Alan Richman

Under the Toque: Guy Fieri in NYC, Todd English Sued

According to The New York Times, Guy Fieri will be opening a restaurant in Times Square. Fieri has seven restaurants already in California but the New York concept will be completely different. It's slated to be called Guy's American Kitchen and Bar. [New York Times] Le Bernardin will be hosting a ... More >>

Winners of the James Beard Foundation's Book, Broadcast and Journalism Awards

The winners of the James Beard Foundation's media awards were announced last night (the glitzy chef awards will be presented tonight and you can follow along here, if you like). Congratulations to all of the winners!

Anthony Bourdain Hates a Certain "Lion of Food Writing"

Don't mess with Tony​Anthony Bourdain has many a bone to pick in his latest blog post for No Reservations. First up, a justifiable critique of this year's James Beard Awards theme.

IACP Cookbook and Media Award Finalists Announced

IACP​It's the foodie awards season, and IACP just announced the finalists for its prestigious annual cookbook and journalism awards. Over 500 entries were submitted for consideration in this year's cookbook awards categories, with 52 books in 17 categories selected as finalists via a rigorous ... More >>

Our 10 Best Vegetarian Restaurants

Robert SietsemaSapthagiri's kanchipuram idli.​ While New York has no scarcity of excellent vegetarian food, actual vegetarian restaurants are in shorter supply, and categorically superb vegetarian restaurants are an even rarer breed. Or so it would appear if you limit your search only to plac ... More >>

Last Night's Bourdain-Chang Show: Eataly, Too Many Hamburgers, and Dying Creativity

SF Eater92Y didn't allow photos last night, so here's an old one of the gruesome twosome in San Francisco.​At this point in their respective careers, Anthony Bourdain and David Chang can do their brotherly cynics act in their sleep. So their appearance at the 92Y last night, where they took to ... More >>

It's Anthony Bourdain's Birthday. Here Are 10 Things You Can Get Him.

The birthday boy in his birthday suit.​ Did you know that Anthony Bourdain turned 54 today? Neither did we, but a co-worker thoughtfully informed us of this fact. As of late, Bourdain seems to have pretty much everything a man could want in life: a successful career, an adored wife and daughte ... More >>

Robert Sietsema at The Commodore; Sarah DiGregorio at Takashi

This week in the Voice, Robert Sietsema has a stiff drink and the usual "retro-Southern-locavoric-hash-house fare" at The Commodore in Williamsburg. Sarah DiGregorio chews on some raw tripe and grills beef heart at Takashi. Sam Sifton approves of the newly reopened Annisa, where Anita Lo, "is not b ... More >>

Robert Sietsema at Halikarnas and Marmaris; Sarah DiGregorio at 5 & Diamond

This week in the Voice, Robert Sietsema takes to Sheepshead Bay to visit Halikarnas and Marmaris, two competing Turkish seafood spots; while Sarah DiGregorio heads up to Harlem to see just how Twitter-happy chef Ryan Skeen is holding up at 5 & Diamond. Sam Sifton approves of Takashi: "a modest and ... More >>

Robert Sietsema at Casa Calamari; Sarah DiGregorio at d.o.b. 111 & Mikey's Burger

This week in the Voice, Robert Sietsema visits Casa Calamari, "one of Brooklyn's last great focaccerias." Sarah DiGregorio checks out Michael "Bao" Huynh's latest: d.o.b. 111 and Mikey's Burger. Sam Sifton awards Fatty 'Cue a star. Despite it being "dark and shouty inside... the food is incredibly ... More >>

Robert Sietsema at Skovorodka; Sarah DiGregorio at Colicchio & Sons

This week in the Voice, Robert Sietsema rides the Q to Brighton Beach for "regional fare from former Soviet republics" at Skovorodka. Sarah DiGregorio finds that the food at Colicchio & Sons "lacks focus and, somehow, verve." Meanwhile, Sam Sifton was impressed enough to award Colicchio & Sons thre ... More >>

A(nother) Requiem for Restaurant Criticism

Lise Gagne/istockNot extinct. Just looks that way.​Josh Ozersky gets on the Time website today to use the recent firing of Raymond Sokolov, the Wall Street Journal's longtime restaurant critic as a jumping-off point for a eulogy to Sokolov and his ilk. "Real foodies," Ozersky writes, "should ... More >>

