Times Square Gossip

  Baby Brasa Latin America is associated with warmth, color, movement, and sensuality. For the most voluptuous meal in all of New York City this summer look no further than Baby Brasa. The Peruvian restaurant is known best as The Oasis of the Big Apple. The exotic and exquisite culinary experience found here has created a divine lifestyle for patrons to admire. A haven for the hippest of the in-crowd and the most glamorous trendsetters, dedicated loyalists and newcomers alike flock to the restaurant that serves up incredible dishes at this one-of-a-kind contemporary venue in The Village. The romantic and lively establishment is a scrumptious setting where unique dishes are discovered. Awaken your senses in the most appealing way with such delights as appetizers of Chicken Empanadas with Flaky crust, manchego cheese, caramelized onions, chimichurri & rocoto aioli; as well as Crispy Rock Shrimp with Sriracha honey glaze, scallions, sesame seeds, served with chipotle mayo. Copia D...

Gypsy Fun Trio The legendary Russian Samovar Restaurant and Piano Bar presents the one and only “Gypsy’s Dream” by renowned actor, model, singer, and dancer duo Tatiana & Alexander Fursenko. The pair, who are winners of the Russian President's National Award for Contribution to the Theatre and Film Industry, premiers with their first show on Friday, June 28 at 9:00pm. A show will be held every Friday until Labor Day weekend. The one-hour show will include classic Gypsy ballads and dancers, as well as a guitarist, violinist, and an accordion/piano player from the Gypsy Fun Trio (Andrey Solodenko, Valery Zhmud and Sergey Pobedinsky). Said Russian Samovar manager Vlada Von Shats, “The incredible sound of the gypsies will touch your soul.” Alexander Fursenko, who is an alumnus of Moscow Theatre and Music University, is an actor of "Taganka Theater" and holds more than 60 roles in movies and theaters. He is also an accomplished singer and tap-dancer. Tatiana ...

LEOPARD AT DES ARTISTES Everyday dishes done with respect to Southern Italian cultural traditions, absolute quality of ingredients, hospitality and outstanding service – that is the formula of New Yorkers favorite fine Italian dining destination: The Leopard at des Artistes. This Upper West Side hot spot, owned by husband-and-wife-team Gianfranco Sorrentino and Paula Bolla-Sorrentino, and partner Chef Vito Gnazzo, invites diners to enjoy exceptional food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. The Leopard’s décor, which features famed Howard Chandler Christy murals in the dining room, is inspired by the elegance of the 1963 epic film with the same name. Chef Vito’s culinary signature of authentic southern Italian comfort food is what draws visitors and locals alike to the restaurant. The Leopard boasts a diverse menu that finds its roots in the area once known as The Kingdom of Two Sicilies of the mid-1800s, and the culinary traditions of Campania, Basilicata, Cal...

**** Executive Chef Massimo Sola of MAMO Restaurant Wins Il Primo 2016’s Best Pasta in Manhattan **** Fine Dining AT Mamo Italian food in New York has seen an increased level of sophistication in recent years, with a number of talented chefs bringing traditional techniques, experience and products to this food metropolis. A competition that gathers all of these chefs for the utmost challenge is Il Primo Manhattan, in collaboration with Association of New York Chefs (AICNY), which features 70 chefs from the best Italian restaurants all over New York City. This year’s proud winner, who won over the jury of Italian and American food critics, was Michelin-Starred Executive Chef Massimo Sola of MAMO restaurant. Chef Sola’s winning dish was an exquisite spin on a traditional pasta carbonara, or as the judges called it, a “quasi carbonara” made with finesse and elegance. Those who want to experience Massimo Sola’s award-winning pasta dishes can visit celebrity ...

**** DINING IN THE CITY **** Latitude Bar &Grill Todays kick off the 142nd Kentucky Derby at one of New York’s four most exciting venues; Midtown West’s Latitude Bar & Grill, SoHo’s MAMO Restaurant and Midtown West’s Ivy Bar & Grill. All four venues will offer a unique experience and feature some delectable dishes and drinks especially for the occasion. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of horse racing’s most prestigious trophy, the Triple Crown. Latitude Bar & Grill encompasses four main floors, including an outdoor roof deck. With its 36ft bar, vintage style billiards room, wooden based Mardi-Gras bar and 10ft windows looking out onto 8 Ave, it offers a great atmosphere for enjoying delicious dishes and drinks while watching the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Latitude Bar & Grill will also be offering Kentucky Derby’s signature drinks, including the Mint Julep for Triple Crown on May 7th, 2016; the Black Eyed Susan for the Preakness Stakes on May...

