Burke Confirmed for James Hotel; Mondrian Makes Progress

SOHO— Florence Fabricant confirms long circulated rumors that David Burke will be the chef at the James Hotel's restaurant when it opens next year. He says it will be "rustic American, with an emphasis on local ingredients." [DJ]

UPPER EAST SIDE—Last night a gaggle of food world personalities congregated at Barney’s in Midtown to celebrate the grand unveiling of the store’s food-themed holiday windows and the release of Lee Schrager’s Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook. Eater National has pics from the bash plus a collection hangover observations, as tweeted by the chefs themselves. [Eater National]

LOWER EAST SIDE— Zagat reports that the old Annex space, which was approved for a liquor license this week, will reopen as Tammany Hall. It will offer "a large stage in the main room, a Prohibition-style basement lounge and an upstairs balcony with its own bar." Also, food. [Zagat]

SOHO— Curbed has pictures of the current state of the Mondrian hotel currently going up in Soho. When it opens, it will feature a Sam Talbot seafood restaurant called Imperial 9. [Curbed NY]