EaterWire: How Sweet it Is Shutters, A Backwards Tasting at Shang, Second Stop Outshines Gimme, and More

LOWER EAST SIDE— How Sweet it Is, the bakery in the space on Allen between Rivington and Stanton has closed, per the signage on their window (above). The bakery's catering operation is still in business for those interested. [EaterWire]

LOWER EAST SIDE— Back before Susur Lee came to New York from Toronto, he was well known for his backwards tasting menus. Now he's unleashing the concept on NYC. Lee's Chinese New Year menu, which launched last week and is available through the end of the month and Black Saturday will be served in reverse order. [EaterWire]

WILLIAMSBURG— An intriguing Eastern Williamsburg coffee report from a tipster: Right this very second there are no seats to be had at new upscale coffee shop Second Stop. Gimme Coffee is...empty. [EaterWire]

SOHO— Mixology wizard and technology guru at the French Culinary Institute, Dave Arnold, has come up with the city's latest hot drink: "...he's unveiled his latest invention, the Red Hot Poker, which he uses at the FCI's L'Ecole restaurant to turn regular cocktails into pyrotechnic displays of bar flair...Right now, L'Ecole is serving two cocktails ($12 each) made with Arnold's invention: the Red Hot Manhattan (see above) and the Red Hot Ale, a beer-and-cognac-based nod to Dickens-era warm drinks." [Tasting Table]