**** NEW YORK CITY'S BEST RESTAURANTS **** Lauren Scala Chanel Iman Julie Henderson Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Allison Williams, Nina Agdal, Chanel Iman, Chris Noth, Tyson Beckford, Matt Dillon, Swizz Beats, Andi Dorfman, Lauren Scala, DJ Vice, Busta Rhymes, Maxwell, Gregg Bello, Micky Rourke, Ben Watts, Tony Shafrazi, Andre Saraiva, Alexander Wang, Megan Williams, Sante D’arazio, Nur Kahn, Susanne Bartsch, Devon Windsor, David Barton, Rachel Hilbert and David Rockwells were among the New York elite who celebrated the VANDAL Grand Opening in New York City. VANDAL is the newest TAO Group property at 199 Bowery, a bi-level restaurant, bar and lounge showcasing the work of world-renowned street artists alongside small plates inspired by global street fare. Collaborating with the award-winning design firm Rockwell Group, the partners’ third project together boasts 360 seats and aims to capture the spirit of creativity and will make a truly disti...

Sarah Michelle Gellar Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar and her friends were seen enjoying dinner at NYC hotspot Beauty & Essex in New York City. Geller arrived at 9pm looking chic as ever wearing a white flowy sweater and jeans. The group enjoyed some of Beauty & Essex fantastic dishes including Brussels Sprout Jewel, Lobster Tacos, Lobster Mac N Cheese, Thai Shrimp, Chicken Meatballs, Short Ribs, BBQ Fries, Onion Rings and to top it off Pot de Creme, Doughnuts, and a Bacon Sundae. The group was seen laughing enjoying each other’s company for the remainder of the night. The Vault is one of Beauty & Essex’s intimate private dining spaces that seats up to 20 guests. To book a reservation, visit www.beautyandessex.com .  Photo By: Media Punch INC  

**** DINING NEW YORK CITY **** Four Cuts Steakhouse After leading the kitchen at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse, Christopher Miller is launching Four Cuts Steakhouse, which will be his first flagship restaurant. A Brooklyn native, Chef Miller has over 20 years of culinary experience. Upon receiving his culinary degree from the University of Washington, Chef Miller took his first positions at Mortimer’s and Ben Benson’s Steakhouse. After working in those esteemed restaurants, he became the Executive Chef of Bobby Van’s, a position he held for over 13 years where he developed a reputation in New York as the “steak whisperer.” Four Cuts, named after the four traditional cuts of steak – the ribeye, the strip, the tenderloin and the t-bone – will offer diners traditional steakhouse cuisine in an intimate setting. The operation of the restaurant will be led by its General Manager Rodolphe Siffredi, who most recently worked as a steakhouse consultant for both Desmond...

Il Valentino Osteria Renowned Il Valentino is launching a more intimate eatery on the Upper East Side with a new name to match- Il Valentino Osteria. The original location of Il Valentino was in the Sutton Hotel, where the elegant spot was a frequent hangout of celebrities, business impresarios, and political figures and utilized for UN events. When the hotel decided to make a change, Restauranteur Mirso Lekic plotted out to find a location that is close to the original, and found that in its new location, on the corner of 59th Street on 1st Avenue. Lekic with the help of Dan Sehic of C3D Architecture, undertook a massive renovation of the space to make sure that the restaurant was a beautiful, casual place to enjoy that fused together traditional and modern design elements to create an elegant dining room. Each tabletop and each of the chairs designed by Franco Lucic of LMF Group are crafted from Mango Wood while the table and chair legs are a contrasting m...

Laverne Cox Laverne Cox was spotted last night at Beauty & Essex dining with a group of friends. The group arrived at 8:30pm and from the second they walked into the door, they were incredibly friendly with every person they encountered. Cox wore a purple shift dress with black flats. One friend wore black maxi dress, another wore a white mini dress, and another was wearing a black tank with jeans. They were avoiding carbs and sugar and chose to order all of our seafood heavy dishes including Beauty & Essex favorites such as the Seared Tuna and the Grilled Salmon. They weren't drinking, but were happy to make an exception for some admirers sitting at the table next to them who sent them lemon drops. They were not shy at all about the extra attention and quickly became friends with the neighboring table and included them in their "girl talk" for the rest of the evening. They were very friendly with the entire staff, making sure to get the...

Donnie Kehr They are the only club in Hell’s Kitchen where our guests can come and see good, live music on any given night. And the wings alone are to die for.” Bar 9 ( www.bar9ny.com ) owners Steven and Michael Padernacht are born and raised New Yorkers who grew up in the Bronx and now consider their atmospheric club in Hell’s Kitchen their home. “I know it may seem cliché,” Steven says, “but we truly have a Cheers type environment here.” There’s a reason why patrons of the local and international variety both flock to Bar 9, a NYC staple for over 15 years. “People don’t think that live music and Hell’s Kitchen go together – but we have it right here, every night.” Steven considers Friday and Saturday nights to be the busiest as each week legendary Donnie Kehr (who most recently starred as Norm Waxman in the Clint Eastwood-movie adaptation of the play Jersey Boys) hosts the famed Dueling Pianos event, which just recently finished a successful run in La...

**** BEST BAR'S & RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK CITY **** Juniper Bar Juniper Fire Breathing Burger Juniper Bar, the newest upscale bar and restaurant to descend upon New York’s Midtown West, has introduced a new spicy burger that will leave the city’s most hard-core heat-seekers trembling and begging for mercy. Juniper’s Fire Breathing Burger isn’t for the faint hearted. Packed full with one of the world’s hottest peppers, the Ghost Pepper, along with Sriracha aioli and spicy pepper jack cheese, the Fire Breathing Burger may well be a new contender for the title of New York’s Spiciest Burger. Ghost Peppers, otherwise known as Bhut Jolokia, clocks in at over one million on the Scoville Spiciness Scale. That’s an eye-popping 900.5 times hotter than Tabasco Sauce or 400 times hotter than a medium chili pepper. It’s so spicy it has become a something of a legend in chili pepper eating dares, with many popular YouTubers putting their stomachs, and their manliness, t...

**** The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, And Manipulation **** Rita Cosby And Melissa Rivers THE MOMS , Denise Albert and Melissa Musen Gerstein, hosted a Mamarazzi® Lunch Event with Television Producer, Host and celebrity parent Melissa Rivers yesterday at Juniper Bar in New York City. The event brought together influential moms and media to celebrate Melissa’s new book, The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, And Manipulation, offering a behind the scenes look at one of the most celebrated mother-daughter relationships. Guests at the event, hosted in conjunction with Chevy Tri-State, were treated to a sampling of delicious menu items from the newly-opened Juniper Bar in the exclusive downstairs VIP lounge. Guests gathered around as Melissa Rivers discussed life growing up and her deep, personal bond with her mother, larger-than-life Comedian the late Joan Rivers – the subject of her new book The Book of Joan. She told the captive audience...

**** T-BAR STEAKHOUSE OLD WORLD GLAMOR **** T-Bar Steak & Lounge T-Bar Steak & Lounge, the Upper East Side Restaurant known for its superbly-cooked cuts of meat and delicious array of appetizers, is now offering what is likely to become one of New York’s favorite brunch menus. Every Saturday and Sunday, from 11:30a.m. through to 2:30p.m., T-Bar offers an exciting morning twist to its classic steakhouse offerings. Tuna Tartare The new brunch menu serves as yet another excuse to visit T-Bar, which has become a neighborhood go-to since restaurateur Tony Fortuna, previously of the Lenox Room, established it in October 2007. T-Bar draws in a consistent crowd of loyal followers, who enjoy discovering new dishes on the extensive and intelligent menu every visit. With its fun and vibrant atmosphere, T-Bar serves as an updated take on the classic American steakhouse. Casual yet elegant; understated, yet boasting old-world glamor. The weekend brunch menu, e...