Fifteen East — the restaurant that originally opened in 2007 in conjunction with Marco Moreira of Tocqueville — has reopened yet again at 15 East 15th Street, at Fifth Avenue, in Union Square, this time with new ownership. The new partners are Jay Lim and Tasuku Murakami, former head chef at Sushi Azabu in New York and the Lobster Club from Major Food Group. It’s the third revival (at least) of the Michelin-starred restaurant, which reopened in 2020 in the pandemic as an all-weather outside area that had sat 120 people for $145 per person. This new rendition, which opened on Tuesday, July 22 with a $235-per-person omakase, will showcase the use of sake kasu (sake lees), which is the rice byproduct from the sake brewing process in marinading fish — a time-tested technique. The experimentation will go beyond fish as the kitchen uses it with items like cheese and in the cocktail program. Two seatings can be reserved online, for 5:30 and 7:45 p.m.
Queens comfort-food restaurant makes Manhattan debut, finally
Comfortland, the Astoria-based restaurant dedicated to all sorts of comfort foods, finally made its Manhattan debut on Sunday, July 23. This third location is found on the Lower East Side at 92 Rivington Street, near Ludlow Street. Expect casual hearty dishes like crispy chicken crunchwraps, chopped cheese empanadas, and loaded mac and cheeses. There are dine-in counter seats as well as takeout and delivery services. The Manhattan expansion was supposed to open in April 2024, but there were some snags leading to delays. Then recently, owner Donnie D’Alessio signed a new lease for the same address.
Bronx bakery stars in Bad Bunny’s new music video
Valencia Bakery in the Bronx made the cakes featured in Puerto Rican superstar rapper Bad Bunny’s music video for “NUEVAYoL,” released earlier this month. Owner Raul Valera tells Gothamist that he and his staff didn’t know who the client was until they delivered the cakes to Bronx Community College. The plot of the music video centered on a quinceañera in New York — the Valencia staff made 10 cakes that were placed onto tiered stands. The bakery is honoring its music video cameo by selling that same cake, the Benito Cake, a sponge cake with filling options like cherry, guava, and strawberry cream, covered in buttercream.
AloJapan.com