Robert Sietsema at Red Sea 47; Sarah DiGregorio at Recette

This week in the Voice, Robert Sietsema finds a few redeeming dishes among the blandness at Red Sea 47; Sarah DiGregorio loses her shirt trying to get full at Recette. Sam Sifton awards Motorino one star, declaring that it "serves the city's best pizza.... consistently, at both locations." [NY Time ... More >>

Sietsema at Sapthagiri; DiGregorio at Torrisi Italian Specialties and Despana

This week in the Voice, Our Man Sietsema samples an array of vegetarian southern Indian, including Jain and Swaminarayan food, at Sapthagiri in Jersey City. Sarah DiGregorio makes a couple of meals out of the Italian-American bites at Torrisi Italian Specialties and the Spanish tapas at Despana. Sa ... More >>

Rachael Ray Says That Motorino's the Best Pizza on the East Coast

Motorino: best in show?​ It seems only yesterday that Alan Richman was fanning the flames of controversy with his list of the 25 best pizzas in the country. Actually, it was last May, and in the world of food best-of lists, that's about 47 years, so thank heavens that no less a culinary author ... More >>

Under Review: Sietsema at Flushing's Northeast Taste Chinese Food

This week in the Voice, Our Man Sietsema meets with the Organ Meat Society at Flushing's Northeast Taste Chinese Food for kidneys, pig heart, and sweet and sour lamb liver. Sam Sifton finds Maialino praiseworthy, awarding it two stars for, among other things, its pig, which comes "roasted, braised, ... More >>

New York City Wine & Food Fest Wrap-Up; Restaurant Workers Like to Light Up

​At TimesTalks, moderated by Frank Bruni on Friday, Anthony Bourdain talked about obesity: "If you're 5'8" and 400 pounds, that's not a lifestyle choice; that's a social problem," and Rachael Ray: "[She] sent me a fruit basket, and I'm just not talking shit about her anymore." [NY Post] Bourd ... More >>

Who Will Replace Bruni?

Frank Bruni's gig at the Times is coming to an end in about three weeks. That means that his replacement has likely already been chosen--Bruni writes in his memoir that each critic is given several weeks of preparatory time, basically to fly all over the world and eat in the best restaurants. So i ... More >>

Under Review: Sietsema Hits the Only Iraqi Restaurant in Town, La Kabbr

This week in the Voice, Our Man Sietsema delves into authentic Iraqi cuisine at La Kabbr. Frank Bruni has a hard time getting a table at Graydon Carter's Monkey Bar, but when he finally does, encounters "supple and sweet" lobster thermidor and "watery" linguine, earning the good-looking establishme ... More >>

Under Review--Sietsema At Rudar Soccer Club; DiGregorio At Marea

This week in the Voice, Our Man Sietsema and his fellow Wet Towel Club members made friends with bean-y veal sauce at the Rudar Soccer Club, while Sarah DiGregorio rubbed elbows with the dining elite at Marea. Bruni says cheese is the way to go at Bar Artisanal, where you can experience any number ... More >>

Report from Brooklyn's Unfancy Food Show

A Fish-eye view of the under-the-tent festivities is provided by the bottom of a copper pan hanging over The Brooklyn Kitchen stall. Williamsburg's East River Bar and an adjacent side yard were the site of the Unfancy Food Show, sponsored by brooklynbased.com. It ran from noon till 6 ... More >>

Under Review--Sietsema Samples Mexican-Italian-Argentinean At El Almacen; DiGregorio Goes Down the Gastropub

This week in the Voice, Our Man Sietsema finds out what an Argentinean taco tastes like at El Almacen, while Sarah DiGregorio heads to the LES for some pub grub. Bruni gives Keith McNally his dues and then some, awarding the reinvented Minetta Tavern a whopping three stars and praising it for turni ... More >>

Under Review--Sietsema Gets His Pozole On at Xochimilco; DiGregorio Has Fun With Fish at Desnuda

This week in the Voice, Our Man Sietsema discovers pambazos and pozole at Sunset Park's Xochimilco, while Sarah DiGregorio has fun with the food at Desnuda. Bruni awards no stars to snootily papered West Village eatery Charles, but amuses himself by formatting his review as an email from "Frannie V ... More >>

In Styles