Olmsted Opens Its Garden for Shopping — and More Intel

You can now shop at Olmsted’s backyard garden

Leaning into its Brooklyn neighborhood restaurant designation, the very virtuous Olmsted has expanded its backyard garden so that diners can now buy plants back there. Chef-owner Greg Baxtrom purchased the plot next door and built a greenhouse, so for $10, diners can take their pick of an herb or pepper plant — so long as they plant another seedling where they dug one up. Proceeds benefit Grow NYC.

A summer pop-up from former McNally chefs

Is this pop-up restaurant an indication of the one to come from chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr? The former co-executive chefs of Balthazar and Minetta Tavern are hosting a summer residency at The McKittrick Hotel, starting on June 1. Called The Club Car, there’s unsurprisingly a surf and turf theme. The slim, four course menu — in full below — is $65 per person, and served in a train car-inspired space. Reservations and more info here.

Pure Food & Wine co-owner is released from jail

The vegan drama continues, now with Pure Food & Wine’s Anthony Strangis being released from jail. A judge sentenced him to time already served — one year and three days at Rikers Island — for failing to pay back investors $844,000, employees $40,000, and the state $400,000 in sales tax in 2016. His estranged wife Sarma Melngailis will serve four months at Rikers starting on June 21. They will both serve five years probation.

The origins and evolution of food photography, documented

An upcoming book focused on the history of food photography — Feast for the Eyes — has inspired a lovely walk down memory lane in the New York Times. Writer Julia Turshen highlights 13 photos and their stories here.

A Meat Hook + Nom Wah collaboration

Meat Hook and Nom Wah Nolita are joining forces in June, with Meat Hook popping up at Nom Wah the first two Wednesdays of the month for food like dumplings with sticky five spice filling with pork skin. Then, the last two Wednesdays, Nom Wah will visit the Meat Hook in Williamsburg for larger format meat fests.

Would you floss your teeth inside a restaurant?

Here’s some pure, juicy gossip from Page Six: Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman were reportedly spotted flossing their teeth together at the table at Le Zie in Chelsea. “They were using little wands . . . they may have been toothbrushes or individual floss sticks to floss their teeth,” a source told the Post.

Drink local with Governor Cuomo

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has a history of being permissive when it comes to drinking laws, so his new craft beer event tidily fits into that image. On Wednesday, May 24, 50 New York-made spirits, wine, beer, and cider will be on display at Taste NY at Pier A Harbor House. Tickets and the full list of drinks here.

A look at Meat Hook’s meatiness

Though you likely won’t find Italian subs at the upcoming Nom Wah collaboration, this video nonetheless gives a glimpse at what to expect from Meat Hook’s side: