Snowed In? Watch Television On Your Computer

With "Historic, extreme snow," as weather.com is calling it, on its way, we thought now would be a good time to steer you towards Julia Child: Cooking with Master Chefs streaming on PBS. The sixteen episode series aired in the early 90s. In it, Julia Child visits influential chefs from around the world in their own kitchens, where they make classic dishes and share tips along the way. At the beginning of each episode, Child introduces each chef in her passion-filled voice – one that will go forever unmatched in the world of television and all things culinary. In one episode, a young Emeril Lagasse makes a classic New Orleans crab boil. In another, Jean-Louis Palladin roasts duck breasts over an open fire. Alice Waters reveals her love for arugula in one episode, while "the strapping six foot four inch" Charles Palmer makes potato chips laced with petals of fresh herbs in another. So, put on your slippers, open a bottle of Gamay, get warm, and stream all 16 episodes over here.

The Stars Shine Bright in Maysville

[rebecca greenfield for the times]Pete Wells files on the newly opened Maysville on West 26th Street today. The American-inspired restaurant is the shared vision of Sean Josephs (owner of Char No. 4 in Brooklyn) and chef Kyle Knall, "whose understated American style," Wells wrtes, "is a winning blend of the refined and the unpretentious." This approach to cooking was honed at Gramercy Tavern, where Knall worked before signing on to open Maysville.

"Encountered as words on the menu, some of his food may have a been-there, done-that feeling. But if you have done this before, it feels different this time." Wells notes the frequent use of hay in kitchens around town these days, writing, "I’ve had more hay set in front of me in the past year than a thoroughbred training for the Kentucky Derby, but never was it used to as good effect as it is at Maysville, where its smoke infuses warm oysters." "True, some things I ate erred on the side of subtlety," Wells writes of Knall's food, but concludes, "More often, he nailed the nuances."

Maysville takes it name from the city in Kentucky where Kentucky bourbon was born, and the restaurant boasts a list of 150+ American whiskeys. Domestic products also get their due in "a deep wine list that does well by the United States. Wells finds the list, "is surprisingly extensive even if its large number of three-digit prices feels out of place."

Maybe Wells will hit Char No. 4 sometime this year. For now, he awards two stars to Maysville, a restaurant in his eyes that's "a confident restatement of the American tavern."

Now is the Winter of Our Union Square Greenmarket's Content

Barry Benepe and Bob Lewis formed the Greenmarket Organization in 1975. A year later, the first farmer's market opened on 59th Street and Second Avenue. The Union Square location opened in the summer of 1976 and has thrived ever since. Foot traffic slows during the cold months, but thanks to all the vendors braving the weather at Union Square, the market stays open year-round. In the dead of winter, you don't find the ripe melons, fragrant peaches, or juicy tomatos that flood the market in late summer months. Instead, root vegetables, bulbs, apples, yams, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and a variety of potatoes and squash are on offer next to an array of artisanal products. Together they provide ample choice and foundation for exceptional cold weather meals. On a recent blustery afternoon, we buttoned up and took a few shots of the 37-year-old market.

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Governor Will Not Reopen

The owners of Colonie, Gran Electrica, and Governor announced over the weekend that, due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, they will not be reopening Governor.

"In the aftermath of this dreadful storm, we assessed the destruction at Governor caused by five feet of water, and we were determined to rebuild our fledgling restaurant.  But despite our commitment and the subsequent and remarkable outpouring of support in all forms--from individuals, the restaurant industry and the community, we have, regrettably, been forced to accept that the scope and scale of repairing the damage to our restaurant is beyond our means financially.

It is with a very heavy heart that we must humbly face up to this fact."

We had the good fortune of eating at Governor shortly after the restaurant opened, but the unfortunate news serves as a reminder of the storms severity. We're sad to see the restaurant close, as it had quickly received city-wide acclaim, neighborhood praise, and two stars from Pete Wells in the mere four months it was open. Benefits held and donations made since Sandy have raised over $50,000 for the restaurant, but Tamer Hamawi, one of three owners, "estimated the damage at $300,000 to $350,000," writes Wells in an article for Diner's Journal. The owners are offering to return all the donations.

Along with Hamawi, Elise Rosenberg and Emelie Kihlstrom will continue to pour their efforts into their other two projects, "We will continue to operate Colonie and Gran Electrica and refocus our efforts on making these businesses viable in their Brooklyn neighborhoods for the long term." The statement also reveals that Brad McDonald, who served as the executive chef for the restaurant group, will be moving on "to spend time with his wife and two young children." [StongBuzz] [Diner'sJournal]

Eat the Week; Jan 28th - Feb 1st

We kicked off Wing Week with Part I at The Wing Bar | Wing Week Part II at Wogie's | Wing Week Part III at Buffalo Boss | Pete Wells awards one star to Lakruwana on Staten Island | Wing Week Part IV at McFadden's | Wing Week Part V at Bonnie's | Donde Dinner? - 424 East 9th Street

Donde Dinner? - 424 East 9th Street

Donde Dinner? wants to make your next dining experience an adventure. So, every Friday, we pick a restaurant and post its address for you. The catch is, that's all the information you get. No name, no type of cuisine, and no Googling. Here's last week's address:

415 Tompkins Ave = Peaches Hothouse

This week's restaurant follows typical Donde Dinner? fashion. Price, quality, and accessibility have all been taken into account. You won't be waiting at the bar for two hours with $15 cocktails and you never have to worry about a dress code. Just hop on the train, or your feet, or your bike, and head to:

424 East 9th Street (map)

Wing Week: Part V

We kicked off Wing Week at The Wing Bar. Wogies, Buffalo Boss, and McFadden's followed, and now we're finishing things off back in Brooklyn at one of our favorite wings spots: Bonnie's Grill, aka New York City's gateway to Western New York.

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Wing Week: Part IV

If you're a Buffalo Bills fan, we're sorry, but at least you have McFadden's Saloon. McFadden's is a Bills bar, and every gameday during football season they run a $20 special that includes unlimited wings and beer. Needless to say, there's little room to wiggle. We had our first wings in great excess from McFadden's during the Bills vs. Packers game in 2006 (Bills won 24-10). The wings were good, and McFadden's has been on our radar ever since. On a recent rainy afternoon, with actual elbow room to eat them, we found them all the more enjoyable.

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