Yesterday Gawker posted about a little-known LES space that, if you know the secret handshake, will open its doors to you. Once inside you'll find a reception room, a capacious old theater space... even fishtanks. The night Gawker stumbled in they found a band playing, and in booze-induced wonderment, took a short video clip. The clip was included in the post yesterday but now both have disappeared, becoming as mysterious as this secret club itself!......

Untitled Photo of Lunar New Year Parade, NYC, by Raymond Haddad at flickr Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an officer struck on 42nd St. and 8th Ave. in Manhattan, a bomb threat on 76th St. and Amsterdam Ave. in Manhattan, and a shooting on Mayfair Dr. in Brooklyn. Don't speed (108 m.p.h.), at night (2:30 a.m.), while drunk (.113 BAC), while tailgating and driving erratically, on an urban highway (Staten Island Expressway.) One young......

New Yorkers may be outraged about the city's attempted regulation of trans fats and mandated calorie posting, but at least our local government isn't going as far as their counterparts in Mississippi. Local legislators are trying to make it illegal for restaurants to serve food to obese patrons to combat the state's high obesity rate; approximately two-thirds of the state's residents are obese according to federal health statistics. Alan Richman, food critic at Bloomberg, has......

After Page Six alluded to The Gansevoort Hotel staff as being just a tad anti-semitic, the hotel retorted saying that the incident on New Year's Eve that led to the allegation was a misunderstanding. Their side of the story includes having to kick out a yarmulke-less (and apparently racist) "ill-behaved boyfriend of a member of Kid ['I love Jewish people'] Rock's PR team." Today Grub Street asked "which member of Kid Rock’s PR team brought......

Mike Huckabee, featured in a profile in Sunday's New York Times magazine, chose to eat at T.G.I.Friday's when given a choice of lunch spots in Manhattan. The author vetoed his choice, and they ended up at his second choice, the Olive Garden. Politics aside, that's reason enough for us not to vote for the guy. Then again, we're pretty impressed that he lost over 100 pounds and runs marathons despite eating such crap. Gael Greene......

Spanish ibérico ham used to be banned in the United States because of USDA restrictions. However, as part of a newish approval process, the first shipments of the stuff arrived last week at New York stores Despaña and Dean & DeLuca. The former is selling free range sliced ibérico at $90-$99 a pound, and the latter has some of the fancier bellota ham at $75 a pound. More ibérico ham is on the way- in......

Bon Appétit , in an attempt to appeal to a broader, younger, and theoretically "hipper" audience, has recently revamped its logo. Taunting came in full force, via Grub Street, who concluded, "[t]he truth is that Bon Appétit will never be any hipper or friskier than it is, because no magazine about upscale entertaining can ever speak to people that don’t have big houses and plenty of time on their hands." Adam Roberts, the Amateur Gourmet,......

Attention Pacific Northwest: New Yorkers don't care about your cuisine. None of Jeffrey Chodorow's blogging, full page ads in the Times or other theatrics could save Wild Salmon from its imminent closure. After Eater circulated news of its potential doom, Chodorow issued a statement, published on Grub Street, "Regrettably, we will be closing Wild Salmon after the new year. We were excited about bringing the food and wine of the Pacific Northwest to New York,......

There’s activity over at the old Jade Mountain space on East 12th, the restaurant with the iconic neon CHOW MEIN sign. Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York (via Eater) reports that an on-scene workman offered up this tidbit: “It’s going to be a restaurant.” Jade Mountain closed earlier this year after much-missed owner Reginald Chan was struck by a vehicle while delivering food. Here’s a photo of the restaurant’s landmark sign taken by reader Jay Jaffe: Red,......

Le Cirque owner Sirio Maccioni made big news recently by dropping $7,000 on a single white truffle, telling the Post, “Once in a while, you have to be crazy.” Indeed, the highly coveted tubers – which at Le Cirque are often shaved sparingly onto pastas or used for tortellini filling – are known to drive chefs and gourmands mad with ecstasy. (Melissa Hom, who took the above photo for Grub Street, snapped a hilarious......

