Belinda Chang, the wine pro who won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service at The Modern and promptly quit her job, has a new gig. She is the new GM and wine director at The Monkey Bar, Graydon Carter's revival of the old Midtown classic. The restaurant opened with a bang back in 2009 but has cooled off of late. It's still not known for its food, even with Larry Forgione watching from afar.
Chang tells Food & Wine, "We're going to turn things around, the wine list, everything, is going to be super fun." She's going to introduce "magnums of as many wines as she can think of," including some made just for the Monkey Bar. The mag hints there will be a notable chef coming to the kitchen sometime soon.
· Belinda Chang Takes Over the Monkey Bar [F&W]
[Photo via Conde Nast]