Michael White is Watering his Altamarea Plant

Michael White is the culinary mind behind a growing number of restaurants.  His Altamarea Group owns Marea, Ai Fiori, Osteria Morini, and Nicoletta here in the city, in addition to property in New Jersey and Hong Kong. Butterfly is scheduled to open later this year under the Altamarea umbrella in Tribeca, with a solid cocktail program and food inspired by White's Midwest upbringing.

Today, Flo Fab reports the empire is heading uptown.  Michael White and his business partner Ahmass Fakahany signed a lease for an Upper East Side space. The name? Ristorante Morini. It will fill the two levels of 1167 Madison Avenue (@85th Street), with a cafe planned for downstairs and a white table cloth affair on the upper level. The restaurant will serve Italian cuisine that falls somewhere between that of Osteria Morini and Marea.

Mr. Fakahany refers to the company's expansions as part of the "Morini brand." It is a philosophy woven through Altamarea Group's vision that makes for duplicatable restaurants and leaves endless room for growth.

Nicoletta Attacks Gotham City Friday

Ed Levine and Adam Kuban are the culinary version of Batman and Robin.  The difference is, crime doesn't motivate them, pizza does.  Ed Levine wrote a book called Pizza: A Slice of Heaven.  His pal Adam Kuban writes a colum for Seriouseats called Slice, a NYC based weblog that's dedicated to pizza.  Their extensive knowledge of all things pizza is why they're able to bring us this detailed, first-look at Nicoletta, Michael White's new pizzeria opening in the East Village this Friday, June 15th.

Nicoletta is a break from Michael White's refined, attention-to-detail driven Italian cooking made famous at Marea, Osteria Morini and Ai Fiori.  The East Village haunt is inspired by a place called Domenico's in White's hometown of Beloit, Wisconsin.  It will serve 12 and 16-inch pizzas, a traditional lasagna, and one flavor of gelato to guests dining indoors or out, in any of the 38 sidewalk seats.

A whole milk mozzarella from Wisconsin will top certain pizzas and beers from the same state are available to wash them down.  According to a Times article, "every table is fitted with metal sockets in which the stems of cantilevered pizza stands are placed."  This is done to free up table space.  Eater has some awesome pictures of an empty dining room, probably your last chance to see it that way.

Pasta Night at Osteria Morini with Alexander Hamilton

Starting this Monday, the 14th, Osteria Morini is offering any of the pastas from their menu for $10.  The special runs from 9:30 to close (11pm), and is supposedly an "I'm in the industry" deal, but anyone can get in on the ravioli in nettle pesto, the shrimp & seppia ragu with fava beans, or any of the other 10 pastas.

Aside from the blatant deal of a $10 pasta, Michael White will be there to cook it for you.

Good Food Will Soon Take Flight at LaGuardia

There's some changes going on over at LaGuardia Airport.  Delta Air Lines is taking over Terminal C and there's a serious list of restauranteurs moving in.  Andrew Carmellini, Michael White, and folks from Balthazar are all involved.  The list reads a bit like an abridged version of The Great Googa Mooga lineup.

Maybe that will change peoples attitudes about D.E.L.T.A. (Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport)

It's Bottarga to Cheese Curds for Michael White

A community board meeting held last night granted Michael White a liquor license for The Butterfly, a space at 225 West Broadway he's planning to open this summer.  It will be a break from fusilli with octopus and bone marrow, and will give Chef White a chance to wow us with the foods of his Wisconsin upbringing. 

The Butterfly will be 55 seats, small and cozy, with Prime Rib Wednesdays and Fish Fry Fridays driving home that Midwest feel.