MIDTOWN EAST—TONY's blog visits Top Chef winner Hung on his first night at the kosher Solo and runs an incredible picture of him in a yarmulke. Their verdict: "That steak had us nodding. But the folks at my table got most excited when, halfway through the meal, Hung popped out of the kitchen, flanked by a group of men in suits. We caught his eye and asked him: What was the greatest challenge of the first night? The pace? The pressure? 'The rabbis,' he said." [TONY]
MIDTOWN EAST— Franklin Becker, the chef at Brasserie, is leaving his post to open a new restaurant this fall, Bedford Falls: "Bedford Falls, of course, is the name of the town in It’s a Wonderful Life, and Becker says he chose it to convey the 'classic, traditional' American theme of the restaurant. 'It won’t be comfort food, but rather modern reworkings of classic American tastes in a comfortable atmosphere.'" [Cutlets]
CHELSEA— On Monday, chocolate master Jacques Torres will be working out of the Google Cafeteria performing a demo with and giving away free chocolate. Just another perk for the luckiest workers in the city. [EaterWire]
SOBE/EVOO— The always hip Rachael Ray is hosting a showcase at SXSW and she's offended that everyone is so surprised: "But I don't see why we'd be out of place down there, when we're just fans of music who decided to put on a show. I guess if they don't like good music, and they don't like good food, they don't have to go..." [MTV via AV Club]