Wednesday Food News: Early Edition

This week Bruni goes to Max Brenner, the fictional chocolatier (chain is owned by two businessmen, Max Fichtman and Odel Brenner). Awards no stars, calls it "a mass market endeavor as gimmicky as Planet Hollywood. It’s Planet Valrhona, a vaux artisanal juggernaut." He tries the non-dessert offerings; finds them weak. Then it’s on to the desserts, which "lack the richness or sharpness that great chocolate has."

Also in the Times, Peter Meehan visits Fette Sau in Brooklyn for barbeque. He likes the drinks better than the food; says "there are real rewards for the inquisitive imbiber." As for the food? Meehan's advice is to look over the meat before ordering, stick to the ones that look moist and fatty, and bring your own barbeque sauce. Or you could just go somewhere else.

Steve Cuozzo at the Post laments the practice of gunning for Zagat ratings using restaurant email lists. Although some restaurateurs argue that they only use email lists to advertise openings or specials, some admit that they have used them to encourage patrons to complete a Zagat survey.

And Paul Adams visits Amalia for the NY Sun. Finds the pan-Mediterranean restaurant "simultaneously sensible, inspired and delicious." He loves everything on the menu but the desserts, especially the more complicated dishes, but doesn’t love the loud music.