This Saturday marks Chinese New Year, the more than weeklong celebration of a new energy and spirit. And in the Year of the Dragon, symbolizing strength, power, good fortune, and wisdom, it’s hardly surprising that MICHELIN Guide chefs are getting in on the festivities. And leave it to Le B’s proprietor and chef Angie Mar to up the ante on the party.
Sprinkled throughout the space were a cavalcade of boldfaced names—editors from Town & Country and VOGUE mingled and nibbled with fashion plates including Blake Abbie, Fern Mallis, Peter Som, and Sharon Coplan Hurowitz. And as buzzy as it was in the dining room, the real party was in the kitchen. Holding court was Mar draped in a sinewy and sensual floral print by Paco Rabanne. Flanking Mar’s left was Gabriel Kreuther, to her right Markus Glocker of Koloman. Waiting patiently to taste the most incredibly crispy pig were Andre and Rita Jammet, Ariane Daugin, Martha Stewart, and countless others. But it was the man credited as being America’s first super chef, André Soltner who stole the show.
The Lutèce chef-owner famously only missed 5 days of work in the over 30 years he worked there and last night it was as if he was at home back in the kitchen. After the Starry crew swapped stories, congratulated Mar, and sampled the ware, it was time for the debut of Flowing Dragon by Zheng Lu, a piece created by Christofle in celebration of the occasion. And bringing the sculpture to life was the lion dancer flanked by cheers, camera phones, and confetti.
When Mar opened Le B last year we called it a ‘Maxim’s’ in the west village. And last night’s soiree maintained said moniker.
Hero image: Mike Vitelli/BFA.com
