Thomas Keller

Last night, Thomas Keller, the chef and owner of impossible-to-penetrate gastronomical temples like Napa’s French Laundry and New York’s Per Se, said he finds the recent celebrity-chef trend rather capricious.  read more »

'The Essence of European Sophistication'

One day in late 2007, the 34-story Veneto will be the most voguish luxury condo in the East 50s. It happens to be east of Third Avenue, and it happens to now be a mammoth construction site, but that hasn't stopped Midtown-ers from dropping $125 million on the condo in only three months, filling up 50% of its residences.

To celebrate, developer Related served lunch at Le Cirque--not far from Veneto's 250 East 53rd locale. Writers from The Times and Town & Country downed their champagne and buttery halibut next to happy developers and sales reps.

Why Le Cirque? The restaurant was designed by Adam D. Tihany, the man behind the Veneto's "Terzo Piano resident lounge" and Arcobaleno children's playroom (and, of course, fitness center).

Incidentally, Mr. Tihany also designed Per Se for chef Thomas Keller at the Time Warner Center--a little building managed by Related.

"I get two calls a week, at least, from developers who want me to design their condos," Mr. Tihany said to the table. "I get a feeling that they don't look at me as a person or a designer, but as $200 extra per square foot."  read more »