Food Portal Launches, Sea Palace Folds, the Falls Gets a MakeoverIn possibly the most nutso opening profile ever, Michael Daly visits Midnight Cafe and ponders its former incarnation as the Falls: “The mirrors behind the long-bar-turned-diner-counter were also the same, the very mirrors that had shimmered with Imette St. Guillen’s reflection as she lingered alone at closing time, sipping her last drink before final moments that would end in terror.” [NYDN]
So much for the Calorie Restriction Diet: A study indicates wine and fat are the way to health. [NYDN]
They’re just like us: Lydia Hearst gets bounced from Scores. [NYP]
Danny’s Grand Sea Palace (home of the Skylight Room) to close after 31 years. [NYP]
Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray fans, meet Yahoo Food. [Yahoo]
A butcher shop becomes a café; Japanese fundamentals with French-Thai flair at Mantra. [Gayot]
Despite initial reports, the Grayz-Aquavit space may not be on the market. [Snack]
Back of the House
Monkeys Ape Our Reporter in the ‘Times’The Times reports today that rhesus monkeys live longer when starved on the bizarre Calorie Restriction program that Julian Dibbell subjected himself to in last week’s issue of New York. Responding to the piece in the magazine, we devised our own reduced-calorie diet (in which we would limit ourselves to just one White Castle burger at breakfast, among other items) and Adam Platt described how he attempts to stay thin (no mention of sliders). But having seen how unhappy that healthy old rhesus looks, we’re having second thoughts about limiting ourselves to four tater tots at a time. We realize that the moral, as the Times seems to suggest, is that Calorie Restriction is for the monkeys. We wholeheartedly agree.
One for the Ages: A Prescription That May Extend Life [NYT]
The Gobbler
How a Restaurant Critic DietsLike the spavined, dreamy-eyed diet freaks celebrated in this week’s magazine, the Gobbler spends a good part of each day obsessing over his calorie intake. Unlike those healthful wraiths, however, he’s not concerned about limiting himself to 1,800 calories over the course of a day; he’s concerned about limiting himself to 1,800 calories during dessert. (Or, for that matter, 4,000 calories over a modest luncheon at some new, not very distinguished Italian restaurant). Already chubby before becoming a professional eater, the Gobbler got on a scale a couple of years ago and found he’d ballooned to a sumo-size 286 pounds. Ever since that horrible day, he’s been forced to exercise, utilize steely self-discipline, and call upon the help of several long-suffering nutritionists. Briefly, a few summers ago, he got down to a slim 225 pounds. Recently, the scale’s needle has been drifting back up, so before the Gobbler once again becomes grossly and irredeemably fat, here are a few of his common-sense diet tips.
In the Magazine
Starve Your Way Into Immortality! Plus, Our Tater-Tot Diet
This week’s cover story tells of a bizarre, possibly successful scheme by a small cult of New Yorkers to extend their carcasses into extreme old age by tricking their bodies into thinking they’re starving. Or by actually starving. We’re not entirely sure we can tell the difference. The technique is called “calorie reduction,” and it gives us the shudders. Read the article if you dare. But let’s say, for the sake of argument, that we wanted to live past 40. Would a limited calorie intake be possible? Here’s a typical day following a Grub Street–style diet.