Andrew Carmellini Plans French Restaurant in Former Chinatown Brasserie Space

The owners of Chinatown Brasserie announced they are closing their six-year-old restaurant on Lafayette Street today. Josh Pickard, John McDonald, and chef Joe Ng have plans to reopen in a smaller venue in the same neighborhood, where they feel the restaurant can be a better experience. Joe Ng will continue his duties as executive chef at West Village hotspot Redfarm. 

Josh Pickard is a partner with Luke Ostrom and Andrew Carmellini in Locanda Verde and The Dutch. Diner's Journal reports today that the powerhouse team is taking over the old Brasserie space and planning a French restaurant.

Mum will be much of the word while the project is in its infant stages, but we know Carmellini is well-versed in French cuisine. He worked under Gary Kunz at Lespinasse and with Daniel Boulud at Cafe Boulud.  It will be interesting to see what the partners do with the two floors at 380 Lafayette Street.

It's Perfect Chardonnay Weather

In the 60s and 70s, Oregon oenologists had the idea that if pinot noir, the red grape of Burgundy, grows well in their terroir, so must chardonnay, Burdundy's white grape.  Subtle differences proved otherwise and it wasn't until the 80s, with the arrival of Domaine Drouhin, that Oregon got on the right track and planted vines that thrived in the unique climate.

Eric Asimov and Florence Fabricant sat down with Blue Pilkington, a somm at Cafe Boulud, and Dustin Wilson, the wine director at Eleven Madison Park, to taste through a selection of Oregon chardonnays.

The winner was a 2009 reserve chardonnay from Lemelson, in the Willamette Valley. $22