Buon Compleanno Eataly!

Eataly opened two years ago today.  The Flatiron location of the Italian mega store is the first in the states, though plans are quickly developing for Chicago and Los Angeles locations.  Dan Amatuzzi is the Wine Director at Eataly.  He oversees the wine program at each of Eataly's six restaurants and he works closely with Eataly's wine store.  Prior to Eataly, Dan was the Wine Director at Otto from May 2008 to July 2010.  I worked with Dan during these two great years and learned more about Italian wine than I ever imagined possible.  His passion, knowledge, and approach to wine lit a fire in me that continues to burn.  When Dan left to open Eataly, he offered me a job in the wine store.  I took it.  Always a fellow of few words, Dans advice was to show up on August 24th, a week before Eataly opened, and "Just ask for Niccolo."

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There's Something Fishy Going On at Frankies 570

When Dave Pasternack left Esca to head up Eataly's Il Pesce restaurant in 2010, Chef de Cuisine Katie O'Donnell got a littler busier.  Eater brings us the news that now, after seven years at Esca, she heads to Frankies 570 on Hudson Street in Manhattan, the newest addition in the Frank and Frank empire.

Minetta Lane is in Michael Toscano's Ear and in Gabe Stulman's Eye

When Eataly opened at the end of August in 2010, Michael Toscano made the move from Babbo to head the stoves at Manzo, Eataly's flagship resto.  After a year and a half he will pack up and take his knives to Perla, the new venture from West Village powerhouse Gabe Stulman.

Perla will open in the old Bellavitae space at 24 Minetta Lane.  Chef Toscano's Italian cooking will fit into a traditional antipasti, primi, secondi Italian menu format.  The space boasts a wood burning, brick oven that will lend itself nicely to various roasts for two.

Along with Mr. Toscano comes a pretty all-star staff.

Eataly Has a Case of the Monday's

Rosso Pomodoro, the pizzeria at Eataly, will be sharing their oven starting next Monday.  Starting on the 20th, Pizza a Quattro Mani (pizza from 4 hands) will run for six weeks and feature a different pizzaiolo every Monday.  The first cameo will be Mathieu Palombino from Motorino.

Now the only question is, Pizza or Crab Monday?

Will Chicago be Home to the Second U.S. Eataly?

Grant Achatz was recently in New York looking for a place to call home for his Chicago cocktail bar The Aviary.  To keep the culinary world spinning on its axis, Joe Bastianich went to Chicago looking for a space to expand the Eataly empire. 

It's sort of like Monopoly, would the Chicago location offer free parking??