Bruni ponders the differences between the outdoor dining cultures of New York and Europe: "they eat outdoors because it’s pretty. We eat outdoors even though it’s not." He revisits the issue in the Diner's Journal as he was innundated with email in response. Although many agree with his take on the issue, some did not: "I’ve lived both in New York and in Europe, and I admit, the distinctions you’ve made in your article are......

What’s worth watching on food-TV this week? Tonight on No Reservations (10pm on the Travel Channel), Bourdain goes to South Carolina. He’s also got an upcoming holiday special that features Queens of the Stone Age (wearing Christmas sweaters from QVC, no less). We can’t wait for that one. Read about it in ">Rolling Stone. On Top Chef, Episode 12 airs Wednesday at 10pm (Bravo). The guest judges are Sirio Maccioni and Andre Soltner. Grub Street......

As Grub Street and others reported yesterday, a letter written last Thursday by Senator Chuck Schumer to Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Friedman may have prevented the forcible closure of the Red Hook Ball Field food vendors this past weekend. While this seems to be a small victory for the food purveyors, doubt remains whether the operating season for the newly food safety-certified vendors will end just after Labor Day, or at the end......

Despite Meatopia IV's downright pagan theme, Slaughter of the Innocents, which involved spit roasted kid goat and suckling pig as well as the consumption of copious amounts of other young animal flesh, the good lord chose to spare the soul of Mr. Cutlets, aka Josh Ozersky, and the band of meat-crazed revelers that came out Tuesday night to Water Taxi Beach to celebrate Josh's 40th birthday. Meatopia has grown to be something of the......

What’s worth watching, food-wise, on TV this week? Tonight on No Reservations (10pm on the Travel Channel), Bourdain goes to French Polynesia. Serious Eats reviews the series—and his trip to Brazil—here. On Top Chef, Episode 9 airs Wednesday at 10pm (Bravo). This week, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian is the guest judge. On last week’s episode, no one was eliminated. Grub Street hates it when everyone makes nice. We agree: it doesn’t make very good television. And......

Last night food blogger Andrea Strong played the role of her (really mean) self in the Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef. She was there as an "undercover blogger," an accurate title given by Padma - as Strong got less screen-time than random walk-ins. The competition split the contestants into two teams each with the task of creating a restaurant. Strong gave comments about the decor, service and meals that were read aloud during the......

Manhattan User's Guide offers up suggestions for budget-priced bubbly. Restaurant Girl is probably celebrating with a glass of bubbly about her new gig as the Daily News restaurant critic, but will her lack of anonymity make for special treatment? Only time will tell. Midtown Lunch serves up an installment of Downtown Lunch, courtesy of the Feisty Foodie. Grub Street is making us panic about the future of the Red Hook Vendors. Aaaack! Vegansexual? Seriously? Got......

This week on food-related TV, we’ve got: Tonight on No Reservations (10pm on the Travel Channel), Bourdain goes to Brazil. For a critical take on the show—you’re basically just watching a guy eat and it’s boring—read the Post here. Episode 8 of Top Chef airs Wednesday at 10pm (Bravo). Daniel Boulud is the guest judge this week. Read EW’s wrapup of the previous episode here. Last week NY’s final representative on the show, Sara, got......

A commenter asked us about Yushi recently -- although we haven't been, Zach at Midtown Lunch has checked it out and finds it to be more style than substance. Reader Adam turned us on to a blog focusing on a subject near and dear to our hearts as well as our bellies: ILuvPork.com. Manhattan Users Guide slams LES pan-Latin newcomer, Rayeula: "This kitchen is unable to put their mise en place in its place, incapable......

In case you missed it, earlier this week, Rebecca Charles, owner of Pearl Oyster Bar, filed an intellectual property suit against former sous-chef Ed McFarland, alleging that he had stolen recipes and design ideas when he opened his new restaurant, Ed's Lobster Bar. Here's what has gone down since then. Ed held a press conference. Grub Street describes Ed's response: “I am deeply saddened to learn that Rebecca Charles has brought an action against me,”......

