i wasnt so burnt at the price of mediocrity/terribleness. in time i will forgive but he should in fact watch what he puts his name on. creating/managing/branding restaurants that bastardize yummy food styles is just not cool. sorry if u differ
I've had nice experiences at all of Danny Meyer's restaurants, save the new MoMA one (I've not been yet).
I'm totally looking forward to Pinot and Pork.
Not to channel marty markowitz or anything, but you forgot to mention that April 11-20 is Brooklyn Restaurant Week. Curiously it's not on the Borough President's website yet, but I got a mailing with the restaurant list over the weekend. It includes lots of favorites like Chestnut, Applewood, Blue Ribbon and 360. Hopefully the list will be up soon.
the pumpkin pie custard at the shake shack is heaven in a cup.