Image of Candela by Kalina, circa 2002
UNION SQUARE—As of 6:15 PM this evening, per a report from the ground, the Coffee Shop is open for business. Exhale. [EaterWire]
MEATPACKING—Yesterday, we mentioned that the folks from nightspot PM are opening a bakery/bistro/lounge in the space that formerly housed poor, departed restaurant Sascha. Today, we have on good intel that the "very famous chef" they've tapped to create an eclectic menu for the place is none other than Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit fame. [EaterWire]
MIDTOWN EAST—Another day, another DOH shuttering. Two, actually. First, "Walked past cigar bar/fine-dining establishment Merchants this morning (corner of 62nd and 1st) and noticed they too have been closed by the DOH. Yellow sticker and everything. Another sign from the management noted that they were "Closed for emergency repairs" but would be up and running again soon." Second, French Roast on Sixth Ave and 11th Street is apparently closed, cause indeterminate at this point. [EaterWire Inbox]
MIDTOWN EAST—According to a source close to Eater, three of restaurateur Charlie Palmer's chefs have walked, leaving his fine-dining American restaurant Aureole somewhat adrift. We've heard further that there is no love lost between Palmer and his toques and that there might have even been a celebration among former Palmer staffers when they heard the news that old CP was making his way up shit's creek. More on this soon, perhaps. [EaterWire]
UNION SQUARE—An update on the Candela situation, from Lady Strongbuzz. "Suzanne, Mario and Sergio Riva, the owners of Candela, are closing the restaurant and completely redesigning it. They will reopen in the Fall of 2007 as Irving Mill Restaurant and Tap Room, a casual Greenmarket-driven seasonal American restaurant with a real star behind the stoves—chef-partner Johnny Schaeffer, who was the chef de cuisine of Gramercy Tavern under Tom Colicchio for 12 years." We now turn this matter over to the Plywood department. [Strongbuzz]
