There are a number of restaurants opening in 2008 that we've been eagerly awaiting and we thought we'd highlight some that particularly piqued our interest and have us drooling in anticipation. John Dory -- this new meatpacking seafood spot comes from Spotted Pig owner Ken Friedman and Partner/Executive Chef April Bloomfield. Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich are also partners, not to mention neighbors. Sara Ochs will serve as the Chef de Cuisine. It is designed......

On any given night, visitors to The Stanton Social may encounter Executive Chef-Owner Chris Santos making his post-rush rounds through the dining room, or they might not: Problem is that the rush at the restaurant, which can feed (between its bar, lounge, and dining room) up to 200 people at a clip, sometimes just doesn’t let up. The 36 year-old Santos, who says he “feels 39,” is known for food that ditches ornate, mother-sauce heavy......

A bit of breaking food news: Doug Psaltis has left the Executive Chef position at Country restaurant after three years. Word has it that the 33 year-old chef has parted ways with chef/owner Geoffrey Zakarian to pursue other restaurant plans. While there’s no official word from the chef yet, chances are his next kitchen won’t be doing molecular gastronomy: Psaltis told Metromix in September that “I think we are getting too far away from our......

BENEFIT: Tonight catch a special performance by Alanis Morissette, while rubbing elbows with Matt Dillon...all for a good cause! The inaugural fundraising benefit for the Adrienne Shelly Foundation will be held this evening, and you can get in with a ticket from $150 to...well, $10,000 bucks. You'll be supporting the late Shelly's foundation which "supports the artistic achievements of female actors, writers and directors through a series of scholarships and grants." 6pm // Skirball Center......

Graffiti: Pastry Chef Jehangir Mehta, who has spent time at Aix, Jean Georges, Vong, and Union Pacific, takes a stab at the world of the savory. He has opened a restaurant and bakery in the East Village with a "global bistro comfort food" menu. Offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, Graffiti serves up baked goods, coffee and tea, and a dinner menu where the dishes range in size from "nibbles" to "all mine." For the kicker, the......

BarFry: Sumile's Josh DeChellis is bringing New York our first ever tempura bar. Not only will he be perfectly battering and frying fresh veggies, seafood, and meat and serving them up with his signature dipping sauces (wasabi remoulade and pickled jalapeno soy, to name a few), but he'll be offering made-to-order tempura Po Boys. Wash everything down with Gaijin Pale Ale from Oregon's Rogue Brewery, made especially for BarFry. And -- they deliver in the......

Aurora Soho -- This Williamsburg joint has made it across the bridge. Executive Chef Riccardo Buitoni of Piedmont, Italy, brings his Slow Food passion to Manhattanites with an Italian menu and wine list. You'll find some of the Williamsburg favorites on the menu, like 10-hour slow roasted pork belly, and burrata with shaved grey mullet bottarga and agrumato oil, but there are a few newcomers for the new location -- castelmagno cheese raviolini and baby......

May 3: Cheezapolooza III: Naked vs Cooked Nolita House hosts cheese gurus Waldemar & Nadia as they feature six of spring's best artisanal cheese both unadulterated and then all hot and melty. Nibbles include Piave Vecchio and Pancetta Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches; Mini Valdeon Blue Cheese Burgers on Brioche and Four Year Aged Gouda Mini Mac & Cheese. You'll get drink tickets for a glass of wine or beer selected to pair with the each......

SoHo standby Lucky Strike has brought on a new Executive Chef, Wen Chen, formerly of Odeon and Papillon. To celebrate his arrival, during the week of May 6-10, he'll be preparing a special 3-course prix fixe menu, which will change daily, including an appetizer, entrée and the "Lucky Lemonade" a cocktail comprised of Ketel One Citron, lemonade, cranberry juice and mint. The luck continues at the end of your meal, when you'll pick a number......

March 22: World Water Day As we've mentioned before, today is World Water Day. Over 290 local restaurants are participating in the Tap Project -- just fork up $1 for the tap water that's usually gratis and UNICEF will donate that money to help provide clean drinking water to children around the world. March 24: Spring Cooking Class Join Executive Chef Franck Deletrain from Café Centro to learn how to prepare a menu focusing on......

March 19 - March 30: Dine in Brooklyn Sample nearly 200 of the borough’s best at $21.12, honoring Brooklyn’s zip code, ‘112’, for three courses. Read more about it here. March 20: Waldemar and Nadia at Vin Noir Cheesemongers Waldemar and Nadia are pairing up with Vin Noir owner Todd Flatham for a night of cheese and wine pairings, with a beer thrown in for good measure. Offerings include a unique Austrian red, La Meule,......

Doug Psaltis wants to cook dinner for you at Country, especially if you happen to be dining by yourself. “The minimum for a chef’s tasting menu is one person,” he says. “If you come in here, I will cook for you.” It sounds like a threat. Psaltis explains: “It happens once or twice a week. I’m excited for single diners; they’re not here for the company, they come here for the food and wine.” He......

November 3: Chocolate and Dessert Wine Seminar Two award winners paired with two sinful delights -- what could be better? James Beard Pastry Chef of the Year, Jacques Torres and James Beard Sommelier of the Year, Jean Luc Le Du join forces for these seminars focusing on chocolate and dessert wine. Three seminars at 6:30, 7:00 and 7:30, at Le Du's Wines, 600 Washington St between Morton and Leroy. $25. Seating is limited and reservations......

October 26: The Caffeine Question Get a buzz at this upcoming class at Joe, The Art of Coffee, where Head Barista Erin Meister will guide you through a tasting of coffees with levels of caffeine. Learn how the type of coffee bean and brewing method affect a beverage's caffeine level, and discover the many misconceptions about caffeine. Reservations are required: call 212-924-7400, or e-mail joecoffeestore@aol.com. 7:30 PM, 141 Waverly Place at Gay Street, $10. October......

Back when we were little, we once ate lunch at the automat. We remember how cool it was to see all the food lined up in little cubicles, waiting for someone to pop in a quarter (or two). What we don't remember, however, was the food itself. Most likely, this is due to the fact that the food was just that: unmemorable. But the reputation of automat food is about to change. Enter Bamn!, scheduled......

Now through the end of July: Summer Clam Bake at Savoy Savoy is bringing the beach to the city with their three course Summer Clam Bake. Enjoy littleneck clams on the half shell, a traditional boil with lobster, mussels, kielbasa, potatoes, and corn, and finish off with dessert, a peach and blueberry crumble topped with house made buttermilk ice cream. $40 per person, or an extra $15 will give you a bottomless glass of rose.......

January 12: Restaurants from the Inside Out Hear about what makes a restaurant a hit or a flop from three experts who know, some from personal experience, like Rocco DiSpirito. He joins author Calvin Trillin and egullet.com founder Steven Shaw at this panel, moderated by WNYC's Leonard Lopate. For more information call 212-415-5500. $25 tickets available online. 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave at 92nd St., 8pm. January 12: Whym Opens The folks behind Eatery......

April 16th: Brewtopia World Beer Festival. This brewfest features unlimited samples from over 300 of the world's finest craft beers. Who can resist? If you're still wavering, you might want to know that the event's organizers will be making a donation to Citymeals-on-wheels, which provides hand-delivered meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers. Convinced yet? Tickets for each session are available online at www.brewtopiafest.com or by phone at 877-772-5425 and are $40 in advance and $50......