The Titanic Turns 100 on Sunday

One hundred years ago, just before midnight on April 14th, 1912, the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic.  She struggled to stay afloat after 5 of her 16 watertight compartments were torn open.  Before she sank on that cold, dreadful night, the first class members experienced a meal that reflected the wealth onboard the transatlanic vessel.

To honor the 100th anniversary, Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo of the Frankies Empire are recreating the 10-course dinner that was served that fateful night.  Their restaurant Prime Meats, on Court Street in Brooklyn, will host the $115/person, black tie preferred event this Sunday at 7pm.

San Sebastian, Meet Frank. Frank, Meet San Sebastian.

The Lower East Side outpost of Frankies shut their doors earlier this week for a quick makeover.  They will reopen tonight as Francesca, a Basque-style restaurant headed by chef Ryan Bartlow.  He made the move from Frankies 570, on Hudson Street, to the new-old location at 17 Clinton Street.  His experience working at Akelarre, a three-Michellin-star restaurant in San Sebastian, shows on Francesca's menu.  There's an attached glossary that will conveniently save the servers the hassle of answering the same question 7,318 times a night.  Good move.

Katie O'Donnell, formerly of Esca, has taken over at 570.

Parma to Iberico; Frankies 17 Switches Hams March 23rd

Katie O'Donnell left Esca and went to work with the Franks.  She replaced Ryan Bartlow at Frankies 570.  Bartlow, who knows a thing or two about Spanish food, is going to the L.E.S. Frankies at 17 Clinton Street.

The restaurant is going to close March 21st, see a two day, Restaurant Impossible-style makeover, and open on the 23rd as a Basque restaurant dubbed Francesca.