The Daily Dish: August 1, 2016
Today's first course?
It's truly an end to an era. The contents of the iconic Four Seasons restaurant were auctioned off for an impressive $4.1 million, far exceeding the presale estimate of $1.33 million, The New York Times reported. The nearly 15-hour auction took place Tuesday in the Pool Room. Furniture, signage, flatware, cutlery, and other pieces were up for the taking. But at the last minute, the restaurant's owners Alex von Bidder and Julian Niccolini withdrew a number of items from the auction to donate to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a Four Seasons period room.
Forrest E. Mars Jr., grandson of the founder of Mars, Inc., passed away in Seattle on Tuesday, at age 84. During his tenure as co-president, Mars, Inc. became the world's largest confectionary company, selling everything from Mars bars to Uncle Ben's rice. Forrest Jr. inherited the company along with his brother John and sister Jacqueline in 1973 from their father, Forrest Sr., who was responsible for inventing M&M's, the most famous Mars product today. Forrest Jr. is survived by his wife, four daughters, 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
It looks like France will be getting nude with the food. The naked pop-up restaurant that gained such notoriety in London is closing a month early to open in Paris. The French version of The Bunyadi — where participants dine in the buff — will close in London July 30 and pop up in Paris this September. Although the menu and drinks will be different to appeal to a French aesthetic, the concept will remain the same. Diners will step behind screens to undress and are given a robe and slippers. It is then up to the customers whether to totally disrobe. It's an odd concept, to say the least, but this buff gimmick has apparently piqued Londoners' interests. The waiting list right now for the London café has thousands of names on it, and the owner expects similar buzz for the second location.
That's today's daily dish, thanks for watching. Stop by tomorrow for another helping.