NEWYORK.GRUBSTREET.com

Boerum Hill: The former chef at Michael’s opened a seafood restaurant called Café Mei Mei. [NYT]
Midtown West: If the Radio City area wasn’t packed enough, Magnolia Bakery now sells red-velvet cupcakes topped with Rockette decorations through December 31 that come with discount vouchers to see the Radio City Christmas Show. [Grub Street]
Union Square: The House, an 1854 carriage house turned wine bar, now serves brunch and lunch with everything from truffled mac and cheese to tuna over lentils. [Grub Street]
Upper East Side: Southern Hospitality hosts a $45 tequila tasting tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. that includes snacks of ribs and pulled chicken. [Grub Street]
Upper West Side: A Voce, Picholine, and Ed’s Chowder House are among the restaurants participating in the tenth annual Winter’s Eve holiday market on November 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. Vendors stretch down Broadway from Time Warner Center to 68th Street. [Grub Street]
West Village: Joseph Leonard introduces Cochon Sundays, when chef Jim McDuffee will serve six to seven à la carte specials he creates after breaking down a whole pig. [Grub Street]

CATTLENETWORK.com- Carl’s Jr.® launched The Six Dollar Cheeseburger™, adding more fuel to the fire in the premium burger wars. Selling for just $2.79, the Six Dollar Cheeseburger is nearly twice as big as the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder® with Cheese, for a lot less money. The Six Dollar Cheeseburger features almost a half pound of charbroiled 100% Black Angus Beef, two slices of American cheese, onion, dill pickles, ketchup and mustard on a seeded bun.

Carl’s is back but babeless. What are they thinking??? No Audrina, No Paris, No Padma….I don’t see this burger going very far without a burger, bodacious babe and a bikini. NO chance, good luck Carl’s. Gimme some babes with that burger – BB

Kelly Ripa is not only JACKED but can take down a burger like a champ.  Jury is still out for me on whether she is a babe or not.  Definitely very attractive but still can’t decide if I would label her “hot” or “smokeshow”.  Who am I kidding?… she is a mom and is HOT! I think she needs to chill out on the Tae Bo and the Bo Flex a bit and quit hanging out with A-Rod’s trainer because it’s looking a little too toned for Kelly. But hey maybe that’s how she can afford to crush burgers.  Keep it up Kel- BB

newyork.grubstreet.com

NEWYORK.GRUBSTREET.com-

Patty Weight: Three ounces
Cooking Method: Grill
Roll: “Plain bread.”
Toppings: Lettuce, tomatoes, double cheese
Price: $4.75
Accolades: “They make the burgers to order, unlike your typical pre-cooked fast-food patty which is certainly a bonus and difficult premise for a small fast food joint.” -Burger Conquest
NYMag.com Listing

Alright, so I reviewed Blue 9 Burger this past summer and the burger is great. Also, the secret sauce is definitely worth something to write home about.  However, they must have gotten on board with all of the major fast food marketing agencies because the burger does NOT look anything like what it is pictured above.  It tastes great but looks like a greasy mess in a paper wrapper. -BB

NEWYORK.GRUBSTREET.com-The AP has a story today about the McDonald’s at 541 Sixth Avenue in Chelsea, which got an “upscale” redesign this fall that included knockoff mod furniture, laptop outlets, and other trimmings. Seriously, have you seen this place? It looks more like a W Hotel lobby than a Mickey D’s. We got sucked in a while back and were so mind-boggled that we just had to snap some photos (see slideshow). The AP mentions that local office workers have started holding meetings here, but doesn’t note that the place is already starting to smell a little like the lower level of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Read more: Can We Talk About This Newfangled McDonald’s for a Second? — Grub Street New York http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2009/11/mcdonalds_1.html#ixzz0XGWekAls

LAME LAME LAME….LAME.  First of all, last time I checked McDonald’s is an American franchise, no?  Since when did they start getting there style and decor from across the pond.  Yikes…Look out.  Secondly, what companies are having meetings here?  Please remind me to not send my resume whoever is on the list or seen conducting business appointments here.  Thank You- BB

The Ace Hotel I’m sure has something to be said for as a great place to stay while in Manhattan (never stayed there before..oh yea because I live here) but the Breslin is the pulse of the entire place.  This new April Bloomfield addition (Spotted Pig Exec. Chef) has a clean and neat atmosphere with some of the best Bloody Mary’s the city has to offer (have another bloody buddy).

**Inside Scoop- Order your drink from the bar and not the bar waitresses (slower than molasses)**

There are many brunch items to choose from between fresh organic egg Frittatas to Fried Banana and Peanut Butter sandwiches but the main attraction that has received quite a bit of buzz is the burger                        (no sh!t right?).  Hold the beef and bring on the Lamb at the Breslin baby.  The Chargrilled Lamb Burger is topped with feta cheese, cumin may0, held between a fresh bun (think circular Ciabatta meets Portugese Roll) and accompanied by a side of mild Dijon dipping sauce.  The burger was cooked very well but it was missing something.  It was seasoned properly or enough.  The cumin may0 added flavor but did not marry well with the Dijon dipping sauce.  To sum it up this burger was good but not great.

Winner of the day was the Thrice Cooked Chips (British Chips not American Chips). Holy Buns those are some fries!

20 W 29th (Between 5th Ave and Broadway)

URBANDADDY.com- Introducing Bar Henry, a cozy new bistro, wine haven and destination for casual romance, opening Monday in the Village.

Housed in the cellar of a 19th-century townhouse, the one-story descent takes you to a simpler time: painted tin ceiling, century-old wooden bar, checkered marble floor. You’d half expect to see Hemingway throwing back mojitos and lifting skirts of the female waitstaff. Moving under the rich copper canopy of the back room, you’ll sink into your red velvet dining chair (salvaged from the Plaza Hotel ballroom) and drain decades worth of red Burgundy over the same candlelight and jazz standards of your dinner-dating forefathers.

90 W. Houston (at W. Broadway)