Ambitious New Sichuan Restaurant Makes Its St. Mark’s Debut

Ambitious Queens Sichuan restaurant opens on St. Mark’s

Flushing Sichuan restaurant Szechuan Mountain House has opened its East Village location at 23 Saint Mark’s Place, complete with a koi pond and cast-iron tea post. Bedford and Bowery reports that the restaurant is aiming high — owners want the location to win a Michelin star at some point. Dishes like sliced pork belly with chili garlic sauce, Chinese yam, and fish fillet stew with pickled cabbage and chili are on the menu. A grand opening will come later this month.

$1K bagel for charity makes an eyebrow-raising return

Times Square’s Westin hotel has revived a bagel that costs $1,000, topped with Alba white truffle cream cheese and goji berry-infused Riesling jelly with gold leaves. It’s available from November 1 to December 15, and all of the proceeds go to Holy Apostle Soup Kitchen. Despite the charitable bent, Gothamist is dubious that it’s anything more than a marketing gimmick. The hotel did not respond to their requests for how many people have actually purchased the bagel in the past.

People are lining up for chips at a free Pringles pop up in NYC

Photo via Pringles

Friday’s the last day for a pop-up from chip brand Pringles, where people can try flavors like Kickin’ Chicken Taco and customize chip cans with a range of different flavors. The Pringles Stack Shack first opened yesterday at 1450 Broadway, between 40th and 41st streets, and apparently had a long line for people wanting free Pringles, which otherwise cost $1.40 for people with Amazon Prime Pantry. Here, the sell is that people can fill one can with multiple flavors. It’s the first time the brand has done a pop-up, part of a growing trend of grocery store brands doing IRL projects. It will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday.

Drunk LES bargoers robbed very easily

Apparently it’s very easy to steal from bargoers on the Lower East Side. Police say that a group of thieves has been taking people’s money simply by asking for it. The victims went to places like Hotel on Rivington and Hair of the Dog, where the thieves befriended them and took their credit cards and phones by asking to see the victims’ wallets. The bargoers did not realize what had happened until later, presumably after they’d sobered up.

LES nightclub pitches a new, multi-level restaurant

La Caverna, that basement nightclub with stalactites, is looking to expand in the neighborhood. The owners are eyeing a space at 124 Rivington Street, between Essex and Norfolk streets, for a three-level restaurant and bar. It would have 203 seats, two bars, and Italian American fare.

A meal for offal lovers from a top SF chef

SF-based chef Chris Cosentino is in town promoting his new cookbook Offal Good: Cooking From The Heart, With Guts, and as part of it, he’s cooking a meal and giving a talk at Craft on Monday, October 23 at 7 p.m. with chef Tom Colicchio. The two will talk about sustainability and the history of offal cooking. A five-course meal with wine pairings will be included; dishes such as tripe crudo with hazelnuts and scallions will be served. Tickets cost $265 and include a copy of the book and gratuity. Make reservations by emailing mpoore@craftrestaurant.com.

Maybe this is a good weekend for some beautiful bonbons