Dave Martin of Top Chef season onem I'm not your bitch, bitch fame is reading his place, Crave On 42nd St, near 12th Ave. A bit further west than you're used to, probably, but remember when MePa was considered far? It's only a matter of time...

Expect Martin's signaure flare to influence not just the American menu, but the decor and design of Crave as well. Word is he was hands on in everything from choosing the color palate to deciding on which American classic plays on the movie screen above the bar.  As long as his hands are also preparing his crazy good truffle mac and cheese, he can do whatever else he wants. 

 

Kevin Dubrow, the lead singer of Quiet Riot just died, and yet nobody has made the "Condition Critical" joke yet. See, that was the title of the band's second major label album, and it's "ironic" given Dubrow's passing...

Eh, it always sucks when someone dies. While QR had little connection to New York, you can make a case that the band popularized heavy metal in the 80s, which means it's sorta relevant to everyone. Was that a good thing? Probably not, although as a former metalhead, I can remember buying "Condition Critical" and "Metal Health" and thinking that...there were maybe three good songs on them total (and two were Slade covers).

Also, Kevin's all over that VH1 Classic documentary "Metal", which has rerun numerous times (including this past weekend). Anyway, RIP, Mr. Dubrow.

  

Home of the Japanese Kaiseki tradition of eating, every meal at Rosanjin is thoughtfully prepared and served.

 
 

From the position of the water glass to the size of the sushi, everything is precise and perfect.  Rosanjin recently announced they will be open for lunch  - offering four lunch choices, only one being the longer Kaiseki variety. This place has long been a celeb fave for catering and takeout for the midday meal, and now that their silk screened doors are open for lunch, expect many a celebrity sighting to come.

Taken at 6:40pm last night, just an hour into operations at Momofuku's new location.

Upon exit at around 8pm, David Chang was MIA but  it seemed like fried sweetbreads were making their way to every table. 

Overheard at Irving Mill:
A cocky captain boasting to a visiting Kerry Heffernan - who was recently the toque at Danny Meyer’s 11 Madison Park and is scheduled to head the kitchen at 154 South Gate - that Gael Green was recently in, sat at a table in the front tap room, and actually wrote the review for New York Magazine. Most likely it was the piece that appears in this week’s issue, in which Green talks of her experience at the recent Irving Mill hosted Friends & Family.  He referred to it often as a review; maybe he hasn’t seen it yet?
To be expected from a captain who only moment earlier snickered at novice wine customers who agreed happily when their waitress offered new robust wine glasses in place of chintzy skinny ones.  “Those are for Bordeaux”. Even so, let the people drink! We know you know more than us, which is why you are the captain and we the customers. But be cool man, no need to snort.
 
As for Heffernan, he was soon greeted by Chef John Schaefer (also a fellow Meyer alum, he from Gramercy Tavern) and they talked of the coming opening of 154 South Gate, the restaurant that will take over the Cafe Botanica space in the Essex House Hotel which is being designed by celebrated designer Tony Chi. Schaefer and his crew are practically living at the Mill, having been only open 10 days and still with lots of kinks to work out. A few of those kinks: bland chicken liver crostini, overcooked duck, 20 minute waits for dessert, oh and that jackass captain.