QUICK HITS:
♦ Rumor has it that James Beard award winning chef Andy Ricker of Pok Pok and Ping in Portland, Oregon, as well as Pok Pok Ny and Pok Pok Phat Thai in NYC, will be consulting for Khong, the new Northern Thai restaurant being opened by 50 Eggs Restaurant Group and John Kunkel (Lime, Yardbird, Swine). No word yet on the extent of Ricker’s consulting duties but this is certainly a great development, if true.
UPDATE: Lesley Abravanel at Miami.com tracked down this rumor and the restaurant says not so fast. The official word is that the restaurant will be carrying Pok Pok’s line of drinking vinegars and that Andy Ricker was kind enough to put John Kunkel in touch with some folks in Chang Mai for some food advice, but that’s it. Rumor squashed.
♦ Miami.com reports that Michelle Bernstein is opening a second outpost of her sandwich and pie emporium, Crumb on Parchment, at The Webster, a boutique clothing store on South Beach. We’ll see who has the last laugh when I get blueberry pie all over their fancy clothing.
♦ Lest you think, based on the success of Phuc Yea, Eating House, and Broken Shaker, that all pop-ups succeed, The Dining Room pop-up has closed after 25 days operating out of the Shelborne South Beach. Of course, that’s a pretty normal run for a restaurant at the Shelborne, so we shouldn’t poke too much fun at The Dining Room. If you have a short-term vacation rental available, they’re actively looking for a new location.