Restaurants vs. Bloggers -- the smackdown. Shouts go out to New York locals NYCNosh, Ed Levine, and the Amateur Gourmet. [The Food Section] We adore lambrusco -- now Vino and I Trulli are carrying a rare line of lambruscos fermented in the bottle, champagne-style. [Grub Street] Morandi -- now serving breakfast. [Eater] Why are there only two restaurants on Roosevelt Island? Could it be the work of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation? [NYCNosh] The Smoke......

As we mentioned earlier this week, the vendors who set up shop at the Red Hook ballfields may be at risk for losing their permit. According to the New York Times, the vendors have operated for years under a series of temporary use permits, but now they will have to place a formal bid with the city in order to remain in the space. But the vendors are not guaranteed to win this bid, so......

Has DiFara been shuttered by the DOH? A tipster saw a telltale yellow sign slapped up. Sigh. [Eater] Zak Pelaccio has left the building at 5 Ninth, leaving Dan Parilla at the helm. [Mouthing Off] More crappy news -- could it possibly be the last summer of the Red Hook ball fields vendors? Put on your community action hat and write a letter to the Parks Commissioner, stat. [Grub Street] Get ready for the 5th......

Hate airport food? Well, if you're flying out of JFK, they've just opened a Balducci's in Terminal 2. We're also partial to the Cibo Express in Terminal 6, pictured at right. [New Yorkology] What happens when you mix chefs, booze, fire, and egos? A mess, some broken glass, and an accidental stabbing. Seems that Marco Pierre White was demonstrating a flaming Sambuca trick to Mario Batali, Tony Bourdain and others at the Spotted Pig when......

We got ourselves a note in the inbox from the folks who run the Big Apple BBQ to let us know that Bubba FastPasses are currently on sale from now till May 25 for the June 9 & 10 event. Gothamist was all over this event last year; look for more great coverage and photos coming up soon. This year should provide a bit of a pre-show glimpse of what local pitmaster Robbie Richter has......

May 19: Taste of Tribeca It's time for the 13th annual Taste of Tribeca, with tasting plates from Tribeca restaurants including Chanterelle, Bouley, The Harrison, Tribeca Grill, Megu, Mai House and Blaue Gans. The proceeds will got to support arts and enrichment programs for the kids at Tribeca's public elementary schools, P.S. 234 and P.S. 150, who have illustrated the new “Taste of Tribeca Cookbook” ($15), which will be on sale at the event.......

Off the Broiler gets an early peek at Marco Canora and Paul Greico's Insieme, complete with excellent food porn. Only have 36 hours in NYC? Love wine? Dr. Vino has got the perfect itinerary for you, including stops at not-to-be-missed wine bars, wine shops, restaurants, and even a "vinotherapy" spa. The boys from Thrillist serve up some boozy all-you-can-drink brunch options. Grub Street fuels the rumor mill surrounding an upcoming collaboration between Drew Nieporent and......

The newest addition to the Two Boots Pizza empire is set to open on Sunday on the Lower East Side. [Grub Street] Top Chef season one contestant LeAnn Wong was spotted dining at Momofuku Ssam Bar and dishes that she's going to be a producer on the show next season. [FoodCandy] Want a career in the culinary arts but can't afford it? The James Beard Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2007 scholarship program.......

The kind of attention being paid to ramp season has reached a fever pitch usually reserved for depraved celebrity gossip. Last season, after food blogger Augie enjoyed a pizza at Otto topped with ramps and a fried egg, several readers rushed over to the restaurant in attempt to order the same, and were promptly shut down by a noncompliant waitstaff. This year, Gothamist was shocked by a heaping side order of ramp greens at Telepan,......

- "The first rule of Milk Club is you don’t talk about Milk Club. The second rule of Milk Club is you do not talk about Milk Club." The Brooklyn Paper explores the raw milk movement in Brooklyn. - On his blog, Bruni illustrates how even the big time muckity-mucks can't get a reservation at "hot" restaurants without some investigation into how big time they actually are. - Tables for Two visits Rosanjin and explores......