Dine in the Dark for a Good Cause

I recently saw something similar on “Rock of Love,” but I’m willing to bet the Dining in the Dark event, benefiting the Foundation Fighting Blindness, will be a MUCH classier evening (sorry, Bret). Held at the Fairmont Hotel on March 27, the dinner will be literally served in the dark, by blind waiters. This sounds pretty amazing to me. Jump for all the details.

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Rise: A Diner’s Tale

Ever since I heard about Rise No. 1—when Peggy Levinson was writing about it for the current issue of D Home—I couldn’t wait to try it. True, it’s pretty close to my ’hood (Midway Hollow, A Treasure To Keep!), but mostly I just wanted to eat a bunch of soufflés. Last night I got the chance, and I’m happy to report it was delightful. I won’t go into the details of the décor, because you can see it (and read about it) for yourself in Peggy’s piece. I just wanted to say the hearty onion soup, piping hot underneath its toast-and-cheese crust, and the jambon and Gruyere soufflé (reminiscent of a classic ham-and-cheese quiche) made me long for a cold, rainy night in Paris. No meal has made me feel warmer inside. Rise might as well refer to the steam coming out of those little pots of goodness. But don’t be fooled by the light-as-air texture of these beauties; they are surprisingly filling. I didn’t have enough room for a bread pudding soufflé, the evening’s special. Next time.

Sweet Tart

The one thing I miss about Easter is getting an Easter basket. (Mom, are you reading this? I know I’m all grown up, but still.) Well, if you don’t want to create your own, Tart Pastry Boutique will do the hard work for you, filling your favorite baskets with delights such as candy, iced Easter shortbread, Rice Krispie treats, and tea cookies. So pretty! Your kids may not appreciate it, but it could make a lovely hostess gift—or a great Easter present for your thirtysomething daughter. IJS.

RE: Fearing’s Named One of NY Times 10 “Intriguing Restaurants Outside of New York”

This is the week: the New York Times’ Frank Bruni discusses Fearing’s, and why it’s one of his “10 Intriguing Restaurants Outside of New York.” Read it here. He calls the buffalo tenderloin and the rib-eye “fantastic,” and the barbequed shrimp soft taco “terrific,” though he wasn’t seated in the area of the restaurant he specified, which did “irk” him a bit. Be sure to listen to Frank Bruni’s conversation with his friend in Dallas named “Barbara” (also check out the gorgeous photos of the restaurant). They saw a woman in a leopard choker (!) at the bar, and Bruni says if he had “a lot more money and I were a lot better looking I could have a good time in that bar.” Good stuff.