Our inbox here is constantly inundated with press releases announcing such groundbreaking news as a Bulgarian legend going on tour or an interview with some dude from Maroon 5 on Sirius. That is to say, each day we lose our love for life a little more. But some days—one or two a year, if you're lucky— there's a little gem that lodges itself there that makes the other 12,000 Cialis emails worth it. Here's one for the ages. "To celebrate the success of the past 10 years, Balthazar will be offering diners lots of complimentary Champagne." Yes, c'est vrai. On April 23rd, Keith McNally is giving away more flutes of Champagne than Marie Antoinette ever did.

Breakfasters get a free glass with a meal while lunchers and dinnerers get a whole goddamn bottle. True, you don't actually get a balthazar of champagne but the man's got a business to run. At any rate, if you've been wanting to catch Lockhart Steele drunk on bubbly, April 23rd is your day. Probably our entire staff will rotate in and out of the place making McNally rue the day he ever offered it. But, as they say, Apr

s nous le d

luge and all.

Balthazar Celebrates its 10th Year with Complimentary Champagne

When Balthazar Restaurant, the SoHo institution, opened, it brought the bustle of New York City downtown to what was once a quiet industrial neighborhood comprised of artists and galleries.

Balthazar serves traditional bistro meals from breakfast through late-night supper in a setting, which evokes a feeling of a Paris brasserie. Opened by Keith McNally in the spring of 1997, Balthazar offers a French menu prepared by Chefs de Cuisine Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson. Diners can also choose from an extensive wine list, a raw seafood bar, and breads & pastries from Balthazar Bakery.

Most people don't even know what a Balthazar is. . . [ED Note: WTF?]

Pour 16 bottles of Champagne in one bottle and you've got yourself a Balthazar (think, Magnum...). So to celebrate the success of the past 10 years, Balthazar will be offering diners lots of complimentary Champagne.

The Champagne served will be: Champagne Gardet Premier Cru, Balthazar 10-year Anniversary Cuv

e Brut NV which is imported exclusively for Balthazar and is available in the US only at the restaurant. This richly flavored, complex and lively Champagne is made from grapes picked from some of the best vineyards in Champagne. It is handcrafted in limited quantity by the House of Gardet, continually family-run since its founding in 1895.

How it Works:

Monday, April 23, 2007 - all day.

Breakfast - Complimentary glass of champagne or a Mimosa, with a meal.

Lunch, Late Lunch, Dinner and Supper - Complimentary bottle of champagne for parties up to 5 people, with a meal. Parties of 6 or more will be offered two bottles.

Hours of Operation:

BREAKFAST LUNCH & LATE LUNCH

Mon to Fri: 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM Mon to Fri: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sat & Sun: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

DINNER & AFTER HOURS

BRUNCH Mon to Thu: 5:45 PM - 1:00 AM

Sat & Sun: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Fri & Sat: 5:45 PM - 2:00 AM

Sun: 5:30 PM - 12:00 AM



Keith McNally additionally owns and operates:

Morandi, Schiller's Liquor Bar, Pastis, Balthazar Bakery, Pravda and Lucky Strike.

Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson are also Chefs de Cuisine at Pastis and Schiller's Liquor Bar.

In addition to operating his restaurants, Keith wrote The Balthazar Cookbook (Clarkson Potter 2003), along with co-chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, with a foreword by cultural critic, Robert Hughes.

Balthazar Restaurant

80 Spring Street

(between Broadway and Crosby)

New York, NY 10012

212.965.1414

www.balthazarny.com