Sushi Made from $323,000 Bluefin Tuna Splashes Into NYC

Acclaimed NYC sushi restaurant to serve sushi made from $323,000 tuna

Earlier in the month, an 890-pound bluefin tuna sold at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market for $323,000, clocking in at nearly $800 per pound. The pricey fish was bought by the Onodera Group, which owns and operates several high-end sushi restaurants around the world, including the two Michelin-starred Sushi Ginza Onodera in Midtown. This week, the NYC outpost will be serving sushi made from the massive tuna as part of its regular omakase for no extra charge.

Video shows Joe Bastianich making racist and sexist comments

Mario Batali recently stepped away from B&B Hospitality Group in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, and the other half of the company, Joe Bastianich, has been accused of fostering the “boys’ club” culture of the restaurant group. Now, a recent episode of MasterChef Italia shows Bastianich making inappropriate sexual comments and spewing racism to two women while getting a manicure and pedicure at a beauty salon in Milan’s Chinatown. As Grub Street reports, Bastianich offered the following apology: “This was a scripted segment shot in a Milan nail salon that I’ve gone to regularly. I know the women, and we were given the questions to discuss in advance. That said, it’s clear that some of what I said was in poor taste and not reflective of my views. I’m sorry I said those things.”

The Milling Room replaces a longtime NYC chef

Cafe Cluny’s Phillip Kirschen-Clark is the new chef at The Milling Room in the Upper West Side, replacing chef Scott Bryan, whose impressive pedigree includes Veritas, Apiary, and Bacchanal. According to The Milling Room’s former bar manager Rogelio Hernandez, upon learning that the manager intended to hire a new chef, Bryan left the restaurant same-day, joined by Hernandez and sous chef Jose Alvarez. According to The Milling Room management, “it was an amicable split.” Managing partner Samantha Moretti noted that Kirschen-Clark was hired because “his philosophy and flavors are well suited for both our restaurant and neighbors, and our food will still be rooted in American cuisine with a strong focus on locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients.”

On-the-rise chef announces special Grammys food and music event

The Grammy Awards are back in NYC, and chef Joseph “JJ” Johnson is partnering with the Soho co-working space Spring Place for four nights to showcase his cooking. The young chef was recently profiled in the New York Times during his residency at Chef’s Club, and Johnson explained that music is as important to the dining experience as food, making him the right chef for a Grammys night. His special Grammy Awards menu will also be paired with cocktails and a signature music playlist. Johnson will be hosting the event at Spring Place January 23rd through January 26th, and reservations can be made by emailing RSVP@springplace.com.