The Empire State Building Gets its Drink on; Chefs Eye Vegas

MIDTOWN—The Empire Room, the new cocktail lounge on the ground floor of the Empire State Building, opened late this afternoon. It comes from the owners of posh spot The Campbell Apartment. [EaterWire]

VEGAS—Grub Street hears that Scott Conant and the teams behind Blue Ribbon, STK and Estiatorio Milos are on the roster for restaurant projects withing the resort casino Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. [GS]

FOOD STAMPS— In response to the recent Salon piece about the young "Food Stamp Foodies," the resourceful gang over at Vice decided to do a taste-test of fifteen beers that you can buy with food stamps. Naturally, their critics were a duo of underage drinkers, who judged each ale based on smoothness, refreshment, and aftertaste. [Vice via Eater National]

MIDTOWN— Chef Michael White made this year's Crain's 40 Under 40 list. [Crain's via Feast]
Photo: Urban Daddy