CHELSEA— Last night Bon Appetit held an official awards ceremony at Del Posto to honor the chefs, restaurateurs, and other food industry folks it celebrates in its October issue. Highlights: Batali (who prepared the five course meal and accepted an award on behalf of his Babbo pastry chef) has indeed lost a great deal of weight, Donatella Arpaia recently purchased a bright yellow lamborghini, and Jennifer Baum at one time offered to do PR for Psilakis for free. Speeches focused on sustainability (of course), the role of a modern chef (ie a fat cat restaurateur), and the importance of health care for restaurant workers. Only one speaker riffed on Sarah Palin. [EaterWire]
LOWER EAST SIDE— Grub Street reports some news from the Two Boots empire. Their Grand Street operation will soon serve drinks: "The chain's Grand Street storefront will become Two Boots Tavern within a month, complete with seven stools, a few TVs, and the kind of finger food you can cook in a pizza oven. Why is it time for a drink? Because smiley-face pizzas alone aren’t paying the bills." [GS]
