"openings" news and stories

This hip-looking restaurant doesn't take reservations.

A redesigned McDonald's featuring free wireless Internet access, an art deco concept, flat-screen televisions and all-black-clad employees has opened in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood.

The restaurant is the first of its kind to open in the United States, following the success of similarly designed locations in Paris and London, officials say.

Jennifer Aniston. Photo: Lord Henry, Flickr

The secret ingredient to Jennifer Aniston's success might be in her kitchen.

In the September issue of "O, The Oprah Magazine," Aniston says that her friends, celebrity and non-celebrity alike, love the food served in her Los Angeles home.

"It's the best restaurant in town," claims Aniston.

The actress can be seen in culinary action most nights of the week alongside her personal chefs, sisters Jewels and Jill Elmore.

"She makes a place where people want to come and hang out," jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer told People magazine about Aniston's dinner parties.

Taking the rave reviews to heart, the sitcom-turned-movie star is now considering opening up the reservation book to everyone.

According to Grub Street Los Angeles, the 40-year-old starlet is reportedly chewing on the idea of opening up her very own eatery.

So, Slashfood wants to know if you'd give Chef Aniston a shot.

Eastern Market Photo: ngolebiewski/Flickr

Attention, residents of the nation's capital: After two long years of waiting, Washington, D.C.'s historic Eastern Market re-opened this morning.

The Capitol Hill market, which had been in continuous operation since it opened 1873, closed in 2007 after a devastating fire. Home to many farmers and a wide range of culinary delights that included everything from buckwheat blueberry pancakes (known in local parlance as "bluebucks") and cured meats to pumpkin ravioli and crab cakes, the market was the shining jewel in its neighborhood's crown.

While the fire that closed the market was a blow to a historical site, it also presented what some considered a long overdue opportunity for improvement.

Learn more about the opening party and $22 million renovation after the jump.

Sea urchins, on the face of it, are not likely candidates for the title of Sexiest Seafood. Their spiny shells make them look like porcupines of the sea, and give little hint of the outrageously creamy, briny decadence that they contain. But this saffron-hued roe, whose complex, salty-sweet-sharp flavor profile is beloved by chefs, is now making diners swoon.

David Chang has been using sea urchin roe on his menu at Momofuku Ssam Bar and Ko for a long while, and now Michael White is making them the star of his menu at his new restaurant, Marea. A great article tomorrow in WSJ. magazine provides a peek at both White's droolingly anticipated new restaurant and at sea urchin, which is pictured in all of its spiny, golden glory.

Learn about the delectably slimy urchins after the jump.

Earlier this week, Slashfood got a sneak peek at the new Mets fare at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. The Yankees rolled out their food offerings for Workout Day today and like everything the Bronx Bombers do, they did it big, expensive and fancy.

The new Yankee Stadium has steakhouse, a Hard Rock Cafe, the Legends Club, a Mohegan Sun Sports Bar and a slew of other high- and lowbrow dining experiences. There's even branded ketchup for the plebs who might revolt when they learn beer here is now $9 a bottle. (Let them drink $8-a-plastic-glass Yellowtail, Steinbrenner might say).

Slashfood literally bumped into Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon on the ascent to NYY Steak, the year-round steakhouse run by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (which explained the heavy presence of Seminole VIPs trying out the menu).

Find out about the food (and see pictures!) after the jump.