EDITOR’S LETTER

SCAN TO EXPLORE OUR DIGITAL SIDE

HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP

IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT…

Ifirst visited Happy Monkey on opening night back in June. The place was buzzing. The décor, staff, crowd, cocktails and food all, as cliché as it may sound, just made me, well, happy. The highlight of the evening was meeting the man behind it all— Jean-Georges. His beaming smile and jovial, yet modest, personality are not characteristics that you typically associate with a celebrity chef (though I can’t vouch for what goes on in the kitchen). It was a wonderful night that we have since happily repeated.

Veteran food writer Kate Hogan sat down with the Michelin-starred chef to talk about his forty-nine restaurants around the globe, the moment he knew the culinary world would be his domain, his foundation that funds aspiring chefs who otherwise could not afford to pursue the profession, and much more. The conversation is just one component of this, our annual food issue.

In “Around the World in Greenwich” (page 64), Kate gets us a seat at the tables of all the new hotspots in town. From Thai, Hawaiian, Latin and French to Italian-with-a-twist and inspired-American, the dining scene has gotten decidedly a little more global. And the vibes are as varied as the cuisine. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion, catch up with the girls or have a family night out (or in), there’s a new restaurant to try.

The good news is that Greenwich has lots of answers to the age-old question: Where should we go? The bad news is the decision has become significantly more difficult. The solution? Simple. Give your kitchen a rest, hit the town more often, and yes, clap your hands.