Lucky Peach Issue 7 Is Almost Here

Lucky Peach subscribers the world over will start to find Issue 7 in their mailboxes in the coming days. The quarterly magazine isn't out in stores or Momofuku outposts yet, but the Travel issue is ready to read. And it's a big one. "What is inside?" asks the LP website, "So many words! Maybe our most words ever."

Those include, "Smart words about snake eating" from The New Yorker staff writer Philip Gourevitch, "Handwritten words about The Most Beautiful Taco Bell in the World from artist Jason Polan," travel tips from Mario Batali, and contriutions from LP vets Harold McGee and Tony Bourdain.

Del Posto's pastry chef Brooks Headley goes back to his punk roots (re: Born Against) for what McSweeney's website calls "Punk rock touring with Brooks Headley." Other highlights include "the history of curry," "an epic sub on the Jersey Shore," and "the world’s most dangerous chicken in Rio de Janeiro."

Happy reading!

Lucky Peach Issue Six Hits Shelves Today

If you subscribe to Lucky Peach, or frequent any of the Momofuku restaurants, you probably already got your hands on Issue #6: "Before and After the Apocolypse." If you don't, the magazine is available in stores today. It's broken down into two sections: pre and post-apocolypse. Editor Peter Meehan writes the topic came about after he and co-editor David Chang had a discussion about Collapse, "a feature-length interview with Michael C. Ruppert, a reporter, who chronicles how our current economic and every systems will systematically fail, and how our civilization will collapse soon after." The issue calls on Michael Pollan, Ted Nugent, and Anthony Bourdain to shed some light on the current state of the food world. There's also talk of zombies and plagues, a taste test of canned tomato sauce with Mark Ladner, and some bomb shelter essentials. Get your copy here.

Testing, Testing, 1, 2...

david chang in momofuku's test kitchen, courtesy of eaterEater published this amazing post of test kitchens from around the world yesterday.  These kitchens are void of seats and the pressures of cooking for guests.  They are haven's where chefs are able to experiment with new ideas and work together with their chefs de cuisine to formulate new menus.  In a sense, they're gastronomic laboratories.

Part of what makes the list so remarkable is the lineup.  Momofuku, The Fat Duck, elBulli, and Noma are all captured in great detail with pictures and insight into the philosophies that drive some of the greatest restaurants in the world.

Lucky Peach Issue 4 is Coming Next Month

The fourth installment of David Chang, Peter Meehan, and Chris Ying's food mag Lucky Peach is a month away.  McSweeney's website revealed the cover with a few details about what to expect in Issue 4, the American Food Issue. 

David Simon, creator of HBO hit series The Wire and Treme, contributes with "Salty Comforts," an article that remembers his dad via pickles and cream.  Marco Canora, Wylie Dufresne (talking about his new tasting menu?), Harold McGee and Anthony Bourdain all have a hand in the next issue which gets published July 10th.  You can order your copy now at Amazon or wait until Friday, July 13th, the date "Issue Four will be in stores and on newsstands by."  As always, it'll also be available at all the Momofuku spots.

NYC People and Places Shine at the JB Awards

The annual James Beard Awards took place last night at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center and some of the city's talent walked away with great honors.

Paul Grieco won for Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional, PDT won for Outstanding Bar Program, and La Grenouille gets the Outstanding Service award. 

Christina Tosi, the mind behind Momofuku's Milk Bar empire, won the Rising Star Chef of the Year award, one that is given to "A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come."

Responsible for the kitchens at The Nomad and Eleven Madison Park, Daniel Humm takes home the Outstanding Chef award for his work at EMP.

After some time away from the kitchen to recover from open-heart surgery, Gramercy Tavern chef Michael Anthony won the award for Best Chef: New York City.

Here's the list of all the winners and photo's from last nights event.

Higgins, Stop Eating the Chicken!

David Chang was on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night to have a chicken battle with Roots drummer ?uestlove.  If Chang losses, ?uestlove's chicken would go on the menu's at Momofuku's in the city and he would get a spread in the next issue of Lucky Peach.  Should Chang win, ?uestlove would have to stand outside one of the Momofuku restaurants and promote Chang's chicken and give him a shout out ever night on Late Night for a week.

Turns out Higgins, the shows announcer, is a pretty big fan of fried chicken.  Check out the clip for the winner.

Fun Food Fueled Reading

Sometime last summer Momofuku mastermind David Chang decided to get in touch with his literary side. 

Lucky Peach ('Momofuku' translation) is a collaborative, quarterly magazine put together by McSweeney's, chef David Chang, writer Peter Meehan, and EIC Chris Ying.  The previous two issues are full of captivating, informative, and wild stories from people in Chang's circle.

Issue #3 is due out next month.