Kiwiana Is Open!

Photo by Tom Callan / The Brooklyn PaperTop Chef runner up and New Zealand native Mark Simmons opened his new restaurant Kiwiana yesterday! 

I can't wait to catch a glimpse of the handsome chef and try his Lavender goats’ milk ricotta cheese cake with roasted golden beets ($8).

If anyone goes this week let me know how it is! I'm in Massachusetts hanging out with American dogs and eating plain, store-bought cheesecake, otherwise I'd be there.

Kiwiana is located at 847 Union Street between 6th and 7th ave (718) 230-3682.

Park Slope: A Meat Pounder's Wet Dream

Jason Fox of Fleisher's Meats Photograph: Lindsay Pugnali / Via Time Out NY

Calling all Park Slope carnivores! If you’re tired of the non-organic meat in the nabe, today is your lucky day: Get ready to deep throat a shit ton of organic protein! Fleisher's Butcher Shop is SOOOOCLOSE to opening on 5th avenue, and we've got a preview of the handsome fella that's gonna' be behind the meat counter.

Click to read more ...

Breaking: Fatoosh Turning Into A Thai Restaurant?

We just received this email from FiPS reader Ashley: "They have begun construction where Fatoosh used to be on 5th Avenue.  Saw the guys leaving today and asked about what will be in the space, and they told me it was a Thai restaurant.  Fingers crossed for good cookin'."

I know we're all sad that Fatoosh is gone, and this new place might be like the ribbon-clad puppy that is brought home to replace your old dog that was sent to "live on the farm," but who knows -- maybe you'll grow to like it! Maybe the Thai joint will run at your heels on the way to baseball practice and swim in Old Miller's Pond with you. Maybe the Thai joint will become the best friend you thought you'd never have. 

Chelsea gets mole'd

Seventh Avenue's mole fixture Chiles & Chocolate is opening an outpost in Chelsea this weekend. 

The new location, at 155 Eighth Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets, promises to serve foods covered in chili pepper and chocolate (possibly both).

The tiny Park Slope location recently moved a few storefronts down to 92 7th Avenue. The new location is bigger which means more of the brunch crowd can get their ranchero eggs on.

Chiles & Chocolate is the latest in a number of Park Slope dining establishments to move into Manhattan. Beer Table opened Beer Table Pantry in Grand Central Terminal, where commuters can pick up fancy bottles of the brew. South Slope bar Toby's Public House is set to open a second location on Kenmare Street. East Village recently gained two new restaurants by the expansion of South Brooklyn Pizza and Oaxaca Taquerias into Manhattan.

It's a win-win situation. Manhattan folks won't need to trek into the Slope for their choco-chile fix, and I can get my spicy hot chocolate without listening to them gripe about having to take the train to Brooklyn.

Chef Dale Talde Teases Us With Yummy Dish-To-Be

Restaurant-to-be Talde's head chef Dale Talde recently tweeted a new soup dish that will appear on his menu: Pork and chive Wonton soup, with Chinese ham and broccoli rabe. 

MMMMMMM.

I'm ready for this joint to be open already.