On Aug. 25, Union Square Hospitality Group’s Marta and Maialino—known as “Maialino (vicino)” since reopening in 2022—will cease operations at the Redbury New York Hotel in Manhattan’s Nomad neighborhood, according to a statement from the restaurant group. Both restaurants hold Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for their wine lists.
This decision follows an earlier announcement from the Redbury that it would temporarily close to guests. As part of a contract with New York City’s government, the hotel is joining about 100 others to house more than 90,000 asylum seekers (many sent to the city by governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas). In recent months, Union Square Hospitality Group founder Danny Meyer has advocated expediting work authorization for these asylum seekers, citing a labor shortage in the hospitality industry.
“While we admire and respect the Redbury’s decision, the viability of our business relies significantly on hotel-related food and beverage operations, including event venues and the lobby bar, spaces that are now unavailable for our use,” read a statement from Union Square Hospitality Group. “We remain fully supportive of the Redbury’s initiative and will continue advocating for policy change that expedites work permits for asylum seekers.”
Maialino, a trattoria and wine bar, opened at the hotel in October 2022, after closing and moving locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marta, a Roman-style pizzeria, opened in 2014 when the Redbury was still the Martha Washington Hotel; CIM, a real estate investment group, purchased the Martha Washington the following year and converted it into the Redbury in 2016.
Union Square Hospitality Group has not responded to questions regarding the future of the restaurants’ wine inventories, which collectively encompass about 10,000 bottles. However, the group did state that it would look for new positions at other USHG restaurants for all affected Maialino and Marta employees.—J.L.
Wine on Wheels Returning to New York City
On Sept. 10, the Wine on Wheels charity event will return to New York City for the first time since 2019, following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being held at City Winery at Pier 57 on Manhattan’s West Side, the tasting and live and silent auctions will bring together wine talent from more than 50 of the city’s most prominent restaurants and retailers. Their goal: to support those with disabilities by raising money and awareness for improving accessibility.
Wine on Wheels was founded by sommelier and disability advocate Yannick Benjamin, who also co-owns the groundbreaking, accessibly-designed restaurant Contento in East Harlem, as well as wine retailer Beaupierre Wines & Spirits in Hell’s Kitchen.
“I truly believe that this is the most exciting Wine on Wheels event that we will ever have,” Benjamin told Wine Spectator via email. “I am a born-and-raised New Yorker, and I am just so proud of this community that I am a part of.” Proceeds from ticket sales and auction bids will go to the Axis Project, which offers programming, scholarships and resources to promote healthy, active lifestyles for those with disabilities.
Professionals representing many Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners are donating their time and wines to the event. Not only is Wine on Wheels taking place at Best of Award of Excellence winner City Winery New York, it will feature familiar faces from many local hospitality leaders: Na:Eun Hospitality’s Atoboy, Atomix and Naro; John Fraser Restaurants’ Iris Restaurant, La Marchande, North Fork Table and Inn and the Terrace; l’abeille; Koloman; and Noreetuh. Also in attendance will be team members from Grand Award winners the Modern, Nice Matin and Tribecca Grill, who will be pouring some of their favorite wines. Benjamin himself is looking forward to including bottlings such as Domaine aux Moines’ Savennières Roche Aux Moines 1999 and Peay Vineyards’ Syrah Sonoma Coast La Bruma Estate 2014.
“Everyone that is participating in Wine on Wheels is there because they are not just saying words but living a life of virtue,” said Benjamin. “Having them [participating] and taking time from their day says a lot about who they are and that they believe in the work that we are doing at Wine on Wheels. People who work in hospitality have an incredible heart and are some of the most generous people that you will ever meet.”
Tickets for Wine on Wheels are available for $150 at wineonwheels.org and include access to the tasting and to the live and silent auctions.—J.L.
Gordon Ramsay Opens a New Ramsay’s Kitchen Near Chicago
Celebrity chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay continues to expand his restaurant lineup with the opening of a new Ramsay’s Kitchen in Naperville, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. This is Ramsay’s 25th project in the U.S., joining six locations of Hell’s Kitchen and two Wine Spectator Award of Excellence–winning Gordon Ramsay Steak restaurants—in Atlantic City, N.J., and Baltimore, Md— among other concepts.
As at the other two Ramsay’s Kitchen restaurants, in Boston and Las Vegas, the latest iteration offers an elegant, inviting atmosphere for fine dining. “Bringing Ramsay’s Kitchen to Naperville allows us to share some of my favorite dishes from my career,” Ramsay said in a statement. “The team and I are thrilled to immerse ourselves in the warmth of the Midwest. Great food brings people together, and we can’t wait to welcome guests into the restaurant and become part of this great community.”
The all-day à-la-carte menu draws inspiration from Ramsay’s travels around the world, while featuring British culinary classics from the chef, who is from the U.K. Fans of Ramsay’s cooking will be pleased to hear that his classic beef Wellington and fish and chips are both on the menu, but he also worked with the Naperville team to develop new dishes. Original entrées include pan-seared scallops with Berkshire pork belly, apricot purée, citrus fruit and pomegranate seeds in jus; and chicken Milanese with Dijon mustard–cream sauce and prosciutto, Gruyère and arugula.
The varied menu joins a wine list of 150 labels, including about 22 served by the glass. The program is studded with many well-known names in France, such as Bordeaux’s Châtaeu Kirwan and Burgundy’s Bourchard. Guests can also find Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Sauvignons from California wineries such as Caymus, Shafer and Opus One, along with quality wines from other regions.
The Naperville location provides seating for more than 160 guests spread among the bar, lounge, main dining room and seasonal patio. The design of the restaurant was partly inspired by the rich history of its location: Dating to the 1930s, the building was originally an Oswald’s Pharmacy (it became a restaurant space in the 1980s), which Ramsay’s Kitchen references with custom-made apothecary cabinets above its bar.—O.N.