Eating & Drinking: Wednesday Edition
• The week in reviews: Pete Wells of the Times shows little love for Hotel Griffou this week, leaving the Village hotspot starless; TONY's Jay Cheshes has nice things to say about Michael Psilakis' Gus & Gabriel; NY's Patronite & Raisfeld weigh in on Brooklyn's Fort Defiance; RG visits Yerba Buena Perry; and Gael Greene shares thoughts on Jeffrey Chodorow's latest, Ed's Chowder House.
• More photos/details about the new MePa venue Abe & Arthur's. [TFB, Eater]
• Are those calorie counts that are now posted for all to see (sigh) actually making a difference? Unclear, but the city is now conducting "research." [NYT]
• Incoming Tavern on the Green operator Dean Poll says it will take up to four years (and lots of cash, of course) to finish renovations on the space. [NYP]
• Nevermind the endless delays and appalling lack of legroom, some airlines are now offering passengers their very own signature cocktails. Yay! [VV]
• Do you know a "foodiot"? Probably, although you may be one, too. [NYO]
• If Mike Bloomberg asks you to bring over dinner, you can't go wrong with the half chicken with herbs at Quatorze Bis or the Sichuan shrimp from Shun Lee Palace. Whatever you do, do not pick up anything from Blue Smoke. [NYT]
• Ramsay, Ducasse, Puck, et al: A list of the "20 biggest chef empires." [GS]
• A peek inside Travertine, which opens in Nolita in early October. And a look inside the revamped Armando's in Brooklyn Heights, opening next week.
• A "Juan Valdez" lookalike has been in NYC this week to promote Colombian coffee. Meanwhile, Bloomingdale's is toasting Brazil tonight. [WSJ, Zagat]
• A woman who claims she was denied her "dream job" of putting on a bikini to work at Hawaiian Tropic Zone is getting her day in court. Mazel tov. [NYDN]