This week in the Times, Bruni Bruni visits Top Chef winner Harold Dieterle’s Perilla. Finds it “earnest, endearing, and just a bit of a snooze,” and awards the restaurant one star. Sees more of Deiterle and partner Alicia Noscenzo’s past at The Harrison in the restaurant (friendly service, cozy atmosphere, reasonable prices) than in his past on Top Chef. But he finds some “primness” at Perilla, along with “scattered errors of judgement.” Doesn’t much like......

This week in the Times, Bruni doubles up on sushi restaurants, reviewing 15 East and Ushiwakamaru. 15 East gets two stars; Ushiwakamaru, one. 15 East “manages to stand out in a crowded marketplaces of Japanese restaurants that focus on uncooked seafood,” he says, partly with the cooked dishes, partly with the sushi and sashimi itself, partly with the “gracious service,” and partly with the outstanding wine and sake list. Whereas at Ushiwakamaru, “for every two......

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Insieme, awards the restaurant two stars. Says, “When Isieme is good, it’s outstanding, and any serious food lover should head here fast…” He hates the atmosphere, though, and the salmon. Insieme is the second restaurant in midtown this year where he’s been “frustrated by the way some dazzling cooking is undercut not only by unevenness across the menu or inconsistency in the kitchen but also by atmospherics......

This week ">Bruni two-stars Belgian Resto. Loves the beers, the fries and mussels, and the hint of Asian seasonings in some dishes: "Resto's version of Belgium is neither clichéd nor isolationist," he says. It’s not great for your arteries, either, he points out, but sometimes it's worth the health risk. In ">Dining Briefs, Bruni stops by Perilla (the new restaurant opened by Top Chef winner Harold Dieterle). Says "Like a bistro with elegant tailoring, it......

This week ">Bruni goes to Anthos, Michael Psilakis and Donatella Arpaia's new Greek restaurant, and awards the restaurant two stars. "Much of the cooking is inspired," he says, "and much of it is excellent." Bruni finds the décor dreary, and the pacing of the meal a bit off, but overall thinks the restaurant is on its way to good places (and more stars in future). Also in the Times, ">Peter Meehan visits Super Taco, the......

The Red Hook ballfields are back in action, and Eat for Victory was there to give us a report. Eater lists the James Beard Foundation Media Award winners, including the SF Chronicle which picked up the Best Newspaper Food Section and Leite's Culinaria for Best Website Focusing on Food, Beverage, Restaurant, or Nutrition. The remainder of the awards will be announced at tonight's gala. Top Chef season one winner Harold Dieterle officially opens his......

Chef Don Pintabono's Dani has been revamped with a focus on Southern Italy, and Sicilian cuisine in particular. He's brought in Greg Johnson, formerly of ESCA, Fresco by Scotto and Abboccato. Make sure to stop in on Thursdays -- the rabbit special is excellent. Eater chats with Harold Dieterle, the winner of "Top Chef" Season One, about his long-awaiting restaurant, Perilla, opening "late spring/early summer" at 9 Jones Street. Seafood market Wild Edibles has opened......

- What the hell got into Frank Bruni this week with his mock e-mail exchange review of Sacha? Too many "special cocktails," perhaps? - Congrats to Harold Dieterle for winning this season's Top Chef and for making NYC proud. We look forward to seeing your restaurant later this year (and we're pretty psyched for next season). Missed the whole thing? Check out the recaps on Slashfood. - According to the Beer Advocate's 'Top 50 Places......