Norman Rolls Out Scandinavian Dinner in Greenpoint — and More Intel

Following bumps, Norman finally launches dinner

It was a bit of a rough start for Norman, the all-day Scandinavian cafe from Noma co-founder Claus Meyer and Aska chef Fredrik Berselius. It opened in Greenpoint in late March, only to close in early April for “health code updates.” But, late April saw its return, and now it’s on steady enough footing to launch dinner. You can see the menu in full below, full of dishes like scallop crudo with scarlet turnip, lemon verbena, along with green apple and pork collar with red banana fingerlings, ramps, and mussel jus.

Meyer is also working on the second year of his Kid’s Table, which introduces children to fine dining for $35. Restaurants participating this year include Blue Hill, Jean Georges, Atera, and Decoy, which are tasked with using asparagus, guinea hen, and strawberry. Tickets are on sale now for the June 8 event, with proceeds benefitting the Melting Pot Foundation.

Queens gets the Bourdain treatment

Tattooed travel and food guru Anthony Bourdain aired his Queens Parts Unknown episode last night. In case you missed it, here’s where he ate, here’s why he visited Queens, and here are the top quotes.

Hamptons hot spot 75 Main goes Italian

New summer, new menu from Hamptons hot spot 75 Main, which has gotten a food revamp from consulting chef Michele Brogioni. The Armani Ristorante chef is introducing a vaguely Italian menu of dishes like butter-poached lobster with cremona and shiitake mushrooms, potatoes, and asparagus.

Empellon Midtown’s first review rolls in, and it’s positive-enough

Hot on the heels of Empellon Cocina’s closure this past Saturday comes New York mag critic Adam Platt’s review of the blockbuster midtown location. Platt awards the Mexican restaurant two of five stars, writing, “With the opening of this ambitious new Empellón outlet, Stupak appears to have reached the tricky, rarefied threshold where business and empire-building skills become just as important to a chef as cooking talent, and judging by the buzz in the room, he’s off to an auspicious start.”

Nathan’s recalls 200,000 pounds of hot dogs

Coney Island hot dog favorite Nathan’s is in the dog house (groan). More than 200,000 pounds of the brand’s grocery store franks have been recalled after bits of metal were found inside.

Cocktails and dim sum pair up at Fung Tu

It’s dim sum night at Asian fusion restaurant — see below — Fung Tu (22 Orchard Street), which is hosting bartenders Chase White (Experimental Cocktail Club) and Will Wyatt (The Nomad) to serve five drinks alongside dishes like pork belly egg rolls, smoked and fried dates stuffed with duck, and sweet & sour chicken wings. Cocktails run the gamut from “Swearwolf” (rum, sherry, smoked hazelnut orgeat, lime juice, lemongrass, Angostura bitters) to “Spring Festival” (toasted almond-infused Campari, lime, grapefruit, rosewater, champagne, cherry blossom garnish). It goes from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. tonight.

Don’t count out Asian fusion

Fung Tu is one of those leading the charge in NYC to make Asian fusion cool again. Here’s how: