Kitchen Dish
FROZEN CAFFEINE Pinkberry has added a third flavor. Fans of the tart frozen dessert chain can now have coffee yogurt — on its own or swirled with plain yogurt, at all of its locations. The green tea and original flavors are still available, too. The Los Angeles-based chain has also added a new topping: chestnuts.
PLAZA TAKEOVER Arthur Emil, the chief executive of Night Sky Holdings, which founded Windows on the World (which was situated at the top of the World Trade Center) and the Rainbow Room, will take over the classic Oak Room and Oak Bar at the Plaza (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, 212-588-8000), according to a report in the New York Post. No chef has been named. The landmark Plaza Hotel closed its doors in 2005 to be converted to condominiums.
EAST SIDE BITES Cafe Notte (1626 Second Ave., between 84th and 85th streets, 212-288-5203) opened on Monday as an Internet café during the day and wine and tapas bar at night. Owners Steven Salsberg and Nicola Camaj are focusing on politically correct ingredients, with an emphasis on family-owned companies, organic items, fair trade coffee, and food greenmarkets. Mr. Camaj also owns the nearby Italian restaurant, Erminia.
MOMO MOVES Chef David Chang has promoted top members of his kitchen staff at his Momofuku restaurants. In a letter to Eater.com, he announced that Tien Ho is the new chef-partner of Ssam Bar (207 Second Ave. at 13th Street, 212-254-3500). Kevin Pemoulie is chef-partner at Noodle Bar (171 First Ave., between 10th and 11th streets, 212-777-7773), and Peter Serpico has been named chef-partner at the soon-to-open Momofuku Ko.
THREE'S COMPANY A third Dean's location opened on Monday in a former loft in TriBeCa (349 Greenwich St., between Harrison and Jay streets, 212-966-3200). The 140-seat pizzeria and restaurant belongs to Mirene Angelis, whose family also owns Nick's, Patsy's, Angelo's, Adrienne's, and the other two Dean's, located in Murray Hill and the Upper West Side.
'SUNSET' SUPPER Hudson River Café (697 W. 133rd St. at Twelfth Avenue, 212-491-9111) has tented its outdoor area for the winter, allowing customers to stay toasty while snacking on baby back ribs, lobster stew, braised pork shank, and other items on the restaurant's "Sunset Menu."
COCKTAILS AND CRUNCH BarFry (50 Carmine St. at Bedford Street, 212-929-5050), chef Josh DeChellis's tribute to tempura and other fried foods, has started serving nibbles with its drinks between 4 and 6 p.m. and between 11 p.m. and closing. The snacks will change daily according to Mr. DeChellis's whim, but he suggests that possible items will include tuna tartare on tempura egg yolk, pork gyoza with X.O. sauce, green tea cupcakes, and deviled eggs with tempura flakes and Sriracha (a spicy sauce used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking).
In addition, the restaurant has launched a new cocktail menu that includes a Rosemary Julep made with gin, pear, lime, and ginger beer; and a Passion Fruit Basil Martini with vodka and prosecco.
Also on tap is a new house beer, JD Gaijin Pale Ale, developed over the past two years by Mr. DeChellis and Rogue Brewery of Newport, Ore. The beer is available by the pint and also in half-gallon "growlers" for takeout.
SWISS FEAST Diners wishing for more Swiss-style pork products in their lives might consider stopping by Trestle on Tenth (242 Tenth Ave. at 24th Street, 212-645-5659) between now and Sunday to take part in a traditional metzgete — a festival commemorating a wintertime pig slaughter. Trestle chef and owner Ralf Kuettel will be serving blood sausage, liver, bratwurst and braised pork belly. Sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, applesauce, and housemade mustard will also be on offer. This $24 feast is available through Sunday, for dinner only.
SHAKE IT OFF Cocktail historian extraordinaire David Wondrich will give a demonstration at the newly opened Astor Center (399 Lafayette St. at 4th Street, 212-674-7501), which specializes in events related to food and beverages, this Friday. Mr. Wondrich will prepare classic 19th-century cocktails, from the world's first bartender's guide, for attendees to sample. The two-hour demonstration starts at 6:30 p.m. and costs $75. For more information visit astorcenternyc.com.
Mr. Thorn is food editor of Nation's Restaurant News. He maintains nrnfoodwriter.blogspot.com.
