With all the news about the new D'Amico Kitchen at the Chambers, it might be a good time to share something I got in my e-mail the other day. Check out these pix of the closing night at Cucina. (Go to Ciao Cucina under Portfolios.) Great stuff.

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My buddies at Parasole tell me that when Figlio re-opens in the late fall the new menu will have a memories section with stories and remembrances supplied by local notables. So prepare yourself for hearing all about some arcane menu item served in 1985 that Don Shelby, Sue Zellickson, Tom Kelly, and Sharon Sayles Belton wish could make a return to the new and improved Figlio. Anyone care to share their favorite off-color Figlio moment here with me now? Ever get lucky in the bathroom? See an out of town or home-grown celeb do anything embarrassing? Lets’ hear it.

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What a strange weekend. Happy 4th by the way, belated is better than not at all. Anyone been to Hans Bakery in Anoka on 5th Avenue South? It is a delight, old school in the extreme with homemade donuts that are to die for, incredible coffee cakes like Granny used to make, insane apple fritters, and, best of all, something called a Beehive—two yeasty spongy bready layers of an Eastern European variety stuffed three inches deep with fresh pastry cream.

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