Despite the rain, the crowds poured in at Citymeals-on-Wheels Chef's Tribute fundraiser in Rockefeller Center last night. This year's theme -- Crème de la Crème, a tribute to the great French masters, many of whom were in attendance. As one might expect, honoring the world's best French chefs includes a large quantity of foie gras, caviar, duck, and truffles, and America's top chefs certainly put them all to good use. Each chef prepared two dishes:......

This Monday, June 16th, America's world-renowned French chefs are descending upon Rockefeller Center for Crème de la Crème, Citymeals-on-Wheels Chefs’ Tribute fundraiser to honor the legendary masters of French cooking. Each star chef will cook two dishes -- a classic recipe from one of the masters and an innovative creation of their own. New Yorkers including David Bouley, Daniel Boulud, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten will be joined by DC's Michel Richard, and San Fran's Traci Des......

There's been confirmation that the Red Hook ball field vendors will be starting their season on April 28th. We're keeping our fingers crossed for warmer weather by then. [via Porkchop Express]Jean Georges Vongerichten is in the process of transforming 66 from upscale Chinese to (presumably) upscale Japanese, with an emphasis on soba noodles. Once the metamorphosis is complete, it will be known as Matsu Gen. [via NYT]Crif Dogs is opening a "secret" bar next door......

Bruni hits Jean Georges' "fringe players," Mercer Kitchen and Vong. Between the two, Vong emerges victorious with one star: "you keep wondering if the food they deliver is really as it should be and all that it could be, if the restaurant is receiving Mr. Vongerichten’s most considered judgments . . ." while Mercer Kitchen rates a mere "satisfactory": Bruni calls their menu an "ethnically indistinct assortment of dishes with enough pro forma salads and......

Well, one vacant restaurant at the Time Warner Center filled, one to go! Today's Times brings the announcement that one of the more famously vacant restaurant spaces in the city has been filled. After the failure of Jean Georges Vongerichten's V Steakhouse, not to mention the no-show of the originally called for Charlie Trotter restaurant, there has been a fair amount of interest in who would come next. And now we know that the answer......

The eagerly anticipated 66 is reviewed by Williams Grimes. It's pretty positive, with the last lines being: They are to the traditional fortune cookie what the hundred dollar bill is to the single. The fortunes, of course, are printed on heavy stock. From beginning to end, the production values at 66 are top-of-the-line. Sometimes the food is too. The 66 cocktail......