Let's just take a quick moment before we dive into the Wire to heartily congratulate Daniel Maurer, who's risen from bylines to masthead, as now his name nobly appears underneath "Cutlets Ocutlets" on The Cutlets header. Good work, young Daniel. We wish you and Cutlets luck on your collaborative effort, which we will henceforth refer to as Mutlets.
UPPER EAST SIDE—It seems as if no sacred gastronomical institution is safe from the ever-inspecting gaze of the DOH. Check that: the ever-inspecting cameras of "Inside Edition." After the show broadcast footage of rats at the Upper East Side location of Papaya King, beloved purveyor of juicy tube steaks, the DOH stepped in and shut the place down. Mother. [NY Post]
UPPER EAST SIDE—Is the 73rd Street KFC in desperate need of a new countertop or condiment area? Or, are they covering up a recent DOH-shuttering? A reader sends this note, "The KFC on E 73rd St & 2nd Ave started as closed yesterday with a unexpected 'closed for immediate renovations' sign, they have it taped up pretty well already." [EaterWire Inbox]
UPPER WEST SIDE—A source close to Eater reports that Tom Valenti has just finalized a deal to buy his partners out at Ouest, Valenti's UWS American eatery. This would be the last step that Valenti has to take to completely divorce himself from former business partner Godfrey Polistina, who has possession of Valenti's other UWS restaurant 'Cesca. [EaterWire Inbox]
UPPER WEST SIDE—The troubles for Vietnamese mini-chain Saigon Grill aren't over yet. Today we hear that the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the eatery's delivery workers. Hint: for now, order take out. [Oxfeld]
