Eleven Madison Park Will Never Be Named the ‘World’s Best’ Restaurant Again

Sorry, Eleven Madison Park

NYC’s Eleven Madison Park will never land on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list again. The international restaurant-ranking organization that puts together the historically biased list — famous for its exclusion of top female chefs and bias toward expensive, European-leaning tasting menus — has rolled out a new rule: No restaurant that has earned the title of “best restaurant in the world” will be eligible for that title or the list ever again. That means that EMP will never again snag a spot on the list. The upscale tasting menu restaurant landed the top spot in 2017, but it spent a portion of that year closed for renovations. Now, all former No. 1 winners will be thrown into a group called “Best of the Best.”

Meanwhile, a new restaurant awards group has emerged

The World Restaurant Awards, a new awards ceremony this year, aims to be more inclusive and to celebrate diversity: It has adopted a gender-balanced judging panel and promises to place equal emphasis on fine-dining destinations alongside beloved classic restaurants. Notable judges casting the group’s first votes this year include Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy, David Chang of Momofuku, and Daniel Humm of EMP. So far, a shortlist of nominations has been released, including some potential NYC winners like Astoria Seafood in LIC, Peter Luger Steakhouse in Brooklyn, and the Grill in Midtown. The winners will be announced during an awards ceremony February 18 in Paris.

New Nolita restaurant Shoo Shoo adds brunch

Middle Eastern restaurant Shoo Shoo at 371 Broome St., between Mott and Mulberry Streets, has added a brunch menu with dishes like an herb frittata served with green labneh, fennel, and cucumber salad, as well as the “Shoo Shoo breakfast,” which comes with two eggs, salad, smoked salmon, mezze, and bread. The “Knafcake,” inspired by pistachio knafeh, will be two pancakes layered with melted sweet curd and walnuts, rose syrup, and berries. Coffees, Moroccan teas, and cocktails will round out the drink menu. Brunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekends.

Shoo Shoo [Official Photo]

Check out a sample menu for Gouie New York

A sample menu is out for Gouie, a sake-focused restaurant by the team behind East Village Japanese small plates hit Izakaya, Bowery Boogie reports. Dishes range from duck ham to tuna sashimi, with prices ranging from $12 to $23. Gouie is opening inside Market Line, the massive Lower East Side food hall and market slated to open inside Essex Crossing this year. The space is shaping up to be a big one, with enough seating for 98 people.

Ho Foods celebrates one year with free sour plum drinks

Taiwanese hit Ho Foods is celebrating 1 year in the East Village by giving away free sour plum drinks to customers who order beef noodles on Friday, January 18. Ho Foods comes from chef-owner Richard Ho, who ran a series of pop-ups in 2015 and 2016. The restaurant specializes in beef noodle soup, presenting a modernized take on homestyle Taiwanese food.

NYC chefs gather for an expensive vegetable dinner

Chef Dan Barber of Blue Hill is throwing a vegetable-focused dinner featuring several celebrated chefs like Daniel Humm of EMP and Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme and Atla. The dinner will be hosted by Barber’s seed company, Row 7 Seed Co., and plant breeders will be involved. It’ll take place 159 Pioneer St. in Red Hook; tickets are going for $375 and can be purchased here.