The news of San Domeico's closing and rejuvenation in a new location has been widely reported. Tonight is actually the last evening it is officially open. If you have regret that you forgot to dine one last time - fear not. Tomorrow evening is a very special San Domenico Alumni Dinner featuring past chefs like Benny Bartolatta, Andrew Carmellini, Scott Conant and Theo Schoenegger, hosted by current chef Odette Fada. Amazingly, there are still a few seats available. Full details and press release after the jump.   

San Domenico NY Hosts 20th an Alumni Chef Reunion Dinner on June 18 to benefit the Food Bank For New York City

NEW YORK, June 6, 2008 —On June 18, San Domenico NY is proud to partner with the Food Bank For New York City charity for an exceptional epicurean event featuring the restaurant’s former and current lineup of all-star chefs.

The alumni chefs include: Benny Bartolotta, Andrew Carmellini, Scott Conant, Theo Schoenegger, and executive chef Odette Fada who will create a decadent, multi-course tasting menu in honor of San Domenico NY’s 20th anniversary as one of the city’s premier Italian dining destinations. Owners Tony May and Marisa May will co-host the dinner with special guest Gianluigi Morini, founder and proprietor of San Domenico Imola in Italy.

The menu will feature timeless Italian classics inspired by the creativity and passion of San Domenico’s alumni, coordinated by SDNY executive chef Odette Fada, and will be paired with award-winning wines from Castello Banfi.

Founded in 1983, the Food Bank For New York City is a member of America's Second Harvest, The Nation's Food Bank Network, that coordinates the procurement and distribution of food donations from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and government agencies to more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs located throughout the city’s five boroughs.

San Domenico NY 20th Anniversary Alumni Chef Reunion Dinner

Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: San Domenico NY, 240 Central Park South (between Broadway and 7th Ave)

Cost: $600 per person, including tax and gratuity; proceeds to benefit

The Food Bank of NYC

Reservations: contact San Domenico NY at 212-265-5959

** On Sunday, June 22, San Domenico NY will host a Tag Sale, auctioning many of the restaurant’s interior furnishings and art work.

About San Domenico NY

San Domenico NY has received considerable praise from top critics and publications all over the world. Food & Wine has named San Domenico NY one of the 25 top restaurants in America, while both Wine Spectator and USA Today have proclaimed it one of the top 10 Italian restaurants in America. The restaurant also enjoys 4 star and 4 diamond awards from every major travel guide and executive Chef Odette Fada has garnered numerous awards including a James Beard Foundation nomination as one of the best chefs in New York. Under the deft touch of Tony May and daughter Marisa May, the restaurant consistently sets the standard for Italian luxury dining in America.

According to sources, the venue and production for the next season of Top Chef has been changing almost as frequently as Padma's wardrobe. It was New York City, then Toronto, and now back to Gotham. The unofficial word is filming will begin in July and run through August. For those looking to do some Top Chef stalking, I would go back to past seasons of Project Runway and note where those reality-contestants are kept in captivity. I'd also keep eyes open for the convoy of Toyotas that will likely be parked out front of numerous restaurants and likely the green market at some point. It's Top Chef filming in NYC! I expect the Big Apple blogosphere to bring it. Bonus points for the blogger who discover the location of the Top Chef kitchen. Game on. 

PS: There have been rumors that New Orleans might be a venue as well. Though I have no specific intell on that - season five finale in the Big Easy would be a good guess no?

Sources say (unofficially) the management honchos up at Cafe Gray and Time Warner had a pow-wow this afternoon. Apparently there were too many farewell reservations on the books to close so abruptly (i.e. loosing the money and creating ill-will amongst customer). So the powers that be met in the middle and set the new closing date for Saturday June 21st.

Previously: Cafe Gray to close two weeks early!

The imminent closing of Cafe Gray at the Time Warner Center has been widely reported since it was first announce this spring. The last supper was set to be June 29th, ironically the same last day as Florent in the Meatpacking District.

Sources say (unofficially) the landlord has decided - yesterday! to close Cafe Gray on Monday June 16th, a full two weeks early.

While bloggers and journalists love this kind of breaking news story, the thing that is often forgotten is the staff. Word on the street is everyone had agreed to stay through the last hurrah. Some have spots set up for July, though many are still looking for work. So if you're a chef (say a former sous-chef at Le Cirque) planning to open a restaurant (say in the flatiron in July par example) sometime soon, there's a treasure trove of cooks who have become available.

Stay tuned for further developments.   

The James Beard Award weekend has officially come to an end. If you want to re-live the glory and see video highlights from the red carpet check out the live blog from last night. It was a collaborative effort between the Foundation and five bloggers and a first for the awards. James Beard 2.0. On my end it was quite fun and gave a new twist to an event I'd been going to for more than 10 years.

I would have liked to blog all the after parties as well but the iPhone does not have a flash and is less than stellar in low light. Perhaps that's best. Who really wants their photo taken at 5am at Florent?