EaterWire: Top Chef Tasting, Free Chipotle, Iuzzini Update, and More

TOP CHEFFAGE— Life Vicarious attends the Top Chef Taste of the 5 Boroughs Publicity Stunt/Charity Event at Grand Central today and comes back with the following notes: food was good and was, for the most part, abundant (Le Cirque ran out by 1 p.m.), a number of pseudo celebs were spotted, and last season's contestant Andrew put on quite a show. "...he started supreming fruit before carving into his finger, began bleeding, turned to the demo sinks disappointed to discover they're just props, was first handed paper towels, then a bandage, then finally left the stage as an EMT arrived..." [LV]

MIDTOWN— Mr. Cutlets reports that pastry chef Nicole Kaplan (formerly of Eleven Madison Park and Del Posto) was let go from the Plaza as a cost cutting measure. [TFB]

CHIPOTLEWIRE— This Friday Chipotle will be giving out free burritos after 6 p.m....to anyone dressed like a burrito: "...we’re guessing they’ll be good sports about it. Especially if you’re enough of a loser to spend all day at work dressed as a burrito for what amounts to $7." [ML]

EAST VILLAGE— And the Feedbag also reports on Johnny Iuzzini, who is moving forward with his plans to open a bar with the now revealed partner Dave Arnold. While they look for a space, Iunzzini is practicing his craft at PDT. [TFB]

DUBAI— Celeb chef Gordon Ramsay is cementing his plans to move to Dubai: "That's my ambition. I'm looking at a plot at the end of one of the Palm Island branches. Mum's in her sixties and she loves it." [Contact Music via The Food Section]
— photo