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.
NEW SOUS Mary Ellen Heavner will be the sous chef, under Ivy Stark, at Amalia. The restaurant is scheduled to open next month at the Dream Hotel (204 W. 55th St., between Seventh Avenue and Broadway).
NEW AT LINCOLN CENTER Patina Restaurant Group will reproduce its Los Angeles namesake, Patina restaurant, at Lincoln Center. The 175-seat restaurant is expected to open in 2009.
The Patina group used to be part of Compass Group, but was spun off last year when its founder, chef Joachim Splichal, teamed up with Nick Valenti, head of Compass subsidiary Restaurant Associates, which runs the food operations at Rockefeller Center, among other places. Messrs. Splichal and Valenti joined with Tokyo-based conglomerate Shidax Corp. to form their new company.
DIVINE & FUNKY Shari Schneider and Michael Vitanza, owners of Divine Bar East and Divine Bar West, opened Funky Diner (466 Columbus Ave., between 82nd and 83rd streets, 212-873-0600) last Sunday. The new joint features American diner food and European café food, along with 17 types of soda, 18 types of tea, Belgian beers, and 6-ounce Champagne bottles.
WEST END MEMORIES The 100-year-old West End (2911 Broadway, between 13th and 14th streets, 212-662-8830), former beatnik hangout and perennial dive bar, is taking another step to preserve its heritage while being transformed into a unit of Havana Central. This Friday between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., former patrons are invited to share their reminiscences with videographers. Former owner Sid Roberts will be the first to be recorded. Those who want to share their stories should call 212-751-6731. Participants will get a free empanada sampler platter.
NAPA SIPS Napa Valley winemakers are converging on New York next week for a variety of parties, tastings, dinners, fund raisers, and so on. For a full list of events, visit www.napavintners.com.
LANDRY’S MOVE Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, the public company that operates its namesake restaurant as well as Maloney & Porcelli’s Quality Meats, Park Avenue Café, and the Post House, has been informed by Landry’s Restaurants Inc. that the Houston-based restaurant conglomerate wants to buy it.
Landry’s owns more than 300 seafood and steak restaurants, including Rainforest Café.
Mr. Thorn is food editor of Nation’s Restaurant News. He maintains nrnfoodwriter.blogspot.com.
