Kitchen Dish
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ODD COUPLE Barca 18 officially opened yesterday in the space long occupied by Park Avalon (225 Park Avenue South at 18th Street, 212-533-2500). The restaurant is a partnership between Steve Hanson – owner of Ruby Foo’s, Dos Caminos, Fiamma, Blue Fin, Blue Water Grill, and, until recently, Park Avalon – and chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin. It will feature northern Spanish tapas, which might seem like a stretch for Mr. Ripert (who is best known for his seafood), but he was raised in the little country of Andorra, on the border between France and Spain.
KOSHER STEAK Eddie Allaham-of the family that brought kosher food to Madonna – opened a glatt kosher steak-and-sushi house between the Jewish high holy days. At La Carne Grill (340 Lexington Ave., between 39th and 40th streets, 212-490-7172), Mr. Allaham and a kosher butcher will take care of the steaks. Sushi chef Sheng Xu is in charge of the fish. Joey Allaham, the brother of Eddie, owns Solo restaurant, a kosher Mediterranean eatery that has been known to attract celebrities, including the songstress-cum-Kabalist. The brothers also owned Prime Grill but have since parted ways.
ROMAN FESTIVAL It may be because of the HBO series or because Roman food just tastes good, but right now the cuisine of the Eternal City is hot. Five restaurants will be celebrating the regional Italian food next week as Roman chef Salvatore Tassa of Le Colline Ciociare restaurant arrives for the third annual Roman Cuisine Week.
He will prepare five-course menus in a different restaurant each night. On Monday he’ll be at the Four Seasons (99 E. 52nd St., between Park and Lexington avenues, 212-754-9494).
Tuesday will see him at San Domenico (240 Central Park South, between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-265-5959). Lupa (170 Thompson St., between Bleecker and Houston streets, 212-982-5089) will host him on Wednes 1176 2174 1240 2185day.The festival moves to Union Square Cafe (21 E. 16th St., between Union Square West and Fifth Avenue, 212-243-4020) on Thursday. Then on Friday, the festival moves downtown to Tribeca Grill (375 Greenwich St. at Franklin Street, 212-941-3900). The menu will be different every night and will cost between $60 and $75 per person.
MORE ROMAN If you can’t wait until next week for your Roman fix, check out the newly opened Scarlatto (250 W 47th St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, 212-730-4345) and sample the food of Camillo Bassani, who cut his teeth at the Hassler Hotel in Rome.
Mr. Thorn is food editor of Nation’s Restaurant News. He can be reached atbthorn@nrn.com
