Amazing to see both @claudnyc and @pennynewyork represented in the nyt 100 Best Restaurants in New York City. Two years ago, we started a thing at the restaurants where two staff, BOH or FOH, are selected by lottery each month and they get to pick a spot off the 100 to dine at with me and @joshuaj88 . We learn things, we see other ways of doing the dance, and we talk about it all extensively. Always important to remember the gift that is NYC and its range of restaurants that inspire us.
The logo is done now @stars_nyc as we open tonight at 4:00 PM. 2025 was wild. Third opening of the career plus lots more - first time in Asia, first real health scare, just tons of scary but amazing things. Tonight though; so much time and energy went into this tiny place. It always works this way but the physical scale makes it feel even wilder. I hope you all love it.
My first picture (from July 2021) of what would become @claud_nyc and then @penny_newyork . Claud turned three this weekend. Besides celebrating this milestone, this summer brought a couple other things my way…on the same day we announced our third project (a wine bar on 12th St), I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thanks to my family, wife, friends, and my team I was able to take the time necessary to tackle it. One surgery, and 17 days later, I’m cancer free. Nothing can prepare you for the fear that you’ve read about. But nothing feels better than knowing you have more time to create the things that make you happy. I’m grateful for the life I’ve got, thankful for the future and determined to have so much fun. Appreciate everyone that makes it all possible.
Over @penny_newyork , we were announced today as a finalist for Best New Restaurant @beardfoundation . A wildly talented group of people made this happen. Just after turning one last week, this is an incredible honor to cap it off.
We definitely didn’t realize how much @penny_newyork would change the whole ecosystem of what we do at 90 E 10th. Can’t think of a time when I had more fun than opening this restaurant - even though I never ending up using the custom curtains on the table in front of me here or got to put into action our tiled foot rail for the bar :( Congrats to the team on one year open, can’t thank y’all enough.
As the Trump administration's threat of a 200 percent tariff on wine imported from Europe looms over the wine industry on both sides of the Pond, it also could spell disaster for restaurant that rely on bottles from the continent as a major revenue driver for their businesses. I've spoken with multiple restaurateurs around the country to get their perspective, and figure out how they're bracing for potential implementation.
Link to the full story in my bio.
#wine #trumptariffs #trump
We signed the lease for @claud_nyc just over three years ago. In NYC restaurant time, that means we’re entering senior citizen territory. Whenever we’re lucky enough to win an accolade, what it does for the team is what matters most. As we get older, this rings truer and truer. Per usual, great job everyone. Thank you @50bestdiscovery for the recognition. And thanks @colinclark for the new photos of our updated space.
I love LA. I met my wife there and it will always hold a unique place in my heart. It is as serious as it gets. To see what is happening and to consider what it all means for the future (especially the day after inauguration) is real. Due to this unprecedented trauma, @claud_nyc and @penny_newyork are donating $5,000 each to @wckitchen . There’s so much to do. We invite our guests to join us in supporting the city of Los Angeles in their time of need.
This is a photo of @nick.tamburo from eight (!) years ago. I think we’d both just finished working at Ko. Nick went on to work at some great restaurants. And now he’s opened his own great place @smithereensnyc . I was proud and grateful to have Nick be the opening Chef de Cuisine @claud_nyc . I’m even more proud of him for doing what he’s always wanted to do. Very few people get to do that in this life. Go see him and eat his food. It’s great.
This is my favorite pic from our wedding last year. There’s Bamonte’s, there’s both families, an espresso martini + lots of food, and there’s real laughs. Love you @phoebegng .
