What Happens When...

by Celia Sin-Tien Cheng
April 11, 2011

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
25 Cleveland Pl
(Spring and Kenmare Sts)
New York, NY 10012
212-925-8310

Former home of Le Jardin Bistro is now home to the most playful restaurant in New York City through October. Since the end of January, this transient space has transformed every month with new menus, visual installations and music, each at once completing the phrase and answering the question “What happens when.”

Needless to say, Chef John Fraser’s restaurant installation feels fleeting with its makeshift décor and the tables and chairs sitting atop a chalky floor plan that covers the entire room. This must be what it’s like to eat dinner in a playhouse, and speaking of dinner – it’s delicious! On a visit in February, I was blown away by each course from the appetizer of potato skins in wheat beer fondue with pickled sausage and sorrel to the dessert of popcorn crème brûlée! In both cases, there was just enough essence of each ingredient to make the dishes distinct without being heavy handed. But I was also almost literally blown away by the noise: one of the base speakers was right under my table, and I felt like I was at an African dance performance.

Starting today through October, the restaurant explores what happens when women take over. Continuing with the monthly themes, a new team of talented female chefs, pastry chefs and sommeliers will take over every Monday night. Tonight, Chef Amanda Frietag, Pastry Chef Nancy Olsen (Gramercy Tavern) and sommelier Laura Maniec (CorkBuzz) will kick off the female takeover. Other participants include Katy Sparks (Chef), Alex Raij (Chef/Txikito), Rebecca Charles (Chef/Pearl Oyster Bar), Amanda Cohen (Chef/Dirt Candy), Shuna Lydon (Pastry Chef/Peels), and Juliette Pope (Sommelier/Gramercy Tavern). Twenty percent of the Monday evening sales will go to a charity of the executive chef’s choice. Check out the full roster.

Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez

On June 13th, Chef Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez (Print Restaurant) is bringing back favorites from her beloved Indian restaurant, Lassi. She told us, “I’m really looking forward to When Women Take Over. It’ll give me a chance to do a few dishes from my old restaurant Lassi. My regulars always wanted me to have a traditional dining room and this will give us all an evening to indulge in that.”

We’re very excited to see what Heather and the other amazing chefs turn out!