From chicks to chickens. André Balazs has been called a lot of things, but … farmer? That’s a first. Apparently the chicken you’re eating at the Standard Grill is made with birds Balazs cultivated himself on his Hudson River estate, where he’s “raising cows, chickens, pigs and rabbits.” Also being raised? A big wagon of money. [Page Six/NYP] Read more posts by Alyssa Shelasky Filed Under: chicks, balazs, standard grill

Vegas bound. While Grimaldi’s and Juliana’s duke it out in Dumbo, Grub hears that another of the city’s pie purveyors, Slice, is headed to Vegas. Founder Miki Agrawal tells us her eatery was handpicked for the move by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, who (as you’ll know if you read the recent Businessweek story) is aiming to revitalize downtown Sin City with a $350 million cash infusion. Hopefully this makes up for Slice’s having to close its UES joint. Read more [...]

He’s romantic and generous. Valentine’s Day! Mayor Bloomberg’s birthday! Presidents’ Day! With so many wonderful occasions in the month of February, it’s no surprise celebrities took to the town this week. Shia LaBeouf took his lovely girlfriend out to dinner on Valentine’s Day, but the best part wasn’t his burly beard. No, the actor is apparently a wonderful tipper! Plus, Kris Humphries suffered through his first post-super-short-marriage Valentine’s Day (if he can make it, we all can, right?). Also, our [...]

• While shooting a new show about cooking in prison, Gordon Ramsay’s team misplaced a vegetable peeler — which caused the Brixton Prison to be put on lockdown for two hours while people searched for the utensil, “fearing it could be used as a weapon.” [Telegraph UK] • When the city repairs stretches of the Coney Island boardwalk, officials plan not to use wood, but to use “recycled plastic that looks like wood.” Green or not, that doesn’t really sound [...]

Juliana’s (on left), vs. Grimaldi’s (on right). The new Grimaldi’s may be jammed packed per usual — almost as if it never even slid down half a block — but Patsy Grimaldi, who is moving into the original space with Juliana’s, is preparing for a proper takedown. Juliana’s is still boarded up, but the windows are plastered with newspaper and magazine articles about his pizza powers, and his authoritative website says, “Coming Soon The Return of Patsy & Carol Grimaldi.” [...]

It’s 4 p.m., and that means it’s time to play Two for Eight. We just asked ten restaurants the best time they can squeeze in a couple for dinner; you need only make your chosen reservation. (As always, we make the calls but don’t guarantee the results.) Today: New & Buzzy ABC Kitchen (Menu) 212-475-5829 Two for eight? No Best available: 11:30 p.m. Beauty & Essex (Menu) 212-614-0146 Two for eight? No Best available: 5:15 p.m. Brushstroke (Menu) 212-791-3771 Two [...]

Redzepi. How does the chef and owner of the world’s best restaurant relax on his day off? Oh, you know, he invites Dave Chang over to his very attractive flat in Copenhagen, whips up some oyster-and-chanterelle toasts, steams some mussels that he plucked from a fjord — the usual. And not a single middle finger in sight! [Bon Appétit, Related] Read more posts by Alan Sytsma Filed Under: other magazines, noma overload, rene redzepi

Stroll in and roll out. Tony’s Di Napoli, the monstrous Italian restaurant that has pleased (and fattened) Times Square tourists for decades, is reopening on the UES. The new Tony’s Di Napoli, opening this Spring, will take over 9,000 square feet at 1081 3rd Avenue (between 63rd and 64th Street). And it actually wants to replicate the Time Square location. Read more posts by Alyssa Shelasky Filed Under: mamma-mia, opening, tony’s di napoli

Bay Ridge: Hinsch’s, the famed old-school ice cream shop, reopened a mere month after its closing after 63 years in business, but now is on the market again. The owners are asking $195,000 for the to the $9,000 a month lease. [Eater NY] East Village: Extend your Presidents’ Day celebration to Tuesday, because on February 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Forcella on the Bowery will offer margherita pizzas for $2. [Grub Street] Greenpoint: Red Star will once again host [...]

So freaking rich. Not sure how it will hold up next to the Marc Forgione label, let alone the Ramona Singer Pinot, but Bethenny Frankel has just launched her own Skinnygirl wines — in “red, blush and white” — to keep us thin and tipsy at all times, no matter how questionable the marketing or compromised the taste. She writes on her blog, “I’m not a wine connoisseur, but I do love a refreshing, great tasting glass of wine and [...]