Kitchen Dish

By BRET THORN | March 19, 2008

TAKE-AWAY TREATS Pichet Ong says his new takeout dessert shop, Batch (150B W. 10th St., between Greenwich Avenue and Waverly Place, 212-929-0250), will open for preview batches of cookies, pastries, and other sweet treats on Saturday. It's located next to his restaurant, P*ONG.

CHANGE AT THE TOP Executive chef Jessica Floyd is out at the new Islero (247 E. 50th St., between Second and Third avenues, 212-752-1414) and Luis Gonzalez is in. Mr. Gonzalez, the former executive chef of the Gotham City Restaurant Group, said he hopes to draw inspiration from other Spanish restaurants, such as Tia Pol, and rely more on local and seasonal ingredients.

OLD STOMPING GROUND Luc Dimnet has returned to Brasserie (100 E. 53rd St. at Park Avenue, 212-751-4840), where he was executive chef there between 2000 and 2005.

TOGETHER AGAIN Bill Flatley is the new maître d' at Telepan (72 W. 69th St., between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West, 212-580-4300). He and chef-owner Bill Telepan, an alumnus of Arcadia and the Lobster Club, worked together 20 years ago at Gotham Bar & Grill.

WEST SIDE INSTITUTION San Domenico NY (240 Central Park South, between Seventh Avenue and Broadway, 212-265-5959) is closing around June 18 — after 20 years — when its lease expires on June 30. Owner Tony May is reportedly looking for a new Midtown spot where he can relocate the restaurant.

WINE WHIRLS Divine Bar East (244 E. 51st St., between Second and Third avenues, 212-319-9463) is closing after 12 years, due to what its owners are calling "an unreasonable rent increase" of more than 100%. Its last day of business is March 31.

ALL TIED UP Rusty Knot (425 West St., at 11th Street, 212-645-5668), the joint venture of Spotted Pig owner Ken Friedman and Freemans owner Taavo Somer, is open and serving bar food and tiki cocktails.

NAMING RIGHTS The Middle Eastern restaurant formerly known as Chickpea (23 Third Ave., at 8th Street, 212-254-9500) closed to get its glatt kosher certification, and has now reopened without a name. It is holding a contest to pick a new name, which is how it got the name Chickpea when it opened four years ago. Entry forms can be found at name-our-glatt-kosher.com. The winner will get $3,000.

Mr. Thorn is food editor of Nation's Restaurant News. He maintains nrnfoodwriter.blogspot.com.